The verb "be" is the most important verb to understand in English because it’s used to make various verb tenses and the passive voice, but it’s also used as a main verb which causes some confusion for students who don’t know the difference between a helping verb and a main verb. It can also be used as a gerund or as an infinitive.
1. Have you ever been to New York City?
(be = travel; visit. This sentence is in the present perfect tense.)
2. The weather will be very nice today.
Yesterday wasn’t very nice.
3. She wants to be an Olympic diver when she gets older.
("be" is in the infinitive in this sentence.)
4. He’s a police officer.
(The verb "be" is often used when describing occupations.)
5. The older boy is being mean to the younger boy.
(This sentence is in the present continuous tense and it describes behavior.)
6. She was being too loud on the phone, and when someone told her to be quiet, she got really mad.
7. These tables have been empty all day.
8. He’s in love with her. She’s in love with him. They’re both in love.
Being in love is a common human experience.
("Being" is a gerund in the above sentence.)
9. She is going to be a cat on Halloween. ("going to" future tense)
