Irregular verb
The verb to be
be → was/were → been
A1Meaning: to exist; to have a certain quality or state · Type: irregular · Frequency: Top 10 English verbs
Key points to remember
- Present Simple:
I am·he/she/it is·you/we/they are - Past Simple:
I/he/she/it was·you/we/they were - Past participle:
been - -ing form:
being
Conjugation of the verb to be
Present Simple
| I | am | I'm |
| You | are | You're |
| He / She / It | is | He's / She's / It's |
| We | are | We're |
| You (pl.) | are | You're |
| They | are | They're |
Past Simple
| I | was |
| You | were |
| He / She / It | was |
| We | were |
| You (pl.) | were |
| They | were |
All the forms of the verb to be
Present Simple
Full pageam / is / are
“I am tired. She is happy. They are late.”
See the pagePresent Continuous
Full pageam / is / are being
“He is being very kind today.”
See the pagePast Simple
Full pagewas / were
“I was at school. They were tired.”
See the pagePast Continuous
Full pagewas / were being
“You were being very quiet at dinner.”
See the pagePresent Perfect
Full pagehave / has been
“I have been to London twice.”
See the pagePast Perfect
Full pagehad been
“She had already been to London when I met her.”
See the pageFuture Simple
Full pagewill be
“I will be there tomorrow.”
See the pageGoing to Future
Full pageam / is / are going to be
“I'm going to be busy this weekend.”
See the pageConditional (would)
Full pagewould be
“I would be happy if I had more time.”
See the pageHow to use to be
1. Describing, identifying, saying where
Be is a state verb: it says what someone or something is, what they are like, or where they are.
- I am French.
- She is a teacher.
- They are at home.
2. Making the Present Continuous (be + -ing)
Be + verb + -ing describes an action in progress, happening at the moment you speak.
- I am working.
- She is sleeping.
3. Making the passive
Be + past participle makes the passive voice: the sentence focuses on the action, not on the person who does it.
- The book was written by Orwell.
- English is spoken here.
4. Common expressions with be
English uses be, not have, for age and for many feelings: be hungry (you need food), be thirsty (you need a drink), be right or be wrong, be afraid of something (feel fear).
- be hungry / thirsty / tired
- be 15 years old
- be right / wrong
- be afraid of
Common mistakes to avoid
1. I have 15 years old ❌
In English, age goes with be: I am 15 years old. I have 15 years is a common mistake. Many feelings also use be, not have: I am hungry, I am thirsty, I am cold.
2. He are happy ❌
With he, she and it, use is, not are: He is happy.
3. I have being there ❌
Been is the past participle: use it after have or has (I have been there). Being is the -ing form: use it after am, is or are (He is being silly).
Going further
Conjugating to be is a key skill in the English contest
Every year, the Big Challenge tests the key English verbs. Register your students so they can check their level in a real contest.
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Related pages: be
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Frequently asked questions
How do you conjugate be in the present?+
Be has three forms in the Present Simple. Use am with I (I am). Use is with he, she and it (she is). Use are with you, we and they (we are).
What is the past simple of be?+
The Past Simple of be has two forms. Use was with I, he, she and it: I was at home. Use were with you, we and they: They were late.
What is the past participle of be?+
The past participle of be is been. You use it in the Present Perfect, after have or has: I have been to London (I went there and came back).
What is the difference between I'm and I am?+
There is no difference in meaning: I'm is the short form (contraction) of I am. Use I'm when you speak and in informal writing. Use I am in formal writing, or to make your answer stronger: Yes, I am!
How do you make questions and negatives with be?+
Be does not need do. For a negative, put not after the verb: I am not, she is not (isn't), they are not (aren't). For a question, put the verb before the subject: Are you tired? Is she here?
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/be
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.