English reference

be

to link someone or something to an identity, description, state, or location

Irregular · 16 form tables

You covers singular and plural. Forms are shown for the meaning listed; some continuous forms need a dynamic use of the verb.

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Present

Present simple

be: Present simple
Person, form or usageForm and meaning
I
you
he/she/it
we
they

Present continuous

be: Present continuous
Person, form or usageForm and meaning
I
you
he/she/it
we
they

Present perfect

be: Present perfect
Person, form or usageForm and meaning
I
you
he/she/it
we
they

Present perfect continuous

be: Present perfect continuous
Person, form or usageForm and meaning
I
you
he/she/it
we
they

Past

Past simple

be: Past simple
Person, form or usageForm and meaning
I
you
he/she/it
we
they

Past continuous

be: Past continuous
Person, form or usageForm and meaning
I
you
he/she/it
we
they

Past perfect

be: Past perfect
Person, form or usageForm and meaning
I
you
he/she/it
we
they

Past perfect continuous

be: Past perfect continuous
Person, form or usageForm and meaning
I
you
he/she/it
we
they

Future

Future (will)

be: Future (will)
Person, form or usageForm and meaning
I
you
he/she/it
we
they

Future (going to)

be: Future (going to)
Person, form or usageForm and meaning
I
you
he/she/it
we
they

Future continuous

be: Future continuous
Person, form or usageForm and meaning
I
you
he/she/it
we
they

Future perfect

be: Future perfect
Person, form or usageForm and meaning
I
you
he/she/it
we
they

Future perfect continuous

be: Future perfect continuous
Person, form or usageForm and meaning
I
you
he/she/it
we
they

Conditional

Conditional (would)

be: Conditional (would)
Person, form or usageForm and meaning
I
you
he/she/it
we
they

Conditional perfect

be: Conditional perfect
Person, form or usageForm and meaning
I
you
he/she/it
we
they

Imperative

Imperative

be: Imperative
Person, form or usageForm and meaning
you
we

Additional forms

Infinitive with to
Gerund
Present participle
Past participle
Past infinitive
Perfect participle

Forms from the Loquus reference. Only supplied forms are shown. Browse all English entries.

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