be
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be
exist, live; take place; happen; to belong; attend: I’ll be at the concert.
Not to be confused with:
bee – an insect, as a bumblebee or honeybee; a community social gathering: a sewing bee; a spelling bee
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
Be
The symbol for beryllium.
BE
abbr.
1. Bachelor of Education
2. Bachelor of Engineering
3. barium enema
4. bill of exchange
5. Board of Education
Bé
abbr.
Baumé scale
be
(bē)v. First and third person singular past indicative was (wŭz, wŏz; wəz when unstressed) second person singular and plural and first and third person plural past indicative were (wûr) past subjunctive were past participle been (bĭn) present participle be·ing (bē′ĭng) first person singular present indicative am (ăm) second person singular and plural and first and third person plural present indicative are (är) third person singular present indicative is (ĭz) present subjunctive be
v. intr.
1. To exist in actuality; have life or reality: I think, therefore I am.
2.
a. To occupy a specified position: The food is on the table.
b. To remain in a certain state or situation undisturbed, untouched, or unmolested: Let the children be.
3. To take place; occur: The test was yesterday.
4. To go or come: Have you ever been to Italy? Have you been home recently?
5. Used as a copula in such senses as:
a. To equal in identity: "To be a Christian was to be a Roman" (James Bryce).
b. To have a specified significance: A is excellent, C is passing. Let n be the unknown quantity.
c. To belong to a specified class or group: The human being is a primate.
d. To have or show a specified quality or characteristic: She is witty. All humans are mortal.
e. To seem to consist or be made of: The yard is all snow. He is all bluff and no bite.
6. To belong; befall: Peace be unto you. Woe is me.
v. aux.
1. Used with the past participle of a transitive verb to form the passive voice: The mayoral election is held annually.
2. Used with the present participle of a verb to express a continuing action: We are working to improve housing conditions.
3. Used with the infinitive of a verb to express intention, obligation, or future action: She was to call before she left. You are to make the necessary changes.
4. Used with the past participle of certain intransitive verbs to form a perfect tense: Those days are gone. Let me know when you are finished.
[Middle English ben, from Old English bēon; see bheuə- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots. See am, is, etc. for links to other Indo-European roots.]
Usage Note: Traditional grammar requires the subjective form of the pronoun in the predicate of the verb be: It is I (not me), That must be they (not them), and so forth. The rule is based on the vague notion that the complement of be is being equated with the subject of the sentence and so it should be treated like the subject and have subjective case. This reasoning is faulty because the grammatical case of a noun or pronoun is really determined by its position in the sentence, not by what it refers to, and in anything but the most formal style the complement of be takes objective case: people say It's me, not It's I. Indeed, in informal contexts the subjective pronoun can sound pretentious and even ridiculous, especially when the pronoun also functions as the object of a verb or preposition in the relative clause, as in It isn't them/they that we have in mind, where the third-person pronoun serves as both the complement of is and the object of have. In our 2016 survey, 71 percent of the Usage Panel accepted It isn't them that we have in mind, while only 53 percent accepted It isn't they that we have in mind. Following the traditional rule in such cases is more of a stylistic preference than a grammatical imperative. Fortunately, writers who wish to avoid sounding stilted but prefer not to violate the standard rule can usually revise their sentences easily enough: They are not the ones we have in mind, We have someone else in mind, and so on. See Usage Notes at I1, we.
Our Living Language In place of the inflected forms of be, such as is and are, used in Standard English, African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and some varieties of Southern American English may use zero copula, as in He working, or an invariant be, as in He be working, instead of the Standard English He is working. As an identifying feature of the vernacular of many African Americans, invariant be has been frequently seized on by writers and commentators trying to imitate or parody black speech. However, most imitators use it simply as a substitute for is, as in John be sitting in that chair now, without realizing that within AAVE, invariant be is used primarily for habitual or extended actions set in the present. Among African Americans the form is most commonly used by working-class speakers and young persons. Since the 1980s, younger speakers have tended to restrict the use of the form to progressive verb forms (as in He be walking), whereas their parents also use it with adjectives (as in He be nice) and expressions referring to a location (as in He be at home). Younger speakers also use invariant be more exclusively to indicate habitual action, whereas older speakers more commonly omit be forms (as in He walking) or use present tense verb forms (such as He walks), sometimes with adverbs like often or usually, to indicate habituality. · The source of invariant habitual be in AAVE is still disputed. Some linguists suggest that it represents influence from finite be in the 17th- to 19th-century English of British settlers, especially those from the southwest of England. Other linguists feel that contemporaneous Irish or Scotch-Irish immigrants may have played a larger role, since their dialects mark habitual verb forms with be and do be, as in "They be shooting and fishing out at the Forestry Lakes" (archival recordings of the Royal Irish Academy) and "Up half the night he does be" (James Joyce). But some have argued that the development of invariant be in Irish English came after its development in AAVE. Other linguists believe that habitual be in AAVE may have evolved from the habitual does be construction brought to America by Caribbean Creole slaves and migrants from the 17th century on; until very recently, the construction was still in use among Gullah speakers from coastal South Carolina and Georgia, where Barbadian and other Caribbean slaves had been well-represented in the founding populations. Still other linguists suggest that invariant be is an innovation within AAVE arising in the second half of the 20th century, essentially a response to the wide range of meanings that the English progressive tense can express. See Notes at like2, zero copula.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
be
(biː; unstressed bɪ)vb (intr) , pres. sing 1st pers am, 2nd pers are, 3rd pers is, pres. pl are, past sing 1st pers was, 2nd pers were, 3rd pers was, past pl were, pres. part being, past part been
1. to have presence in the realm of perceived reality; exist; live: I think, therefore I am; not all that is can be understood.
2. (used in the perfect or past perfect tenses only) to pay a visit; go: have you been to Spain?.
3. to take place; occur: my birthday was last Thursday.
4. (copula) used as a linking verb between the subject of a sentence and its noun or adjective complement or complementing phrase. In this case be expresses the relationship of either essential or incidental equivalence or identity (John is a man; John is a musician) or specifies an essential or incidental attribute (honey is sweet; Susan is angry). It is also used with an adverbial complement to indicate a relationship of location in space or time (Bill is at the office; the dance is on Saturday)
5. (takes a present participle) forms the progressive present tense: the man is running.
6. (takes a past participle) forms the passive voice of all transitive verbs and (archaically) certain intransitive ones: a good film is being shown on television tonight; I am done.
7. (takes an infinitive) expresses intention, expectation, supposition, or obligation: the president is to arrive at 9.30; you are not to leave before I say so.
8. (takes a past participle) forms the perfect or past perfect tense of certain intransitive verbs of motion, such as go or come: the last train is gone.
9. be that as it may the facts concerning (something) are of no importance
[Old English bēon; related to Old High German bim am, Latin fui I have been, Greek phuein to bring forth, Sanskrit bhavati he is]
be
the internet domain name for
(Computer Science) Belgium
Be
the chemical symbol for
(Elements & Compounds) beryllium
BE
abbreviation for
1. (Commerce) bill of exchange
2. (Education) (in the US) Board of Education
3. (Education) Bachelor of Education
4. (Education) Bachelor of Engineering
Bé
abbreviation for
(Units) Baumé
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
be
(bi; unstressed bi, bɪ)v. and auxiliary v., pres. sing. 1st pers. am, 2nd are, 3rd is, pres. pl. are; past sing. 1st pers. was, 2nd were, 3rd was, past pl. were; pres. subj. be; past subj. sing. 1st, 2nd, and 3rd pers. were; past subj. pl. were; past part. been; pres. part. be•ing. v.i.
1. to exist or live: Shakespeare's “To be or not to be” is the ultimate question.
2. to take place; occur: The wedding was last week.
