Today we will learn about perhaps the most common verb in the English language - the verb - to be - to be, to be, to appear.

How to conjugate a verb in 3 tenses

• 1.Present tense
• 2.Past tense
• 3. Present tense

	Present tense	Past tense	Future
	am I am		shall/will
	are he is
	is he, she, it is
	are you, you are		shall/will
	are we are
	are they are

In Russian the verb to be, to be, to be may not be used:

For example:

• 1. I am a student (instead of I am a student)
• 2. I am a girl (instead of I am a girl)
• 3. I am a boy (instead of I am a boy)

The presence of the verb to be is required!

But in English presence of verbtobeNecessarily! Even if the sentence cannot be translated into Russian. Let's give an example:

To say “I’m a girl,” you must add the verb to be to the sentence:

“I am a girl” - which translated into English means “I am a girl.”

Let's give a few more examples for understanding:

• 1. I am 20 - I am 20 (I am 20)
• 2. It is an animal - This is an animal (This is an animal)
• 3. I am singer - I am a singer (I am a singer)
• 4. She is Masha - Her name is Masha (She is Masha)

English also uses shortened forms of verbs. Let's give a couple of examples:

• 1. I am = I "m
• 2. She is = She"s
• 3. You are = You"re
• 4. She is not = She isn't
• 5. They are not = They aren't

To be in interrogative sentences

Let's look at another difference between the Russian and English languages. In Russian, affirmative and interrogative sentences differ only in sign. Let's give an example:

They are students - a statement.

They are students? - question.

Another small difference between the affirmative and interrogative forms in Russian is, of course, interrogative intonation.

In English, an affirmative and interrogative sentence can be said with the same intonation. And in order to distinguish between interrogative and affirmative sentences, the English completely change the order of words in the sentence:

• 1. She is a nice - She is beautiful.
• 2. Is she a nice? - She's beautiful?

And in order to ask a question, you need to change the auxiliary pronoun she and the verb is (tobe) in places.

To be in negative sentences

Also in Russian the particle “not” is used to express negation, and in English the particle “not”. Let's give a couple of examples:

• 1. She is not (isn`t) at home - She Not Houses.
• 2. They are not (aren`t) enemies - They Not enemies.

Now, to consolidate everything we have learned, consider the table of changes in forms of the verb to be.

Table of changes in forms of the verb To Be

It is also worth adding that the verb to be as an independent verb it is usually used to denote the age of people, the size of objects, the price of goods, time, weather, characteristics of people.

And as an auxiliary verb to be used to form continuous tenses and the passive voice (am/is/are/was/were).

That's how we learned the independent/auxiliary verb tobe in English today!

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Knowing English opens many doors. That is why it is actively studied in almost all countries of the world. Currently, more than a billion people around the planet use this language on a regular basis. This number includes those for whom English is their native language, as well as those who use it as a foreign language: for contacts with business partners, communication with foreign friends, entertainment of various kinds and, in fact, study. In general, learning any foreign language increases mental activity, logical and abstract thinking, as well as the ability to navigate unexpected situations.

How to Master English Grammar

For many students of English, its grammatical structure poses a certain difficulty. In reality, there is nothing complicated there (especially if you compare, for example, with the Russian language!), it is enough to understand the important patterns once and remember the basic forms well. However, memorization comes through practice: doing exercises, reading, writing letters or essays, oral communication. The best way to master English grammar is to do it naturally.

It often happens that a person knows a rule, but cannot apply it in his speech. Such difficulties are eliminated by practice - and the more and more varied it is (writing, reading, speaking, listening), the faster and better the result.

Remember also that each person has his own, purely individual, pace of mastering new knowledge and the ability to apply it in the practice of his own speech. For example, if you are studying in a group where some students master grammatical rules faster and more correctly than you, there is no need to lose heart. you, too, will one day begin to speak English confidently and without mistakes. The main thing is to keep training.

Verb forms “is”/“are”: use in speech

If you have recently started learning English, then you are familiar with this situation: you want to say something, but the fear of making a mistake gets in the way and causes timidity. To avoid this, try to understand the rule and, most importantly, practice the exercises more.

One of the common grammatical difficulties arises when the verb connectives “is”/“are” are confused. The use of data to be depends solely on the person of the pronoun in each specific case. We are talking about a pronoun that functions as a subject. For example:

I am a student. - I am a student.

