Unit 16: THE VERB "BE"

The verb be is unusual because it has eight (8) forms.

We use the base form be . . .

IN IMPERATIVES (Unit 18)

EXAMPLES: Be careful! This is a dangerous job.

AFTER TO

EXAMPLES: Try to be careful, please.

AFTER MODAL VERBS (Unit 27)

EXAMPLES:
You must be careful.
That platform might be unstable.

We use three (3) forms, am/ is/ are, for present tense

EXAMPLES:
I am trying to be careful.
He is very careful.
The employees are careful.

We use two (2) forms, was/ were, for past tense

EXAMPLES:
I was trying to be careful.
He was very careful all the time.
They were very careful.

NOTICE: If you are not sure about which form to use (am or is or are or was or were), look at Unit 4.

We use being . . .

IN CONTINUOUS FORMATIONS (Unit 22)

EXAMPLES:
You are being very careful.
They are being very careful.

AS PART OF THE SUBJECT

EXAMPLES: Being careful on the jobsite is very important.

We use been . . .

IN PERFECT FORMATIONS (Units Unit 24, Unit 26)

EXAMPLES:
He had been working for a long time.
They have been working here for years.
We've been working a lot lately.

NOTICE: Every passive formation (Unit 43) has a form of the verb be in it.

NOTICE: Unit 17 tells you more about be as an auxiliary verb.

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Exercise 16.1