3. to occupy a place or position: The book is on the table.
4. to continue or remain as before: Let things be.
5. to belong; attend; befall: May good fortune be with you.
6. (used as a copula to connect the subject with its predicate adjective, or predicate nominative, in order to describe, identify, or amplify the subject): He is tall. She is president.
7. (used as a copula to introduce or form interrogative or imperative sentences): Is that right? Be quiet!
auxiliary verb. 8. (used with the present participle of another verb to form progressive tenses): I am waiting. We were talking.
9. (used with the infinitive of the principal verb to indicate a command, arrangements, or future action): He is to see me today. You are not to leave before six.
10. (used with the past participle of another verb to form the passive voice): The date was fixed.
11. (used in archaic or literary constructions with some intransitive verbs to form perfect tenses): He is come.
[before 900; Middle English; Old English bēon; akin to Old Frisian, Old High German bim (I) am, Latin fuī (I) have been, Greek phýein to grow, become]
usage: See me.
Be
Chem. Symbol.
beryllium.
be-
a prefix with the original sense “about,” “around,” “all over,” hence having an intensive and often disparaging force; used as a verb formative (becloud; besiege), and often serving to form transitive verbs from intransitives or from nouns: belabor; befriend; belittle.
[Middle English, Old English, unstressed form of bī by1]
B.E.
1. Bachelor of Education.
2. Bachelor of Engineering.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Be
The symbol for beryllium.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
be
1. forms
Be is the most common verb in English. It is used in many different ways.
The present tense forms of be are am, are, and is, and the past tense forms are was and were. Be is both an auxiliary and a main verb.
...a problem which is getting worse.
It was about four o'clock.
Am, is, and are are not usually pronounced in full. When you write down what someone says, you usually represent am and is using 'm and 's.
'I'm sorry,' I said.
'But it's not possible,' Lili said.
'Okay,' he said. 'Your brother's going to take you to Grafton.'
You can also represent are using 're, but only after a pronoun.
'We're winning,' he said.
You can also use the forms 'm, 's and 're when you are writing in a conversational style.
2. used as an auxiliary
Be is an auxiliary when forming continuous tenses and passives.
She was watching us.
Several apartment buildings were destroyed.
In conversation, get is often used to form passives.
See get
3. used as a main verb
You use be as a main verb when you are describing things or people or giving information about them. After be, you use a complement. A complement is either an adjective or a noun group.
We were very happy.
He is now a teenager.
4. indicating someone's job
When be is followed by a noun group indicating a unique job or position within an organization, you do not have to put 'the' in front of the noun.
At one time you wanted to be President.
Be Careful!
Make is sometimes used instead of 'be' to say how successful someone is in a particular job or role. For example, instead of saying 'He will be a good president', you can say 'He will make a good president'.
5. indicating age and cost
You can talk about a person's age by using be followed by a number.
Rose Gibson is twenty-seven.
You can also use be to say how much something costs.
How much is it?
It's five pounds.
6. with prepositional phrases
You can use many kinds of prepositional phrase after be.
He was still in a state of shock.
I'm from Dortmund originally.
...people who are under pressure.
7. with to-infinitives
You sometimes use to-infinitive clauses after be.
The talks are to begin tomorrow.
What is to be done?
8. in questions and negative clauses
When you use be as a main verb in questions and negative clauses, you do not use the auxiliary 'do'.
Are you OK?
Is she Rick's sister?
I was not surprised.
It was not an easy task.
9. in continuous tenses
Be is not usually a main verb in continuous tenses. However, you can use it in continuous tenses to describe someone's behaviour at a particular time.
You're being very silly.
10. 'be' and 'become'
Do not confuse be with become. Be is used to indicate that someone or something has a particular quality or nature, or is in a particular situation. Become is used to indicate that someone or something changes in some way.
Before he became Mayor he had been a tram driver.
It was not until 1845 that Texas became part of the U.S.A.
See become
11. after 'there'
Be is often used after there to indicate the existence or occurrence of something.
Clearly there is a problem here.
There are very few cars on this street.
There was nothing new in the letter.
Be Careful!
You cannot use be without there to indicate that something exists or happens. You cannot say, for example, 'Another explanation is' or 'Another explanation must be'. You must say 'There is another explanation' or 'There must be another explanation'.
See there
12. after 'it'
Be is often used after it to describe something such as an experience, or to comment on a situation.
It was very quiet in the hut.
It was awkward keeping my news from Ted.
It's strange you should come today.
See it
13. 'have been'
If you have visited a place and have now come back from it, British speakers say that you have been there.
I have been to Santander many times.
See go
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
be
Past participle: been
Gerund: being
| Imperative |
|---|
| be |
| be |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Noun | 1. |  Be - a light strong brittle grey toxic bivalent metallic elementmetal, metallic element - any of several chemical elements that are usually shiny solids that conduct heat or electricity and can be formed into sheets etc. beryl - the chief source of beryllium; colored transparent varieties are valued as gems chrysoberyl - a rare hard yellow green mineral consisting of beryllium aluminate in crystal form; used as a gemstone gadolinite, ytterbite - a mineral that is a source of rare earths; consists of silicates of iron and beryllium and cerium and yttrium and erbium |
| Verb | 1. | be - have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun); "John is rich"; "This is not a good answer" look - have a certain outward or facial expression; "How does she look?"; "The child looks unhappy"; "She looked pale after the surgery" be well - be healthy; feel good; "She has not been well lately" suffer - feel unwell or uncomfortable; "She is suffering from the hot weather" feel - be conscious of a physical, mental, or emotional state; "My cold is gone--I feel fine today"; "She felt tired after the long hike"; "She felt sad after her loss" remain, stay, rest - stay the same; remain in a certain state; "The dress remained wet after repeated attempts to dry it"; "rest assured"; "stay alone"; "He remained unmoved by her tears"; "The bad weather continued for another week" continue - exist over a prolonged period of time; "The bad weather continued for two more weeks" coruscate, sparkle, scintillate - be lively or brilliant or exhibit virtuosity; "The musical performance sparkled"; "A scintillating conversation"; "his playing coruscated throughout the concert hall" befuddle, confound, confuse, discombobulate, fox, bedevil, fuddle, throw - be confusing or perplexing to; cause to be unable to think clearly; "These questions confuse even the experts"; "This question completely threw me"; "This question befuddled even the teacher" rank - take or have a position relative to others; "This painting ranks among the best in the Western World" point - be positionable in a specified manner; "The gun points with ease" compact, pack - have the property of being packable or of compacting easily; "This powder compacts easily"; "Such odd-shaped items do not pack well" rest - not move; be in a resting position cut - allow incision or separation; "This bread cuts easily" seethe - be in an agitated emotional state; "The customer was seething with anger" appear, seem, look - give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect; "She seems to be sleeping"; "This appears to be a very difficult problem"; "This project looks fishy"; "They appeared like people who had not eaten or slept for a long time" seem, appear - seem to be true, probable, or apparent; "It seems that he is very gifted"; "It appears that the weather in California is very bad" owe - be in debt; "She owes me $200"; "I still owe for the car"; "The thesis owes much to his adviser" belong - be owned by; be in the possession of; "This book belongs to me" cover - be sufficient to meet, defray, or offset the charge or cost of; "Is this enough to cover the check?" represent - be representative or typical for; "This period is represented by Beethoven" account - be the sole or primary factor in the existence, acquisition, supply, or disposal of