What is the verb To Be? The usage of the verb To Be in different tenses in English

What is the verb To Be? How can we use the verb To Be correctly in each tense in English? Let’s delve into the concept, usage, and do some exercises on this grammar topic at the end of the article!

I. What is the verb To Be in English?

The verb "To Be" is one of the most fundamental and frequently used verbs in English. It serves three essential functions:

1. To express existence ("I am here," "There is a book on the table")
2. To describe characteristics ("She is intelligent," "The house is blue")
3. To indicate state or condition ("He is tired," "They are excited")

The verb To Be in English includes several forms: be, am, is, are, was, were, been, and being. These forms change depending on the subject and tense. Unlike regular verbs that follow predictable patterns, "To Be" is irregular, making it important to understand its unique conjugation patterns.

The verb To Be has different forms depending on the subject and the tense in the sentence. Here are some verb To Be examples:

• She wants to be a doctor.

• They are happy with their new house.

• I am a student.

• He is a teacher.

• She was at the party last night.

• We were excited about the trip.

• I have been to Japan twice. 

• She is being very helpful today.

II. Variants of the verb To Be in English

The verb "To Be" changes its form based on:

• The person (first, second, or third person)
• The number (singular or plural)
• The tense (present, past, future, etc.)

This irregularity makes "To Be" different from most English verbs, which typically only change form for third-person singular in present tense. Understanding these variations is essential for correct English grammar.

1. Base form

For the base form, it typically depends on the grammatical structure of the sentence when the verb To Be must be in its base form. After modal verbs (can, could, may, might, etc.), the verb must be in its base form. For example:

• It might be easy.

• It can be a photo.

2. Verb To Be in Present Simple

The formula with the verb To Be in the present simple is as follows:

Conjugate the verb To Be:

• For the subject "I," the verb To Be is "am." Example: I am very happy.

• For the subjects "He," "She," "It," or any singular and uncountable nouns, the verb To Be is "is." Example: He is very happy.

• For the subjects "You," "We," "They," and any plural noun, the verb To Be is "are." Example: We are very happy.

3. Verb To Be in Past Simple

Conjugate the verb To Be:

• For the subjects "I," "He," "She," "It," or any singular and uncountable nouns, the verb To Be is "was." Example: He was very hungry.

• For the subjects "You," "We," "They," or any plural nouns, the verb To Be is "were." Example: We were here together.

4. The Verb To Be in Future Simple Tense

Conjugate the verb To Be: In the future simple tense, the verb To Be is in its base form and is combined with "will" as shown in the structure in the table above.

5. The Verb To Be in Continuous Form

Conjugate the verb To Be: In this tense, the verb To Be is conjugated as "being" along with is/are/am. Use is, are, or am depending on the subject, as in the present simple tense.

6. The Verb To Be in Perfect Form

Conjugate the verb To Be:

• In this tense, the verb To Be is conjugated as "been," combined with "have/has" in the structure. For the subjects "They," "We," "You," and "I," as well as plural subjects, we use "have." Example: They have been at the school for 1 hour.

• For the subjects "He," "She," "It," or any singular and uncountable nouns, we use "has." Example: He has been at the school for 1 hour.

7. The Verb To Be in Passive Form

Conjugate the verb To Be: In this form, we rely on the subject and the tense of the sentence to conjugate the verb To Be accordingly.

Example:

• The cake was made by mom yesterday. 

• The cakes were made by my mom yesterday. 

8. To Be as an Auxiliary Verb

Beyond its main verb function, "To Be" serves as an important auxiliary (helper) verb in English in two key ways:

1. In Continuous Tenses: Forms of "To Be" combine with the -ing form of the main verb to show ongoing actions.
   • Present Continuous: I am writing a letter now.
   • Past Continuous: They were watching TV when I called.
   • Future Continuous: We will be traveling next week.
2. In Passive Voice: Forms of "To Be" combine with the past participle (V3) to show that the subject receives the action.
   • Present Passive: This book is written by a famous author.
   • Past Passive: The house was built in 1990.
   • Future Passive: The project will be completed by Friday.

Understanding these auxiliary functions is essential since they appear frequently in both spoken and written English.

III. Position of the Verb To Be in sentences & its usage

Let’s explore the position of the verb To Be in sentences and how to use it below!

IV. Advanced usage of the Verb To Be in English

Let’s explore the advanced usage of the verb To Be in English below!

1. To Be + of + noun 

Used to indicate the quality or emotion of a subject. Example:

• Education is of great importance. 

• Jack is of medium height.

2. To Be + to + V

Used to express instructions, commands, or planned intentions. Example: 

• He is to finish his homework by 10pm. 

• They are to fulfill their promises. 

3. To Be about + to do something 

Used to express an intention or plan. Example: 

• I am about to travel around the world. 

• She was about to call him when her phone rang. 

V. Frequently Asked Questions about the Verb To Be

1. What's the difference between "is" and "are"?

This is one of the most common questions for English learners. Use "is" with singular subjects (he, she, it, one person, thing, or uncountable noun) and "are" with plural subjects (you, we, they, multiple people or things):

• Singular: He is tall. / The car is new. / Water is important.
• Plural: They are happy. / The students are studying. / You are right.

Remember: with "there is/are" structures, match the verb to what comes after it:

• There is a book on the table. (singular)
• There are three books on the table. (plural)

2. Why doesn't verb to be use "do/does/did" for questions and negatives?

Unlike most verbs, "To Be" forms questions by simply switching the position of the verb and subject:

• Regular verb: Do you like coffee? / She doesn't walk to work.
• To Be verb: Are you happy? / She is not (isn't) at home.

This is because "To Be" is a special verb that functions as both a main verb and auxiliary verb at the same time. This unique characteristic makes "To Be" function differently from other verbs in English.

3. How do I use verb to be correctly in the past tense?

In the past tense, verb to be has two forms: "was" for singular subjects and "were" for plural subjects:

• Singular: I was tired. / She was at home. / The movie was interesting.
• Plural: We were late. / They were surprised. / You were right.

Exception: In hypothetical situations (the subjunctive mood), use "were" for all subjects:

• If I were rich, I would travel the world.
• I wish she were here.

4. What's the difference between "been" and "gone"?

Though not strictly about forms of "To Be," this is a frequently asked question related to perfect tenses with "been":

• Has/have been to: Indicates someone visited a place and returned
  • "I have been to Japan twice." (I visited Japan and came back)
• Has/have gone to: Indicates someone went to a place and is still there
  • "She has gone to the store." (She is at the store now)

This distinction causes confusion for many English learners since both use forms of verb to be in perfect tenses, but with different meanings about location and return.