Previous: 3 Primary Helping Verbs
2.2.1.1.1 be
2.2.1.1.1.1 Forms of be:
2.2.1.1.1.1.1 1st person singular present tense: am
2.2.1.1.1.1.2 2nd person singular present tense, 1st person & 2nd person plural present tense: are
2.2.1.1.1.1.3 3rd person singular present tense: is
2.2.1.1.1.1.4 1st person & 3rd person singular past tense: was
2.2.1.1.1.1.5 2nd person singular past tense, 1st person & 2nd person plural past tense: were
2.2.1.1.1.1.6 Present participle: being
2.2.1.1.1.1.7 Past participle: been
2.2.1.1.1.2 Functions of be:
2.2.1.1.1.2.1 Use the forms am, is, are, was and were with a present participle to form
continuous tense. For example:
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He was watching the NBA game.
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They are coming to our party this evening.
2.2.1.1.1.2.2 Use the forms am, is, are, was and were with a past participle to form passive
voice. For example:
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The house was painted last year.
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Smoking is not permitted here.