something; "Passing grades account for half of the grades given in this exam" cut across - be contrary to ordinary procedure or limitations; "Opinions on bombing the Serbs cut across party lines" begin, start - have a beginning characterized in some specified way; "The novel begins with a murder"; "My property begins with the three maple trees"; "Her day begins with a workout"; "The semester begins with a convocation ceremony" begin - have a beginning, of a temporal event; "WW II began in 1939 when Hitler marched into Poland"; "The company's Asia tour begins next month" stand - be in some specified state or condition; "I stand corrected" go - be or continue to be in a certain condition; "The children went hungry that day" make sense, add up - be reasonable or logical or comprehensible comprise, consist - be composed of; "The land he conquered comprised several provinces"; "What does this dish consist of?" prove, turn out, turn up - be shown or be found to be; "She proved to be right"; "The medicine turned out to save her life"; "She turned up HIV positive" account for - be the reason or explanation for; "The recession accounts for the slow retail business" remain - be left; of persons, questions, problems, results, evidence, etc.; "There remains the question of who pulled the trigger"; "Carter remains the only President in recent history under whose Presidency the U.S. did not fight a war" stick by, stand by, adhere, stick - be loyal to; "She stood by her husband in times of trouble"; "The friends stuck together through the war" footle, hang around, lallygag, loiter, lollygag, mess about, mill about, mill around, tarry, lounge, lurk, linger, loaf - be about; "The high school students like to loiter in the Central Square"; "Who is this man that is hanging around the department?" |
| 2. | be - be identical to; be someone or something; "The president of the company is John Smith"; "This is my house" | |
| 3. | be - occupy a certain position or area; be somewhere; "Where is my umbrella?" "The toolshed is in the back"; "What is behind this behavior?" stretch, stretch along - occupy a large, elongated area; "The park stretched beneath the train line" attend, go to - be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.; "She attends class regularly"; "I rarely attend services at my church"; "did you go to the meeting?" inhabit, live, populate, dwell - inhabit or live in; be an inhabitant of; "People lived in Africa millions of years ago"; "The people inhabited the islands that are now deserted"; "this kind of fish dwells near the bottom of the ocean"; "deer are populating the woods" inhabit - be present in; "sweet memories inhabit this house" keep one's distance, keep one's eyes off, keep one's hands off, stand back, stay away - stay clear of, avoid; "Keep your hands off my wife!"; "Keep your distance from this man--he is dangerous" extend to, reach, touch - to extend as far as; "The sunlight reached the wall"; "Can he reach?" "The chair must not touch the wall" extend, run, lead, pass, go - stretch out over a distance, space, time, or scope; run or extend between two points or beyond a certain point; "Service runs all the way to Cranbury"; "His knowledge doesn't go very far"; "My memory extends back to my fourth year of life"; "The facts extend beyond a consideration of her personal assets" cover, extend, continue - span an interval of distance, space or time; "The war extended over five years"; "The period covered the turn of the century"; "My land extends over the hills on the horizon"; "This farm covers some 200 acres"; "The Archipelago continues for another 500 miles" poke out, reach out, extend - reach outward in space; "The awning extends several feet over the sidewalk" lie - be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position sit - be located or situated somewhere; "The White House sits on Pennsylvania Avenue" sit around, sit - be around, often idly or without specific purpose; "The object sat in the corner"; "We sat around chatting for another hour" face - be opposite; "the facing page"; "the two sofas face each other" straddle - sit or stand astride of follow - be next; "Mary plays best, with John and Sue following" center on - have as a center; "The region centers on Charleston" rest, lie - have a place in relation to something else; "The fate of Bosnia lies in the hands of the West"; "The responsibility rests with the Allies" belong, go - be in the right place or situation; "Where do these books belong?"; "Let's put health care where it belongs--under the control of the government"; "Where do these books go?" come - exist or occur in a certain point in a series; "Next came the student from France" | |
| 4. | be - have an existence, be extant; "Is there a God?" come - be found or available; "These shoes come in three colors; The furniture comes unassembled" preexist - exist beforehand or prior to a certain point in time; "Did this condition pre-exist?" kick about, kick around, knock about - be around; be alive or active; "Does the old man still kick around?" coexist - exist together indwell - to exist as an inner activating spirit, force, or principle consist, lie in, dwell, lie - originate (in); "The problems dwell in the social injustices in this country" endanger, imperil, jeopardise, jeopardize, menace, peril, threaten - pose a threat to; present a danger to; "The pollution is endangering the crops" flow - be abundantly present; "The champagne flowed at the wedding" distribute - be distributed or spread, as in statistical analyses; "Values distribute" | |
| 5. | be - happen, occur, take place; "I lost my wallet; this was during the visit to my parents' house"; "There were two hundred people at his funeral"; "There was a lot of noise in the kitchen" | |
| 6. |  be - be identical or equivalent to; "One dollar equals 1,000 rubles these days!"correspond, equate - be equivalent or parallel, in mathematics correspond, gibe, jibe, match, tally, agree, fit, check - be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics; "The two stories don't agree in many details"; "The handwriting checks with the signature on the check"; "The suspect's fingerprints don't match those on the gun" represent, stand for, correspond - take the place of or be parallel or equivalent to; "Because of the sound changes in the course of history, an 'h' in Greek stands for an 's' in Latin" translate - be equivalent in effect; "the growth in income translates into greater purchasing power" | |
| 7. | be - form or compose; "This money is my only income"; "The stone wall was the backdrop for the performance"; "These constitute my entire belonging"; "The children made up the chorus"; "This sum represents my entire income for a year"; "These few men comprise his entire army" make - constitute the essence of; "Clothes make the man" compose - form the substance of; "Greed and ambition composed his personality" form, constitute, make - to compose or represent:"This wall forms the background of the stage setting"; "The branches made a roof"; "This makes a fine introduction" straddle, range - range or extend over; occupy a certain area; "The plants straddle the entire state" fall into, fall under - be included in or classified as; "This falls under the rubric 'various'" supplement - serve as a supplement to; "Vitamins supplemented his meager diet" | |
| 8. | be - work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function; "He is a herpetologist"; "She is our resident philosopher" vet - work as a veterinarian; "She vetted for the farms in the area for many years" cox - act as the coxswain, in a boat race | |
| 9. |  be - represent, as of a character on stage; "Derek Jacobi was Hamlet" | |
| 10. |  be - spend or use time; "I may be an hour" | |
| 11. | be - have life, be alive; "Our great leader is no more"; "My grandfather lived until the end of war" live on, survive, last, live, endure, hold out, hold up, go - continue to live through hardship or adversity; "We went without water and food for 3 days"; "These superstitions survive in the backwaters of America"; "The race car driver lived through several very serious accidents"; "how long can a person last without food and water?" | |
| 12. | be - to remain unmolested, undisturbed, or uninterrupted -- used only in infinitive form; "let her be" | |
| 13. |  be - be priced at; "These shoes cost $100"be - have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun); "John is rich"; "This is not a good answer" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
be
verb
1. exist, be present, be extant There are two kinds of company pension.
2. be alive, live, exist, survive, breathe, last, be present, continue, endure, be living, be extant, happen It hurt so badly he wished to cease to be.
3. take place, happen, occur, arise, come about, transpire (informal), befall, come to pass The film's premiere is next week.
4. remain, last, stand, continue, stay, endure, prevail, persist, abide, bide How long have you been here?
