The verb be - auxiliary and main verb
- The verb be - long forms and contracted forms
- The verb be - auxiliary and main verb
- Forms of be - am, are, is - Exercise 1 Exercise 2 Exercise 3
- was or were - Exercise
- was not or were not - Exercise
The verb be can be an auxiliary verb or a main verb in English.
be as a main verb in the Simple Present (am, are, is)
| affirmative |
negative |
| I: |
| I am from England. |
I am not from England. |
| he, she, it: |
| He is from England. |
He is not from England. |
| we, you, they: |
| We are from England. |
We are not from England. |
be as a main verb in the Simple Past (was, were)
| affirmative |
negative |
| I, he, she, it: |
| I was here. |
I was not here. |
| we, you, they: |
| We were here. |
We were not here. |
be as an auxiliary verb in the Present Progressive (am, are, is)
| affirmative |
negative |
| I: |
| I am reading a book. |
I am not reading a book. |
| he, she, it: |
| He is reading a book. |
He is not reading a book. |
| we, you, they: |
| We are reading a book. |
We are not reading a book. |
be as an auxiliary verb in the passive:
Simple Present: A house is built.
Simple Past: A house was built.
will future: A house will be built.
going-to future: A house is going to be built.
