Basic English Grammar: All forms of the verb TO BE

TRANSCRIPT

So, the infinitive, the base form: "to be". Okay? And then in the present tense: "am", "are", and "is" for the different people. First-, second-, third-person, singular, and plural. Okay? So: "I am" - first person; "you are" - second-person"; "he", "she", "it", "is" - third-person. They're all singular. And then in the plural: "we are" - first-person plural, "we are"; "you are" - second-person plural; and "they are" - third-person plural. So, "are" is used in all of the plural forms, so that's easier to remember. Okay. So: "am", "are", "is" are the options in the present tense. Okay.

So, then when we move to the past tense, it changes completely. So, it's: "was" and "were". So, you might think: "Is that really part of the verb 'to be'? It looks completely different", but it is. "I was", "you were", "he was", "she was", "it was", "we were", "you were", "they were". Okay? "Was" and "were" in the past... Simple past tense. Okay.

And then, for the future, it's very, very easy. The future tense for all English verbs is very easy, because you just use this word: "will" plus the base form of the verb. "Will be". So, where some verbs in some languages, you change the ending of the verb to form the future tense, in English, we just add this word in front. "Will", "will be", "will sing", "will eat", "will drink", "will talk". It's just "will", so that's nice and easy. Okay. But it's the base form from the infinitive that you use with "will". "Will be". Right.

And then we come to the present participle, the "ing" form, which is: "being", so that's easy. You've got the base form plus "ing", which is just like a lot of other... All the other verbs "ing"; "drinking", "eating", "talking". Right. So, somebody... You could say: "Oh, the shop assistant is being helpful". Or: "A friend of mine is being silly", or "being difficult", or whatever. So, in the present participle; a sort of continuous activity of being helpful, or being silly, or being difficult. Okay.

And based on this present participle, you can also use it as a noun. "A being" is a person... It's a strange word for a person, really. "A being". It's when you think: "Oo, is that...? Is that an alien or something? What is that being over there? Is that a human"? "Being". We do have the term: "human being", that's quite a normal word to use with the word "human". "Human being". Okay? But "beings" in the plural often suggests aliens from some other planet. Beings from Mars, or something like that. Okay? So, you can use it as a noun. Right.

And then, finally, in this part of the lesson, the past participle is "been". "Been". Okay? So, you got "be" and "en" added. And with the past participle, you have to use the auxiliary verb. "Have" or "has". "Has been". "It has been a really good day.", "We have been to the seaside", something like that. We went to... On holiday... "We have been somewhere really nice today.", "The weather has been really good." Okay? So that's the past participle.

And, again, just like here, you can have a noun: "a has-been" with a little hyphen in it. "He's just... Oh, he's a has-been." It may be someone who's had a really good career, but now he's finished; he's past his best. So, it's not a very nice way to talk about somebody. "Oh, that old has-been, you know?" And it's like just thinking somebody's finished and they're of no interest, or no use to anybody anymore. So, it's not a very nice thing to say about anybody. […]

[amaraamara]

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[diycreativeideahrs]

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[lamacamp]

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[unbox]

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[SrValeriaF]

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[brothersumitkumar]

The way you described 'to be' here is amazing.

[infinity]

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[Dinar]

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[itzelarteaga]

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[susanneprendel]

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[LaMansionDelIngles]

Another very clear and thorough explanation. Nice one, Gill!

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[tegegnlemma]

You're amazing teacher for me just the way you are be Gill !

[weyou]

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[gabriel]

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[ОльгаВоробьева-щю]

Beautiful Lady and brilliant teacher.🌹🌷🌺 Thanks a lot.

[MIREYLIA]

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[Betterworldforyou.]

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Bless you !

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