5. be situated, be set, be placed, be located, be installed, be positioned The church is on the other side of the town.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
be
verbThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
býtmítmusetbýt starýbýt v nepoměru
værebliveblive halvgammelfinde stedi proportion
egaliekzistiestiiĝiokazi
olema
ollatulla
bitinalaziti se
lennivan
veravera í ósamræmi/hlutfallslega rangureiga; muneldast, verîa gamallná/vera í réttu hlutfalli
･･･があるいる在る存在する居る
(…) 이다있다
natussumvenio
būtibūtybėegzistavimaslemta būtipagrindinis ir vienintelis tikslas
būtinženierzinatnu bakalaurs
egalaexistafi
byť v nepomere
biti
varavara lika medbliexisterafinnas
เป็น อยู่ คือ
làở
BE
N ABBR (Fin) =bill of exchange → L/Cbe
[biː] (am, is, are (present) (was, were (pt)) (been (pp)))A. INTRANSITIVE VERB
1. (linking nouns, noun phrases, pronouns) → ser
he's a pianist → es pianista
he wants to be a doctor → quiere ser médico
Monday's a holiday → el lunes es fiesta
two and two are four → dos y dos son cuatro
it's me! → ¡soy yo!
it was me → fui yo
who wants to be Hamlet? → ¿quién quiere hacer de or ser Hamlet?
you be the patient and I'll be the doctor → tú eres el enfermo y yo seré el médico
if I were you → yo en tu lugar ..., yo que tú ...
he's a pianist → es pianista
he wants to be a doctor → quiere ser médico
Monday's a holiday → el lunes es fiesta
two and two are four → dos y dos son cuatro
it's me! → ¡soy yo!
it was me → fui yo
who wants to be Hamlet? → ¿quién quiere hacer de or ser Hamlet?
you be the patient and I'll be the doctor → tú eres el enfermo y yo seré el médico
if I were you → yo en tu lugar ..., yo que tú ...
2. (possession) → ser
she's his sister → es su hermana
it's mine → es mío
she's his sister → es su hermana
it's mine → es mío
3. (characteristics seen as inherent) → ser
the sky is blue → el cielo es azul
it's (made of) plastic → es de plástico
they're English → son ingleses
he's tall → es alto
it's round/enormous → es redondo/enorme
she is boring → es aburrida
I used to be poor but now I'm rich → antes era pobre pero ahora soy rico
if I were rich → si fuera rico
I'm from the south → soy del sur
the book is in French → el libro es en francés
he's dead → está muerto
the sky is blue → el cielo es azul
it's (made of) plastic → es de plástico
they're English → son ingleses
he's tall → es alto
it's round/enormous → es redondo/enorme
she is boring → es aburrida
I used to be poor but now I'm rich → antes era pobre pero ahora soy rico
if I were rich → si fuera rico
I'm from the south → soy del sur
the book is in French → el libro es en francés
Use estar with past participles used as adjectives describing the results of an action or process:
it's broken → está rotohe's dead → está muerto
4. (changeable or temporary state) → estar
it's dirty → está sucio
she's bored/ill → está aburrida/enferma
how are you? → ¿cómo estás?, ¿qué tal estás?
how are you now? → ¿qué tal te encuentras ahora?
I'm very well, thanks → estoy muy bien, gracias
my feet are cold → tengo los pies fríos
I'm hungry/thirsty → tengo hambre/sed
be good! → ¡pórtate bien!
you're late → llegas tarde
see also afraid, sleepy, right
it's dirty → está sucio
she's bored/ill → está aburrida/enferma
how are you? → ¿cómo estás?, ¿qué tal estás?
how are you now? → ¿qué tal te encuentras ahora?
I'm very well, thanks → estoy muy bien, gracias
In certain expressions where English uses be + adjective to describe feelings (be cold/hot/hungry/thirsty), Spanish uses tener with a noun:
I'm cold/hot → tengo frío/calormy feet are cold → tengo los pies fríos
I'm hungry/thirsty → tengo hambre/sed
be good! → ¡pórtate bien!
you're late → llegas tarde
see also afraid, sleepy, right
5. (age) "how old is she?" - "she's nine" → -¿cuántos años tiene? -tiene nueve años
she will be two tomorrow → mañana cumple dos años
when I'm old → cuando sea viejo
when I was young → cuando era joven
she will be two tomorrow → mañana cumple dos años
when I'm old → cuando sea viejo
when I was young → cuando era joven
6. (= take place) → ser
the meeting's today → la reunión es hoy
the service will be at St Ninian's Church → el oficio será en la iglesia de San Ninian
the meeting's today → la reunión es hoy
the service will be at St Ninian's Church → el oficio será en la iglesia de San Ninian
7. (= be situated) → estar
Edinburgh is in Scotland → Edimburgo está en Escocia
it's on the table → está sobre or en la mesa
where is the Town Hall? → ¿dónde está or queda el ayuntamiento?
it's 5 km to the village → el pueblo está or queda a 5 kilómetros
he won't be here tomorrow → mañana no estará aquí
we've been here for ages → hace mucho tiempo que estamos aquí, llevamos aquí mucho tiempo, estamos aquí desde hace mucho tiempo
here you are, (take it) → aquí tienes, (tómalo)
there's the church → ahí está la iglesia
Edinburgh is in Scotland → Edimburgo está en Escocia
it's on the table → está sobre or en la mesa
where is the Town Hall? → ¿dónde está or queda el ayuntamiento?
it's 5 km to the village → el pueblo está or queda a 5 kilómetros
he won't be here tomorrow → mañana no estará aquí
we've been here for ages → hace mucho tiempo que estamos aquí, llevamos aquí mucho tiempo, estamos aquí desde hace mucho tiempo
here you are, (take it) → aquí tienes, (tómalo)
there's the church → ahí está la iglesia
8. (impersonal use)
8.1. (referring to weather) → hacer
it's hot/cold → hace calor/frío
it's too hot → hace demasiado calor
it's fine → hace buen tiempo
see also windy, sunny, foggy
it's hot/cold → hace calor/frío
it's too hot → hace demasiado calor
it's fine → hace buen tiempo
see also windy, sunny, foggy
8.2. (referring to time, date etc) → ser
it's eight o'clock → son las ocho
it's morning in New York now → en Nueva York ahora es por la mañana
wake up, it's morning → despierta, es de día
what's the date (today)? → ¿qué fecha es hoy?
it's the 3rd of May → es 3 de mayo
it's Thursday today → hoy es jueves
it's Thursday today → hoy estamos a jueves
it's eight o'clock → son las ocho
it's morning in New York now → en Nueva York ahora es por la mañana
wake up, it's morning → despierta, es de día
what's the date (today)? → ¿qué fecha es hoy?
it's the 3rd of May → es 3 de mayo
it's Thursday today → hoy es jueves
but note the following alternatives with estar:
it's the 3rd of May → estamos a 3 de mayoit's Thursday today → hoy estamos a jueves
8.3. (asking and giving opinion) → ser
is it certain that ...? → ¿es verdad or cierto que ...?
it is easy to make a mistake → es fácil cometer un fallo
is it fair that she should be punished while ...? → ¿es justo que se la castigue mientras que ...?
it is possible that he'll come → es posible que venga, puede (ser) que venga
it is impossible to study all the time → es imposible estar siempre estudiando
it is unbelievable that → es increíble que ...
BUT it's not clear whether ... → no está claro si ...
it would be wrong for us to do that → no estaría bien que nosotros hiciésemos eso
is it certain that ...? → ¿es verdad or cierto que ...?
it is easy to make a mistake → es fácil cometer un fallo
is it fair that she should be punished while ...? → ¿es justo que se la castigue mientras que ...?
it is possible that he'll come → es posible que venga, puede (ser) que venga
it is impossible to study all the time → es imposible estar siempre estudiando
it is unbelievable that → es increíble que ...
BUT it's not clear whether ... → no está claro si ...
it would be wrong for us to do that → no estaría bien que nosotros hiciésemos eso
9. (= exist) → haber
there is/are → hay
what is (there) in that room? → ¿qué hay en esa habitación?
there is nothing more beautiful → no hay nada más bello
is there anyone at home? → ¿hay alguien en casa?
there were six road accidents here last year → el año pasado hubo seis accidentes de tráfico aquí
there must be an explanation → debe de haber una explicación
there being no alternative solution → al no haber or no habiendo otra solución ...
let there be light! → ¡hágase la luz!