If the subject is a noun or proper name, then you need to mentally replace it with the appropriate pronoun. Then a conjugation scheme will definitely come to your mind, including the connecting verbs “is”/“are”, the use of which often causes difficulties.

Kate (?) a student -> She is a student.

To be sure which form of the verb to use, you need to firmly remember the principle of conjugation.

to be (present tense)

Statement

Negation

Question

Cases such as the use of “is” in English usually refer to descriptive situations. When we want to characterize something that is in the singular (can be replaced by the pronoun it), or someone acting as “he” or “she”, then, without a doubt, we need to use the form “is”. Examples:

It is great. - (It is perfectly.

He is old. - He is old.

She is a doctor. - She is a doctor.

The main thing that needs to be firmly understood: “am”, “is”, “are”, the use of which sometimes causes difficulties, are not three different verbs, but one and the same - the verb to be (to be).

Conjugation of the verb to be (past tense)

Now let’s look at the next issue that causes difficulties for some English learners, namely the rules for using “was”/“were”. This is also the same verb, and not two different ones at all. Moreover, these two verb forms are directly related to “am”, “is”, “are”. Can you guess why? That's right, it's all the same verb to be.

And now more about these correspondences. The past tense form “was” is used only in the singular and corresponds to the pronouns: I, it, he, she. The form “were” is used with the pronouns you, we, they and is most often used in the plural. For example:

I was at home. - I was at home.

It was hot. - It was hot.

They were happy. - They were happy.

There are only two situations where the predicate verb “were” in a sentence can refer to a singular subject. The first case: when the pronoun “you” implies the translation of “you” or “You” (that is, one person). The second case: the so-called conditional clauses, in which the form “if I were” is possible.

Have you been to...

In communication between people, situations often arise when you need to ask a person about his past experience: where he was, what he did, whether he finished the job he started. In such cases, a special construction is used from the forms of two verbs: to have + semantic verb.

Often the already well-known “to be” appears. Depending on the subject used (and which pronoun can be replaced), there are two varieties: “have been” and “has been”. The first is used with the pronouns you, we, they, the second - with I, it, he, she. For example:

Have you been to Europe? -Have you been to Europe?

She has been on the excursion. - She was on an excursion.

As a rule, the use of has been is associated with such situations when we mean:

• some lived experience;
• completeness or result of some matter;
• the importance of the fact that the action was performed (while the time of its occurrence is not particularly important);
• the need to emphasize how long this action has been taking place.

Let's look at the last mentioned situation in a little more detail.

How long...?

In such cases, the tense is used. It is formed according to the scheme: + been + Ving, where V is a semantic verb. For example:

I have been studying English for 3 months. - I have been studying English for 3 months already (that is, I started studying in the past and have continued to do so for a certain period of time).

He hasn’t been riding a bike for a long time. - He hasn’t ridden a bike for a long time (that is, he stopped riding sometime in the past, hasn’t ridden for a long time and still hasn’t ridden a bike).

I am going to do...

In English, in addition to the usual future tense, the construction “to be going to” is actively used. The use of this grammatical construction refers to situations where you are planning or know exactly what you will do. Often this construction is used to predict what (in your opinion) should happen soon: it will rain, there will be a traffic jam on the road, whether someone will like or not like a gift given to them. “Intend”, “get together” - this is how the phrase “to be going to” is most often translated. Its use in a sentence is associated with the change to be to “am”, “is”, “are”.

For example:

I am going to learn English next month. - I intend to learn English starting next month.

We are going to visit granny at the weekend. - We are going to visit grandma this weekend.

It's going to rain. - It's going to rain.

I am used to...

In conclusion, let’s look at the use of “be used to”. This stable construction is used quite often in colloquial speech. Its meaning is “to get used to something.” For example:

It is used to Russian winter. - He is accustomed (used) to the Russian winter.

He is used to living in winter cold. - He is accustomed (used) to living in the winter cold.

However, you need to watch and listen carefully so as not to confuse “be used to” with the very similar construction “use to” (and its corresponding past tense form, “used to”).

What is the difference between these two expressions? Firstly, in the meaning: “be used to” - “get used to”, “use to” - “do something in the past, but now no longer” (analogous to the Past Simple). This is best understood through examples.

