Be Verbs

To be is one of the most common and confusing English verbs. It tells us what something is, who they are and what I am.

I go home. Home is my place to rest. I like the smell of my house. I feel totally relaxed. Home refreshes me. At home, I get ready for a new day.

"Be" verbs indicate a state of being.

Subject verb agreement is very important:

I am English.
He is funny.
We are late.

Negatives:

verb + not = negative sentence

I am not English.
He is not funny.
We are not late.

Making questions

'Be' is the first word in questions:

Am I a English?
Is he funny?
Are we late?

With nouns

His mother is a lawyer.
Bill Gates was the founder of Microsoft.

With adjectives

The weather was terrible.
Your friends are fun.

In continuous forms

We were driving home.
It has been three weeks since I saw him.

In passive forms

Star Wars was first released in 1977.
This dog is called Scruffy.
My girlfriend was born in Moscow.

In prepositional phrases

The bowl on the kitchen floor is for the dog.
The children in the garden are all related to me.

Choose the correct verb to complete each sentence:

• 1) She ___ abroad now.
  
  is
  was
  am
  were
  
  
• 2) We ___ just talking about you.
  
  were
  am
  was
  is
  
  
• 3) ___ my brother or parents with you?
  
  Are
  Am
  Be
  Is
  
  
• 4) Half of the employees ___ not in work over Christmas.
  
  is
  are
  been
  be
  
  
• 5) Have you ever ___ to London?
  
  was
  been
  are
  is
  
  
• 6) James and his sister ___ very tall.
  
  was
  be
  is
  are
  
  
• 7) They ___ engaged.
  
  be
  is
  are
  was
  
  
• 8) This tree ___ planted by my grandmother.
  
  is
  are
  was
  am
  
  
• 9) ___ the food good?
  
  Are
  Were
  Was
  Am
  
  
• 10) We ___ all going to Bristol tomorrow.
  
  Was
  Is
  Are
  Be