BUT there are three of us → somos tres
there were three of them → eran tres
after the shop there's the bus station → después de la tienda está la estación de autobuses THERE
there is/are → hay
what is (there) in that room? → ¿qué hay en esa habitación?
there is nothing more beautiful → no hay nada más bello
is there anyone at home? → ¿hay alguien en casa?
there were six road accidents here last year → el año pasado hubo seis accidentes de tráfico aquí
there must be an explanation → debe de haber una explicación
there being no alternative solution → al no haber or no habiendo otra solución ...
let there be light! → ¡hágase la luz!
BUT there are three of us → somos tres
there were three of them → eran tres
after the shop there's the bus station → después de la tienda está la estación de autobuses THERE
10. (= cost) how much was it? → ¿cuánto costó?
the book is £20 → el libro vale or cuesta 20 libras
how much is it? → ¿cuánto es?; (when paying) → ¿qué le debo? (frm)
the book is £20 → el libro vale or cuesta 20 libras
how much is it? → ¿cuánto es?; (when paying) → ¿qué le debo? (frm)
11. (= visit) has the postman been? → ¿ha venido el cartero?
he has been and gone → vino y se fue
I have been to see my aunt → he ido a ver a mi tía
have you ever been to Glasgow? → ¿has estado en Glasgow alguna vez?
I've been to China → he estado en China
he has been and gone → vino y se fue
I have been to see my aunt → he ido a ver a mi tía
have you ever been to Glasgow? → ¿has estado en Glasgow alguna vez?
I've been to China → he estado en China
12. (in noun compounds) → futuro
mother to be → futura madre or mamá f
my wife to be → mi futura esposa
mother to be → futura madre or mamá f
my wife to be → mi futura esposa
13. (in set expressions) to be or not to be → ser o no ser
been and you've been and done it now! → ¡buena la has hecho!
that dog of yours has been and dug up my flowers! → ¡tu perro ha ido y me ha destrozado las flores!
you're busy enough as it is → estás bastante ocupado ya con lo que tienes, ya tienes suficiente trabajo
as things are → tal como están las cosas
be that as it may → sea como fuere
if it hadn't been for if it hadn't been for you or > had it not been for you, we would have lost (frm) → si no hubiera sido por ti or de no haber sido por ti, habríamos perdido
let me be! → ¡déjame en paz!
if that's what you want to do, then so be it → si eso es lo que quieres hacer, adelante
what is it to you? → ¿a ti qué te importa?
what's it to be? (in bar etc) → ¿qué va a ser?, ¿qué vas a tomar?
been and you've been and done it now! → ¡buena la has hecho!
that dog of yours has been and dug up my flowers! → ¡tu perro ha ido y me ha destrozado las flores!
you're busy enough as it is → estás bastante ocupado ya con lo que tienes, ya tienes suficiente trabajo
as things are → tal como están las cosas
be that as it may → sea como fuere
if it hadn't been for if it hadn't been for you or > had it not been for you, we would have lost (frm) → si no hubiera sido por ti or de no haber sido por ti, habríamos perdido
let me be! → ¡déjame en paz!
if that's what you want to do, then so be it → si eso es lo que quieres hacer, adelante
what is it to you? → ¿a ti qué te importa?
what's it to be? (in bar etc) → ¿qué va a ser?, ¿qué vas a tomar?
B. AUXILIARY VERB
1. (forming passive) → ser
the house was destroyed by an earthquake → la casa fue destruida por un terremoto
these cars are produced in Spain → estos coches se fabrican en España
it is said that → dicen que ... → se dice que ...
he was killed by a terrorist → lo mató un terrorista
she was killed in a car crash → murió en un accidente de coche, resultó muerta en un accidente de coche (frm)
what's to be done? → ¿qué hay que hacer?
it's a film not to be missed → es una película que no hay que perderse
we searched everywhere for him, but he was nowhere to be seen → lo buscamos por todas partes pero no lo encontramos en ningún sitio
the house was destroyed by an earthquake → la casa fue destruida por un terremoto
The passive is not used as often in Spanish as in English, active and reflexive constructions often being preferred:
the box had been opened → habían abierto la cajathese cars are produced in Spain → estos coches se fabrican en España
it is said that → dicen que ... → se dice que ...
he was killed by a terrorist → lo mató un terrorista
she was killed in a car crash → murió en un accidente de coche, resultó muerta en un accidente de coche (frm)
what's to be done? → ¿qué hay que hacer?
it's a film not to be missed → es una película que no hay que perderse
we searched everywhere for him, but he was nowhere to be seen → lo buscamos por todas partes pero no lo encontramos en ningún sitio
2. (forming continuous) → estar
it's raining → está lloviendo
what are you doing? → ¿qué estás haciendo?, ¿qué haces?
don't distract me when I'm driving → no me distraigas cuando estoy conduciendo
he's always grumbling → siempre está quejándose
he was studying until the early hours → estuvo estudiando hasta la madrugada
"it's a pity you aren't coming with us" - "but I am coming!" → -¡qué pena que no vengas con nosotros! -¡sí que voy!
will you be seeing her tomorrow? → ¿la verás or la vas a ver mañana?
will you be needing more? → ¿vas a necesitar más?
I shall be seeing him → voy a verlo
I'll be seeing you → hasta luego, nos vemos (esp LAm)
see also for, since
it's raining → está lloviendo
what are you doing? → ¿qué estás haciendo?, ¿qué haces?
don't distract me when I'm driving → no me distraigas cuando estoy conduciendo
he's always grumbling → siempre está quejándose
he was studying until the early hours → estuvo estudiando hasta la madrugada
Use the present simple to talk about planned future events and the ir a construction to talk about intention:
they're coming tomorrow → vienen mañana"it's a pity you aren't coming with us" - "but I am coming!" → -¡qué pena que no vengas con nosotros! -¡sí que voy!
will you be seeing her tomorrow? → ¿la verás or la vas a ver mañana?
will you be needing more? → ¿vas a necesitar más?
I shall be seeing him → voy a verlo
I'll be seeing you → hasta luego, nos vemos (esp LAm)
The imperfect tense can be used for continuous action in the past:
he was driving too fast → conducía demasiado rápidosee also for, since
3. (verb substitute)
3.1. he's older than you are → es mayor que tú
he isn't as happy as he was → no está tan contento como antes
"he's going to complain about you" - "oh, is he?" → -va a quejarse de ti -¿ah, sí?
"I'm worried" - "so am I" → -estoy preocupado -yo también
"I'm not ready" - "neither am I" → -no estoy listo -yo tampoco
"you're tired" - "no, I'm not" → -estás cansado -no, ¡qué va!
"you're not eating enough" - "yes I am" → -no comes lo suficiente -que sí
"they're getting married" - "oh, are they?" (showing surprise) → -se casan -¿ah, sí? or -¡no me digas!
"he isn't very happy" - "oh, isn't he?" → -no está muy contento -¿ah, no?
"he's always late, isn't he?" - "yes, he is" → -siempre llega tarde, ¿verdad? -(pues) sí
"is it what you expected?" - "no, it isn't" → -¿es esto lo que esperabas? -(pues) no
"she's pretty" - "no, she isn't" → -es guapa -¡qué va!
he isn't as happy as he was → no está tan contento como antes
"he's going to complain about you" - "oh, is he?" → -va a quejarse de ti -¿ah, sí?
"I'm worried" - "so am I" → -estoy preocupado -yo también
"I'm not ready" - "neither am I" → -no estoy listo -yo tampoco
"you're tired" - "no, I'm not" → -estás cansado -no, ¡qué va!
"you're not eating enough" - "yes I am" → -no comes lo suficiente -que sí
"they're getting married" - "oh, are they?" (showing surprise) → -se casan -¿ah, sí? or -¡no me digas!
"he isn't very happy" - "oh, isn't he?" → -no está muy contento -¿ah, no?