Be used to

I’m used to my work hours. - I'm used to my working day.

He is used to TV noise. - He got used to the noise of the TV.

I used to live here before. - I lived here before (but I don’t live here anymore).

I didn’t use to have a mobile phone 10 years ago. - I didn’t have a mobile phone 10 years ago (but now I do).

From the examples, the second difference between these two, at first glance very similar, structures is also obvious. The one that is translated “get used to” is equipped with the verb to be (am, is, are). And the other one, accordingly, is not. Simple attentiveness, a little practice - and you will easily learn to distinguish between these two “insidious” formulations.

The same applies to any grammar. Understand the essence and practice more often: in exercises, reading, writing or oral communication. As the British say: “Practice makes perfect.” This can be translated into Russian as: “The master’s work is afraid.” So let the most difficult and tricky grammatical rules be afraid of your determination. Have a great time!

According to the rule, the verb to be in English plays many roles: a semantic verb, part of a compound verbal and nominal predicate, and is part of various expressions. It is necessary to become familiar with the main uses of this multifunctional word.

Meaning of “to be”

This verb is translated as “to be, to be, to appear.” The main functions of “to be” are:

• semantic verb:

Jack is at the hospital. Jack is in the hospital.

• linking verb or part of a compound nominal predicate:

I am busy every day. - I'm busy every day.

• auxiliary verb as part of various complex constructions:

I will be working at the canteen at 5. – I will work in the canteen at 5 o’clock. (will be working – Future Simple – present simple tense)

The table was painted with an old brush. – The table was painted with an old brush. (was painted – Past Simple Passive – passive voice)

The universal nature of to be has led to its use as a modal verb.

The train is to leave the station at 3. – The train must leave the station at 3. (modal verb)

There are also many set expressions where the verb to be is used. The list of basic phraseological units includes:

• to be late for (class, train)– be late somewhere (lesson, train, etc.);
• to be back- return;
• to be in love- to be in love;
• to be ill- get sick;
• to be good at something- to prove oneself good at something;
• to be hungry/thirsty– want to eat/drink;
• to be hot/cold– experience heat/cold;
• to be sorry about something- to regret something;
• to be interested in something- be interested in something;
• to be aware of something- to know about something, to be aware of something;
• to be on- go on radio, television.

I will be back in an hour. - I'll be back in an hour. (to be back – return, stable expression)

Table “Verb tu bi in English”

To remember how this verb changes tenses, you need to use a diagram.

The verb to be does not have a Present Perfect Continuous form.

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Although the table shows the Present Continuous tense form, this option is used very rarely to express indignation at the situation or behavior of another person.

She is being noisy again! I can't hear a word! - She's making noise again! I can't hear a word!

Verb be (be) in the present tense has three forms: am, is, are:
am used only with a pronounI (I).
is - with nounssingular.
are - with nounsin plural . Pronoun you in English it is always plural, although it can be translated into Russian as “you” or “you”.

Verb Declension Table to be in the present simple tense:

I I	am	(not) (Not)	fine.
He he/She she/It it	is
We we /You you /They they	are

		I"m
	abbreviations:	He's
		You"re

I am a student. - He is a student. - You are a student. - They are students.
I (am) a student. He (is) a student. Are you student. They are students.

I"m not hungry, but I"m thirsty.
I'm not hungry, but I'm thirsty. (thirsty - adjective)

Kristy(she) is my niece.
Christy is my niece.

The weather is n"t very nice today.
The weather today is not very pleasant.

Kittens(they) are very funny.
Kittens are very funny.

My sister and I(we) are big fans of Lady Gaga.
My sister and I are big Lady Gaga fans.

"Game of Thrones"(it) is the most expensive TV show.
"Game of Thrones" is the most expensive TV series.

In an interrogative sentence, am, is, are come before subject to. (In a declarative sentence, the verbs am, is, are come after the subject).

Am	I	fine?	Yes, I am ./No, I"m not.
Is	he/she/it		Yes, he is ./No, he is n"t.
Are	we/you/they		Yes, we are ./No, we are n"t.

Are are you busy? - No, I"m not. I"m free now.
You're busy? - No. I'm free now.

