Be

/bi:/

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Definition

Verb:
- To exist; to have reality or being: The verb "be" expresses the fundamental state of existence.
- To occupy a position or location: "Be" indicates where something or someone is situated in space.
- To equal or represent identity: "Be" serves as a copula, linking a subject to its complement (a noun, adjective, or phrase) to state what or how the subject is.
- To occur; to take place: "Be" can denote that an event happens.
- To have a specific cost or value: "Be" is used to state a price.
- To remain in a state: "Be" can indicate staying in a particular condition.

Usage and Examples

Expressing existence:
- Is there a God? (This question asks about the existence of a deity.)
- There was a lot of noise in the kitchen. (This states that noise existed in the past.)
Indicating location or position:
- Where is my umbrella? (This asks for the umbrella's location.)
- The toolshed is in the back. (This states the position of the toolshed.)
Linking subject and complement (Copula):
- John is rich. ("Is" links the subject "John" to the adjective "rich".)
- The president of the company is John Smith. ("Is" links the subject to its identifying noun phrase.)
- This is not a good answer. ("Is" links "this" to the descriptive phrase.)
Expressing occurrence:
- This was during the visit to my parents' house. ("Was" indicates when an event took place.)
Stating cost:
- These shoes are $100. ("Are" states the price of the shoes.)
Expressing a state to remain in:
- Let her be. (This means "let her remain undisturbed.")

Advanced Usage

"Be" as an auxiliary verb: Used to form continuous (progressive) tenses and the passive voice.
- They are doing their work. (Present continuous tense.)
- The house is being built. (Present continuous passive voice.)
"Be to + infinitive": Used to express obligation, intention, or future arrangement.
- He is to leave for Hanoi tomorrow. (Expresses a planned future action.)
- What time am I to come? (Expresses obligation or instruction.)
"Have been": The present perfect form, used to express experience or a completed journey to a place.
- I've been to Peking once. (Expresses past experience of visiting.)
- Has anyone been during my absence? (Asks if anyone came/existed here in the past.)

Variants and Related Words

Synonyms

Related Phrases and Idioms

To be against: To oppose.
- He is against the new policy.
To be for: To support or be in favor of.
- I am for the proposal.
To be or not to be: A famous phrase questioning existence itself (from Shakespeare's ).
Let it be: An idiom meaning to leave something alone, to accept a situation without interference.

Noun

Verb

be priced at
- These shoes cost $100
to remain unmolested, undisturbed, or uninterrupted -- used only in infinitive form
- let her be
have life, be alive
- Our great leader is no more
- My grandfather lived until the end of war
spend or use time
- I may be an hour
represent, as of a character on stage
- Derek Jacobi was Hamlet
work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function
- He is a herpetologist
- She is our resident philosopher
form or compose
- This money is my only income
- The stone wall was the backdrop for the performance
- These constitute my entire belonging
- The children made up the chorus
- This sum represents my entire income for a year
- These few men comprise his entire army
be identical or equivalent to
- One dollar equals 1,000 rubles these days!
happen, occur, take place; this was during the visit to my parents' house"
- I lost my wallet
- There were two hundred people at his funeral
- There was a lot of noise in the kitchen
have an existence, be extant
- Is there a God?
occupy a certain position or area; be somewhere
- Where is my umbrella? The toolshed is in the back
- What is behind this behavior?
be identical to; be someone or something
- The president of the company is John Smith
- This is my house
have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)
- John is rich
- This is not a good answer

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