"he's always late, isn't he?" - "yes, he is" → -siempre llega tarde, ¿verdad? -(pues) sí
"is it what you expected?" - "no, it isn't" → -¿es esto lo que esperabas? -(pues) no
"she's pretty" - "no, she isn't" → -es guapa -¡qué va!
3.2. (in question tags) he's handsome, isn't he? → es guapo, ¿verdad?, es guapo, ¿no?, es guapo, ¿no es cierto?
it was fun, wasn't it? → fue divertido, ¿verdad?, fue divertido, ¿no?
she wasn't happy, was she? → no era feliz, ¿verdad?
so he's back again, is he? → así que ha vuelto, ¿eh?
you're not ill, are you? → ¿no estarás enfermo?
it was fun, wasn't it? → fue divertido, ¿verdad?, fue divertido, ¿no?
she wasn't happy, was she? → no era feliz, ¿verdad?
so he's back again, is he? → así que ha vuelto, ¿eh?
you're not ill, are you? → ¿no estarás enfermo?
C. MODAL VERB (with infinitive construction)
1. (= must, have to) you're to put on your shoes → tienes que ponerte los zapatos
he's not to open it → no debe abrirlo, que no lo abra
I am to do it → he de hacerlo yo → soy yo el que debe hacerlo
I am not to speak to him → no tengo permiso para hablar con él
I wasn't to tell you his name → no podía or debía decirte su nombre
he's not to open it → no debe abrirlo, que no lo abra
I am to do it → he de hacerlo yo → soy yo el que debe hacerlo
I am not to speak to him → no tengo permiso para hablar con él
I wasn't to tell you his name → no podía or debía decirte su nombre
2. (= should) → deber
he is to be congratulated on his work → debemos felicitarlo por su trabajo
am I to understand that ...? → ¿debo entender que ...?
she wrote "My Life", not to be confused with Bernstein's book of the same name → escribió "Mi Vida", que no debe confundirse con la obra de Bernstein que lleva el mismo título
he was to have come yesterday → tenía que or debía haber venido ayer
he is to be pitied → es digno de lástima
he is to be congratulated on his work → debemos felicitarlo por su trabajo
am I to understand that ...? → ¿debo entender que ...?
she wrote "My Life", not to be confused with Bernstein's book of the same name → escribió "Mi Vida", que no debe confundirse con la obra de Bernstein que lleva el mismo título
he was to have come yesterday → tenía que or debía haber venido ayer
he is to be pitied → es digno de lástima
3. (= will) the talks are to start tomorrow → las conversaciones darán comienzo mañana
her house is to be sold → su casa se pondrá a la venta
they are to be married in the summer → se casarán en el verano
her house is to be sold → su casa se pondrá a la venta
they are to be married in the summer → se casarán en el verano
4. (= can) these birds are to be found all over the world → estos pájaros se encuentran por todo el mundo
little traffic was to be seen → había poco tráfico
you weren't to know → no tenías por qué saberlo
little traffic was to be seen → había poco tráfico
you weren't to know → no tenías por qué saberlo
5. (expressing destiny) this was to have serious repercussions → esto iba a tener serias repercusiones
they were never to return → jamás regresaron
it was not to be → no quiso el destino que así fuera
they were never to return → jamás regresaron
it was not to be → no quiso el destino que así fuera
6. (in conditional sentences) you must work harder if you are to succeed → debes esforzarte más si quieres triunfar
if it was or were to snow → si nevase or nevara ...
if I were to leave the job, would you replace me? → si yo dejara el puesto, ¿me sustituirías?
"Ser" or "estar"?
You can use "ser":
You can use "estar":
Both "ser" and "estar" can be used with past participles
"Ser" and "estar" with adjectives
if it was or were to snow → si nevase or nevara ...
if I were to leave the job, would you replace me? → si yo dejara el puesto, ¿me sustituirías?
BE
"Ser" or "estar"?
You can use "ser":
• when defining or identifying by linking two nouns or noun phrases:
Paris is the capital of France París es la capital de Francia He was the most hated man in the village Era el hombre más odiado del pueblo• to describe essential or inherent characteristics (e.g. colour, material, nationality, race, shape, size ):
His mother is German Su madre es alemana She was blonde Era rubia• with most impersonal expressions not involving past participles:
It is important to be on time Es importante llegar a tiempoNOTE Está claro que is an exception:
It is obvious you don't understand Está claro que no lo entiendes• when telling the time or talking about time or age:
It is ten o'clock Son las diez It's very late. Let's go home Es muy tarde. Vamos a casa He lived in the country when he was young Vivió en el campo cuando era joven• to indicate possession or duty:
It's mine Es mío This is your responsibility Este asunto es responsabilidad tuya• with events in the sense of "take place":
The 1992 Olympic Games were in Barcelona Los Juegos Olímpicos de 1992 fueron en Barcelona "Where is the exam?" - "It's in Room 1" "¿Dónde es el examen?" - "Es en el Aula Número 1"! Compare this usage with that of estar (see below) to talk about location of places, objects and people.
You can use "estar":
• to talk about location of places, objects and people:
"Where is Zaragoza?" - "It's in Spain" "¿Dónde está Zaragoza?" - "Está en España" Your glasses are on the bedside table Tus gafas están en la mesilla de noche! But use ser with events in the sense of "take place" (see above).
• to talk about changeable state, condition or mood:
The teacher is ill La profesora está enferma The coffee's cold El café está frío How happy I am! ¡Qué contento estoy!! Feliz, however, which is seen as more permanent than contento, is used mainly with ser.
• to form progressive tenses:
We're having lunch. Is it ok if I call you later? Estamos comiendo. Te llamaré luego, ¿vale?Both "ser" and "estar" can be used with past participles
• Use ser in passive constructions:
This play was written by Lorca Esta obra fue escrita por Lorca He was shot dead (by a terrorist group) Fue asesinado a tiros (por un grupo terrorista)! The passive is not used as often in Spanish as it is in English.
• Use estar with past participles to describe the results of a previous action or event:
We threw them away because they were broken Los tiramos a la basura porque estaban rotos He's dead Está muerto• Compare the use of ser + ((PAST PARTICIPLE)) which describes action and estar + ((PAST PARTICIPLE)) which describes result in the following:
The window was broken by the firemen La ventana fue rota por los bomberos The window was broken La ventana estaba rota It was painted around 1925 Fue pintado hacia 1925 The floor is painted a dark colour El suelo está pintado de color oscuro• Ser and estar are both used in impersonal expressions with past participles. As above, the use of ser implies action while the use of estar implies result:
It is understood that the work was never finished Es sabido que el trabajo nunca se llegó a terminar It is a proven fact that vaccinations save many lives Está demostrado que las vacunas salvan muchas vidas"Ser" and "estar" with adjectives
• Some adjectives can be used with both ser and estar but the meaning changes completely depending on the verb:
Es listo He's clever ¿Estás listo? Are you ready? La química es aburrida Chemistry is boring Estoy aburrido I'm bored• Other adjectives can also be used with both verbs but the use of ser describes a characteristic while the use of estar implies a change:
Es muy guapo He's very handsome Estás muy guapa con ese vestido You look great in that dress! Es delgado He's slim ¡Estás muy delgada! You're (looking) very slimCollins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
be
[ˈbiː](STRONG) [bi] [was, were] (pt) [been] (pp) aux vb
(with present participle, forming continuous tenses)
What are you doing? → Que faites-vous?
They're coming tomorrow → Ils viennent demain.
I've been waiting for you for 2 hours → Je t'attends depuis 2 heures.
What are you doing? → Que faites-vous?
They're coming tomorrow → Ils viennent demain.
I've been waiting for you for 2 hours → Je t'attends depuis 2 heures.