Am I right? - No, you are n"t. You are wrong.
I'm right? - No. You're wrong. (wrong - adjective)

Where is my rucksack? Your rucksack (it) is under the desk.
Where's my backpack? - Your backpack is under the table.

How old are your children (they)? - My son (he) is 8 and my daughter (she) is 6.
How old are your children? - My son is 8, and my daughter is 6.

The pie is so delicious. Is the recipe difficult?
This pie is so delicious. Is his recipe complicated?

Use of verbs am, is, are:
It is uncharacteristic of the Russian language to use the verb “to be” in the present tense, and is omitted in translation. And in English the verb to be is very important, since it is linking verb- connects different parts of speech (2 nouns, a noun and an adjective, a pronoun and a noun). Otherwise the sentence is incomplete in meaning: Our daughter is a biologist. - If translated literally, everything is fine - Our daughter is a biologist. But in English, without the verb is, this sentence is grammatically incorrect, since it is not clear how the daughter and the biologist are related. For your daughter to “become” a biologist, you need to connect these two nouns with the verb is - Our daughter is a biologist. - Our daughter (is/is) a biologist.

Remember! Sentence in English cannot exist without a verb, therefore, if there is no semantic verb in a Russian sentence, then in this sentence in English it is necessary to use the linking verb “to be”, i.e. am, is or are:

Klaus comes from Germany.
Klaus is from Germany. (come is a semantic verb - the verb is is not needed)
Klaus is from Germany.
Klaus from Germany. (without is the sentence will remain without a verb)

You look beautiful!
You look great! (there is a verb look)
You are beautiful.
You are wonderful! (no semantic verb)

This dog seems very clever.
This dog seems very smart. (there is a verb seem)
This dog is very clever.
This dog is very smart. (no semantic verb)

Note! Some verbs of the Russian language into English are translated by adjectives with the verb to be: late (late), tired (tired), ill (sick), angry (angry), afraid (afraid), thirsty (thirsty).

I "m too tired to cook.
I'm too tired to cook.

Why are you always late?
Why are you always late?

I don't understand why she is angry with me.
I don't understand why she's angry with me.

My son and husband (they) are ill.
My son and husband got sick.

Little kids are often afraid of the dark.
Young children are often afraid of the dark.

>When is the verb to be used?

When is the verb to be used in English?

Here you can find out when the verb to be is used.

Before talking about when the verb to be is used, it is necessary to recall that this is a special verb in the English language.
First, it has different forms for different pronouns. In Present Indefinite time am - for the pronoun I, is - for he, she, it, are - for we, you, they. In the tense Past Indefinite was - for singular pronouns, were - for plural pronouns. Secondly, the verb to be, unlike other verbs, is used to compose interrogative and negative sentences.

These features of the verb to be should always be remembered. The verb to be appears almost everywhere in English, and the most common occurrences are listed below.

1. Using the verb to be as a linking verb.
In this meaning, the verb to be is translated as to be, to appear.

For example.
He is an engineer - He is an engineer (he is an engineer).
Mary will be an economist next year - Mary will be a teacher next year.

If you pay attention, such sentences are translated into Russian without a verb. And since in English there cannot be a sentence without a verb, its function is performed by the verb to be, being a linking verb.

2. Using the verb to be as a semantic verb.
In this meaning, the verb to be is translated as to be, to be.

For example.
He isn't at the university - He is not at the university (he is not at the university).
I will be there at 6 o"clock - I will be there at six o'clock.

In such sentences, when translated, the verb to be is also often not translated.

3. Using the verb to be as an auxiliary verb.

a) In all tenses of the Continuous group.
I am calling him now - I’m calling him now.
My mother was cooking, when I came - My mother was cooking when I came.
I will be still sleeping at 3 o"clock - I will still sleep at 3 o'clock.

b) In all tenses of the group Perfect Continuous.
I have been waiting a long time for my sister - I have been waiting for my sister for a long time.
I had been sleeping for three hours when my mother came - I was sleeping for three hours when my mother came.

B) In all tenses of the passive voice.
The car was bought yesterday - The car was bought yesterday.
We were invited to a party - We were invited to a party.

4. Using the verb to be as a modal verb.
We are to do it at once - We must do it immediately.

5. The use of the verb to be as part of the phrase there is/there are.

The verb to be is part of a phrase.
There is a lamp in my room - There is a lamp in my room.