be
be
Pronunciation
be
/biː/
be: /biː/ (The word "be" is a single-syllable word.)
Word Form Variations
The word "be" is a highly irregular verb and has numerous forms depending on tense, person, and number. It does not have typical singular/plural noun forms.
Infinitive: be
Present Simple:
I am
You are
He/She/It is
We are
You are
They are
Past Simple:
I was
You were
He/She/It was
We were
You were
They were
Present Participle: being
Past Participle: been
Subjunctive: be (e.g., "I suggest that he be here.")
Imperative: be (e.g., "Be quiet!)
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
Definition 1 (Intransitive): To exist; to have reality or presence.
Synonyms: exist, live, subsist, occur, happen
Antonyms: cease, end, vanish, disappear
Example: "To be or not to be, that is the question."
Definition 2 (Linking Verb): To function as a copula, connecting the subject to a predicate noun, adjective, or adverb, thereby describing or identifying the subject's state, quality, or identity.
Synonyms: equal, represent, signify, denote, form
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms as a linking verb, as it's about connection rather than opposition)
Example: "She is a doctor." "The sky is blue." "He is in the garden."
Definition 3 (Auxiliary Verb): Used to form various tenses, particularly continuous (progressive) tenses and passive voice.
Synonyms: (As an auxiliary, it doesn't have direct synonyms that can replace it without changing the grammatical structure.)
Antonyms: (Not applicable for an auxiliary verb.)
Example: "They are studying." (Continuous) "The ball was hit by him." (Passive)
Definition 4 (Intransitive): To take place; to occur or happen.
Synonyms: happen, occur, transpire, unfold, materialize
Antonyms: prevent, stop, halt, impede
Example: "The meeting will be at 3 PM."
Examples of Use
Books:
"To be or not to be, that is the question: Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles And by opposing end them." (William Shakespeare, Hamlet) - Classic example of "to exist."
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." (George Orwell, Animal Farm) - Illustrates the linking verb function, particularly for describing states.
"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities) - Demonstrates "was" as a past tense linking verb to describe a period.
Newspapers:
"The government's new policy is set to be announced next week." (The Daily Nation, Kenya, June 28, 2025) - Shows "is" as a linking verb and "be" in a future infinitive construction.
"Experts say the economic outlook continues to be challenging." (The Standard, Kenya, June 27, 2025) - Uses "be" to describe a continuous state.
"Security forces were deployed to the area after reports of unrest." (Reuters, June 26, 2025) - Example of "were" in the past passive voice.
Online Publications:
"Why is your internet so slow? Here are five reasons." (TechCrunch.com, "Why Your Internet Is So Slow, And How To Fix It," June 25, 2025) - Uses "is" and "are" as linking verbs for explanation.
"The new AI model is being developed by a team of researchers in Silicon Valley." (Wired.com, "The Latest in AI Development," June 24, 2025) - Demonstrates "is being" for present continuous passive voice.
"Travel restrictions may be lifted by the end of the year." (CNN.com, "Global Travel Update," June 23, 2025) - Illustrates "be" as part of a modal verb construction.
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Music: "Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be. Whisper words of wisdom, let it be." (The Beatles, "Let It Be") - Repetitive use of "be" in an imperative sense, conveying acceptance and allowing things to happen.
Film: "May the Force be with you." (Star Wars franchise) - A famous blessing using "be" in a subjunctive sense, expressing a wish or hope.
Television (Dialogue): "Don't be ridiculous!" (Common phrase in many TV shows) - Uses "be" as an imperative, often expressing exasperation or dismissal.
Podcast: "Our guest today is a leading expert in climate science, and he'll be discussing the latest research findings." (Science Friday, recent episode) - Uses "is" as a linking verb and "be" for future continuous action.
Video Games: "You must be quick to defeat this enemy." (Instructional text in various action games) - Employs "be" with a modal verb for necessity.
General Public Discourse:
"How are you doing today?" (Common greeting) - Uses "are" as a linking verb inquiring about one's state.
"I want to be happy." (Everyday aspiration) - Expresses a desire for a particular state of being.