(with past participle, forming passives) → être
to be killed → être tué(e)
He was nowhere to be seen → On ne le voyait nulle part.
to be killed → être tué(e)
He was nowhere to be seen → On ne le voyait nulle part.
(in tag questions)
It was funny, wasn't it? → C'était drôle, n'est-ce pas?
She's not coming, is she? → Elle ne vient pas, c'est ça?
It was funny, wasn't it? → C'était drôle, n'est-ce pas?
She's not coming, is she? → Elle ne vient pas, c'est ça?
(+to +infinitive)
The house is to be sold → La maison doit être vendue.
He's not to open it → Il ne doit pas l'ouvrir.
He was to have come yesterday → Il devait venir hier.
am I to understand that ... ? → dois-je comprendre que ... ?
The house is to be sold → La maison doit être vendue.
He's not to open it → Il ne doit pas l'ouvrir.
He was to have come yesterday → Il devait venir hier.
am I to understand that ... ? → dois-je comprendre que ... ?
(possibility, supposition) if I were you, I ... → à votre place, je ..., si j'étais vous, je ...
if it wasn't for you ... → sans vous, ...
if it wasn't for you ... → sans vous, ...
copulative vb
(gen) → être
I'm English → Je suis anglais(e).
I'm tired → Je suis fatigué(e).
You're late → Tu es en retard.
We are all happy → Nous sommes tous heureux.
They are in Paris at the moment → Ils sont à Paris en ce moment.
She's a doctor → Elle est médecin.
He's a student → Il est étudiant.
I'm cold
BUT J'ai froid.
I'm hungry
BUT J'ai faim.
I'm English → Je suis anglais(e).
I'm tired → Je suis fatigué(e).
You're late → Tu es en retard.
We are all happy → Nous sommes tous heureux.
They are in Paris at the moment → Ils sont à Paris en ce moment.
She's a doctor → Elle est médecin.
He's a student → Il est étudiant.
I'm cold
BUT J'ai froid.
I'm hungry
BUT J'ai faim.
(= total) 2 and 2 are 4 → 2 et 2 font 4
(when speaking of health) → aller
How are you? → Comment allez-vous?
He's fine now → Il va bien maintenant.
He's very ill
BUT Il est très malade.
I've been ill
BUT J'ai été malade.
to be not o.s.
He's not himself → Il n'est vraiment pas en forme.
How are you? → Comment allez-vous?
He's fine now → Il va bien maintenant.
He's very ill
BUT Il est très malade.
I've been ill
BUT J'ai été malade.
to be not o.s.
He's not himself → Il n'est vraiment pas en forme.
vi
(= exist, occur) → être, exister
the prettiest girl that ever was → la fille la plus jolie qui ait jamais existé
be that as it may → quoi qu'il en soit
so be it → soit
the prettiest girl that ever was → la fille la plus jolie qui ait jamais existé
be that as it may → quoi qu'il en soit
so be it → soit
impers vb
(referring to time, distance) → être
it's 5 o'clock → il est 5 heures
it's the 28th of April → c'est le 28 avril
It's the 28th of October today
BUT Nous sommes le vingt-huit octobre.
it's 10 km to the village → le village est à 10 km
it's 5 o'clock → il est 5 heures
it's the 28th of April → c'est le 28 avril
It's the 28th of October today
BUT Nous sommes le vingt-huit octobre.
it's 10 km to the village → le village est à 10 km
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
be
pres <am, is, are>, pret <was, were>, ptp <been>COPULATIVE VERB
with adjective, noun, pronoun → sein; to be critical of → kritisch sein or sich kritisch äußern über (+acc); be sensible! → sei vernünftig; who’s that? — it’s me/that’s Mary → wer ist das? — ich bins/das ist Mary; if I were you → wenn ich Sie or an Ihrer Stelle wäre; he is a soldier/a German → er ist Soldat/Deutscher; he wants to be a doctor → er möchte Arzt werden
he’s a good student/a true Englishman → er ist ein guter Student/ein echter Engländer
Note that the article is used in German only when the noun is qualified by an adjective.
he’s a good student/a true Englishman → er ist ein guter Student/ein echter Engländer
referring to physical, mental state how are you? → wie gehts?; I’m better now → es geht mir jetzt besser; she’s not at all well → es geht ihr gar nicht gut; to be hungry/thirsty → Hunger/Durst haben, hungrig/durstig sein; I am hot/cold/frozen → mir ist heiß/kalt/eiskalt; they were horrified → sie waren entsetzt
age → sein; he’s five → er ist fünf; how old is she? → wie alt ist sie?; he’ll be three next month → er wird nächsten Monat drei (Jahre alt)
with possessive → gehören (+dat); that book is your brother’s/his → das Buch gehört Ihrem Bruder/ihm, das ist das Buch Ihres Bruders/das ist sein Buch
AUXILIARY VERB
in continuous tenses
what are you doing? → was machst du da?; she’s always complaining → sie beklagt sich dauernd; they’re coming tomorrow → sie kommen morgen
I have been waiting for you for half an hour → ich warte schon seit einer halben Stunde auf Sie; will you be seeing her tomorrow? → sehen or treffen Sie sie morgen?; you will be hearing from us → Sie hören von uns, Sie werden von uns hören
we’re just drinking coffee → wir sind (gerade) beim Kaffeetrinken; I’ve just been packing my case → ich war gerade beim Kofferpacken; I was packing my case when … → ich war gerade beim Kofferpacken, als …
Note how German uses the simple tense:
what are you doing? → was machst du da?; she’s always complaining → sie beklagt sich dauernd; they’re coming tomorrow → sie kommen morgen
Note how German uses the present tense:
I have been waiting for you for half an hour → ich warte schon seit einer halben Stunde auf Sie; will you be seeing her tomorrow? → sehen or treffen Sie sie morgen?; you will be hearing from us → Sie hören von uns, Sie werden von uns hören
Note the use of bei + infinitive:
we’re just drinking coffee → wir sind (gerade) beim Kaffeetrinken; I’ve just been packing my case → ich war gerade beim Kofferpacken; I was packing my case when … → ich war gerade beim Kofferpacken, als …
in passive constructions → werden; he was run over → er ist überfahren worden, er wurde überfahren; the box had been opened → die Schachtel war geöffnet worden; it is/was being repaired → es wird/wurde gerade repariert; I will not be intimidated → ich lasse mich nicht einschüchtern
? to be/not to be …
they are shortly to be married → sie werden bald heiraten; they were to have been married last week → sie hätten letzte Woche heiraten sollen; the car is to be sold → das Auto soll verkauft werden; she was to be/was to have been dismissed but … → sie sollte entlassen werden, aber …/sie hätte entlassen werden sollen, aber …
he is to be pitied/not to be envied → er ist zu bedauern/nicht zu beneiden; not to be confused with → nicht zu verwechseln mit; what is to be done? → was ist zu tun?, was soll geschehen?
I am to look after her → ich soll mich um sie kümmern; I am not to be disturbed → ich möchte nicht gestört werden; he is not to open it → er soll es nicht öffnen; I wasn’t to tell you his name → ich sollte or durfte Ihnen nicht sagen, wie er heißt; (but I did) → ich hätte Ihnen eigentlich nicht sagen sollen or dürfen, wie er heißt
she was never to return → sie sollte nie zurückkehren
he was not to be persuaded → er war nicht zu überreden, er ließ sich nicht überreden; if it were or was to snow → falls or wenn es schneien sollte; and were I or if I were to tell him? → und wenn ich es ihm sagen würde?
