How to use Be Verb in English Grammar

The other terms of be verb are non-action verb and auxiliary. 

How to use Be Verb in English Grammar

The forms of be verb: 

The present form         : is, am, are

The past form         : was, were

The past participle         : been

The present participle      : being

Be verb is irregular verb. 

The be verb has some functions in English grammar. 

1. As a main verb in a sentence.

We can say that complete sentence is a sentence which has a single subject and a single verb. Look the example below:

a. The students are very active.

b. My car is so luxury.

If we notice the two sentences above, the be verb (are and is) used as main verb.

2. The be verb is used in tenses

In the simple present tense and past tense, the be verb is used as main verb.

The two functions of simple present tense are to talk about factual things and to describe any subjects and objects (things) around us. Look at the example below:

a. The house is very simple.

b. Jim is a professional doctor. 

c. I was a student in The English and Foreign Languages University.

The sentence a indicates that the use of be verb is as a main verb in the simple present tense to describe the subject (house).

The sentence b indicates that the use of be verb is also as main verb in simple present tense to talk about factual things such as job. 

The sentence c, the be verb is used as a main verb in past tense which shows a past experience. 

In the case of Present continuous tense or present progressive tense, the be verb is functioned as auxiliary.

Look at the examples below:

a. My teacher is teaching us about be verb.

b. The polices are investigating crime.

In the present perfect, past perfect, past continuous tense, the be verb is used as auxiliary.

For examples:

a. I have been here for an hour. (Present perfect tense)

b. I had been to Jakarta once before. (Past perfect tense)

c. I was visiting my classmate in hospital when my dad phoned me. (Past Continuous tense)

3. The be verb can be used with modals verb.

For examples:

a. I will be in Jakarta next month.

b. Ahmad might be tired.

4. The be verb can be used with a prepositional phrase.

a. The glass is on the table.

b The postman is at the mini market.