"It was a great party last night." (Casual conversation about a past event) - Uses "was" to describe a past state or characteristic.
"Let's be careful." (Suggestion or warning) - Uses "be" as an imperative to encourage caution.
"Things will be different next time." (Expression of future expectation) - Uses "will be" for future tense.
10 Famous Quotes Using Be
"To be, or not to be: that is the question." (William Shakespeare, Hamlet)
"Let there be light." (Genesis 1:3, The Bible)
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
"To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment." (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
"I think, therefore I am." (René Descartes)
"May the Force be with you." (From the Star Wars film franchise)
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." (Mahatma Gandhi)
"It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known." (Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities)
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." (George Orwell, Animal Farm)
"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened." (Often attributed to Dr. Seuss, though widely debated if it is his original quote)
Etymology
The word "be" has a really long and fascinating history, tracing its roots back thousands of years to a language called Proto-Indo-European (PIE). This was the ancestor of many languages spoken today, including English, Latin, Greek, Sanskrit, and more.
Here's the cool part: the English "to be" isn't from just one single old word, but actually a mix of forms from several different PIE roots! It's like a linguistic "greatest hits" album.
Let's break it down:
The "be" part: This comes from a PIE root that sounded something like *bʰuH- (the "H" is a special sound called a laryngeal that we don't have in English anymore). This root generally meant "to grow, to become, or to exist." In Old English (the earliest form of English, from around 450-1150 AD), this gave us forms like beon and beo, which could mean "to be" or "to come to be/become." These forms were often used for things that were generally true or for future events.
The "am," "is," "are" part: These forms come from a different PIE root, *h₁es-, which specifically meant "to exist." In Old English, this root gave us forms like eom (which became "am") and is. These forms were typically used for statements about the present state of being.
The "was," "were" part: The past tense forms are often traced back to yet another PIE root, *h₂wes- (sometimes simplified as wes-), which had meanings related to "to dwell, to remain, or to live." In Old English, this was the verb wesan, which provided the past tense for the "to be" verb.
So, in Old English, you essentially had two main verbs for "to be" (beon and wesan) that had slightly different uses, plus other forms that came from the "exist" root. Over time, these different forms from different roots gradually blended and "suppleted" each other, meaning they borrowed parts from each other's conjugation patterns, to create the very irregular and complex verb "to be" we have today.
First Known Use and Meaning:
Because these roots are so ancient (thousands of years before English even existed), pinpointing the "very first" known use is difficult in the way we might for a newer word. However, we can say that the core meanings of existence, becoming, and a state of being were present in these earliest reconstructed PIE roots.
In Old English, we see forms like beon and wesan used in various texts. For example, beon was often used for "gnomic truths" (general statements of fact, like "birds are fast") and for expressing future events, while wesan was more commonly used for immediate present existence ("he is a warrior"). So, the meaning of "to exist" or "to be in a certain state" was foundational from the very beginning of English.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Be
To be or not to be: A famous philosophical question about existence and the choice between life and death.
To be all ears: To be listening very attentively.
To be in hot water: To be in trouble or a difficult situation.
To be beside oneself: To be overcome with a strong emotion, often anger or grief.
To be on cloud nine: To be extremely happy.
To be fed up (with something/someone): To be annoyed or bored with something or someone.
To be up in the air: To be uncertain or undecided.
To be over the moon: To be ecstatic; extremely pleased.
To be a piece of cake: To be very easy.
To be caught red-handed: To be discovered in the act of doing something wrong.
To be barking up the wrong tree: To be pursuing a mistaken course of action or making a wrong assumption.
To be in two minds: To be unable to decide between two courses of action.
To be under the weather: To be slightly ill or unwell.
To be fair and square: To be honest and just.
To be on the same page: To have the same understanding or be in agreement.
To be at a crossroads: To be at a point where a crucial decision needs to be made.
To be worth one's salt: To be competent and deserving of one's pay or position.
To be a chip off the old block: To resemble one's parent in character or appearance.
To be a blessing in disguise: Something that seems bad at first but turns out to be beneficial.
To be out of the woods: To be out of danger or difficulty.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of be from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