? to be/not to be …
they are shortly to be married → sie werden bald heiraten; they were to have been married last week → sie hätten letzte Woche heiraten sollen; the car is to be sold → das Auto soll verkauft werden; she was to be/was to have been dismissed but … → sie sollte entlassen werden, aber …/sie hätte entlassen werden sollen, aber …
he is to be pitied/not to be envied → er ist zu bedauern/nicht zu beneiden; not to be confused with → nicht zu verwechseln mit; what is to be done? → was ist zu tun?, was soll geschehen?
I am to look after her → ich soll mich um sie kümmern; I am not to be disturbed → ich möchte nicht gestört werden; he is not to open it → er soll es nicht öffnen; I wasn’t to tell you his name → ich sollte or durfte Ihnen nicht sagen, wie er heißt; (but I did) → ich hätte Ihnen eigentlich nicht sagen sollen or dürfen, wie er heißt
she was never to return → sie sollte nie zurückkehren
he was not to be persuaded → er war nicht zu überreden, er ließ sich nicht überreden; if it were or was to snow → falls or wenn es schneien sollte; and were I or if I were to tell him? → und wenn ich es ihm sagen würde?
in tag questions/short answers he’s always late, isn’t he? — yes he is → er kommt doch immer zu spät, nicht? — ja, das stimmt; he’s never late, is he? — yes he is → er kommt nie zu spät, oder? — oh, doch; you’re not ill, are you? — yes I am/no I’m not → Sie sind doch nicht (etwa) krank? — doch!/nein; it’s all done, is it? — yes it is/no it isn’t → es ist also alles erledigt? — ja/nein
INTRANSITIVE VERB
→ sein; (= remain) → bleiben; I’m going to Berlin — how long will you be there? → ich gehe nach Berlin — wie lange wirst du dort bleiben?; he is there at the moment but he won’t be much longer → im Augenblick ist er dort, aber nicht mehr lange; we’ve been here a long time → wir sind schon lange hier; the powers that be → die zuständigen Stellen; let me/him be → lass mich/ihn (in Ruhe); be that as it may → wie dem auch sei; to be or not to be → Sein oder Nichtsein
= visit, call I’ve been to Paris → ich war schon (ein)mal in Paris; the milkman has already been → der Milchmann war schon da; he has been and gone → er war da und ist wieder gegangen; now you’ve been and done it (inf) → jetzt hast du aber was angerichtet! (inf); I’ve just been and (gone and) broken it! → jetzt hab ichs tatsächlich kaputt gemacht (inf)
= like to have who’s for coffee/tee/biscuits? → wer möchte (gerne)Kaffee/Tee/Kekse?
? here/there is… here is a book/are two books → hier ist ein Buch/sind zwei Bücher; here/there you are (= you’ve arrived) → da sind Sie ja; (= take this) → hier/da, bitte; (= here/there it is) → hier/da ist es/sind sie doch; there he was sitting at the table → da saß er nun am Tisch; nearby there are two churches → in der Nähe sind or stehen zwei Kirchen
? here/there is… here is a book/are two books → hier ist ein Buch/sind zwei Bücher; here/there you are (= you’ve arrived) → da sind Sie ja; (= take this) → hier/da, bitte; (= here/there it is) → hier/da ist es/sind sie doch; there he was sitting at the table → da saß er nun am Tisch; nearby there are two churches → in der Nähe sind or stehen zwei Kirchen
IMPERSONAL VERB
→ sein; it is dark/morning → es ist dunkel/Morgen; tomorrow is Friday/the 14th of June → morgen ist Freitag/der 14. Juni, morgen haben wir Freitag/den 14. Juni; it is 5 km to the nearest town → es sind 5 km bis zur nächsten Stadt
? it was us/you etc who… it was us or we (form) who found it → WIR haben das gefunden, wir waren diejenigen, die das gefunden haben; it was me or I (form) who said it first → ICH habe es zuerst gesagt, ich war derjenige, der es zuerst gesagt hat
? were it not … were it not for the fact that I am a teacher, I would … → wenn ich kein Lehrer wäre, dann würde ich …; were it not for my friendship with him → wenn ich nicht mit ihm befreundet wäre; were it not for him, if it weren’t or wasn’t for him → wenn er nicht wäre; and even if it were not so → und selbst wenn das or dem nicht so wäre
? had it not been for… had it not been or if it hadn’t been for him → wenn er nicht gewesen wäre
→ sein; it is dark/morning → es ist dunkel/Morgen; tomorrow is Friday/the 14th of June → morgen ist Freitag/der 14. Juni, morgen haben wir Freitag/den 14. Juni; it is 5 km to the nearest town → es sind 5 km bis zur nächsten Stadt
? it was us/you etc who… it was us or we (form) who found it → WIR haben das gefunden, wir waren diejenigen, die das gefunden haben; it was me or I (form) who said it first → ICH habe es zuerst gesagt, ich war derjenige, der es zuerst gesagt hat
? were it not … were it not for the fact that I am a teacher, I would … → wenn ich kein Lehrer wäre, dann würde ich …; were it not for my friendship with him → wenn ich nicht mit ihm befreundet wäre; were it not for him, if it weren’t or wasn’t for him → wenn er nicht wäre; and even if it were not so → und selbst wenn das or dem nicht so wäre
? had it not been for… had it not been or if it hadn’t been for him → wenn er nicht gewesen wäre
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
be
(biː) present tense am (am) are (aː) , is (iz) : past tense was (woz) , were (wəː) : present participle ˈbeing: past participle been (biːn, (American) bin) : subjunctive were (wəː) : short forms I'm (aim) (I am), you're (juə) (you are), he's (hiːz) (he is), she's (ʃiːz) (she is), it's (its) (it is), we're (wiə) (we are), they're (θeə) (they are): negative short forms isn't (ˈiznt) (is not), aren't (aːnt) (are not), wasn't (ˈwoznt) (was not), weren't (wəːnt) (were not) – verb1. used with a present participle to form the progressive or continuous tenses. I'm reading; I am being followed; What were you saying?.
2. used with a present participle to form a type of future tense. I'm going to London.
3. used with a past participle to form the passive voice. He was shot.
4. used with an infinitive to express several ideas, eg necessity (When am I to leave?), purpose (The letter is to tell us he's coming), a possible future happening (If he were to lose, I'd win) etc.
5. used in giving or asking for information about something or someone. I am Mr Smith; Is he alive?; She wants to be an actress; The money will be ours; They are being silly.
ˈbeing noun1. existence. When did the Roman Empire come into being?
2. any living person or thing. beings from outer space.
the be-all and end-all the final aim apart from which nothing is of any real importance. This job isn't the be-all and end-all of existence.
BE,
B.E.
(ˈbiː giː) abbreviation Bachelor of Engineering; first degree in Engineering.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
be
→ يَكُونُ, يَكْون být være sein είμαι estar, ser olla être biti essere ･･･がある, いる (…) 이다, 있다 zijn være być estar, haver, ser быть vara เป็น อยู่ คือ, เป็น อยู่ คือ olmak, var olmak là, ở 是, 有Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
be
vi. ser, estar;
there is, there are → hay;
there was → hubo, había;
there will be → será,estará, habrá;
[pp.] been → sido, estado;
[pp.] being → siendo, estando;
to ___ afraid → tener miedo;
to ___ at a loss → estar confundido-a;
to ___ calm → calmarse;
to ___ careful → tener cuidado;
to ___ cold → tener frío;
to ___ hot → tener calor;
to ___ hungry → tener hambre;
to ___ quiet → callarse; estar tranquilo-a;
to ___ right → tener razón;
to ___ all right → estar bien;
to ___ ... years old → tener ... años;
to ___ sick → estar enfermo-a;
to ___ sleepy → tener sueño;
to ___ successful → tener éxito;
to ___ thirsty → tener sed;
to ___ warm [with a temperature] → tener fiebre, tener calentura; tener calor;
to want to ___ → querer ser;
to want to ___ [somewhere] → querer estar.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012