The Use and Meaning of the Verb to be
The Verb to be
There are two common types of use of the verb to be in english. The first use is as a main verb, and the second is as an auxiliary /helping verb.
1. To be as a Main Verb
As a main verb, the verb to be acts as a linking verb. When the verb to be is a linking verb it :
-Does not describe an action
-Gives more information about the subject of the sentence
-Does not take a direct object ; it takes a complement instead
Examples :
1. I am excited
2. She is a student
3. He is eccentric
4. It is a lovely pet
5. We are hungry
6. You are messy
7. They are football players
A complement is a word /phrase that refers back to the subject. There are three types of complement with the verb to be
-To be with a subject complement. E.G : Marry is a nurse.
-To be with an adjective complement. E.g. : He is generous.
-To be with a prepositional phrase. E.g. : I am at work.
Note : When the verb to be acts as a main/linking verb, it indicates the existence of a person or a thing, or gives more information about a person or a thing.
2 . To be as an Auxiliary/helping Verb
An auxiliary verb is also called a helping verb, because it helps another main verb. E.g. : Jain is reading a newspaper. Is is the auxialary verb that helps the main verb reading.
There are two common types of use of the verb to be as an auxiliary
1. To be + the present participle in all of the continuous tenses.
Examples :
-Bill is watching Tv
Nancy will be flying to germany next month.
2. To be followed by the past participle, and this makes the passive voice.
Examples :
-The girl is called Lucy.
-This tower was built in the 1950s.