现在进行时用be动词,结构:be动词+动词ing形式。一般将来时要用be动词,结构:be going to +动词原形。一般现在时、一般过去时变一般疑问句,因为没有be动词,所以要借助助动词提问。一般现在时借助助动词提问,主要看人称,如果是主语第三人称单数(he,she,it),用助动词does提问,其他人称主语用do提问。
英语的“be”是个特别动词;有些语言,如中文和马来文,并没有“be”这样的动词。
“Be”除了原形的“be”之外,还有另外七种形式:am, is, are, been, being, was, were.
在句子中,“be”可以是主动词(The Principal Verb)或助动词(The Auxiliary Verb).
当主动词时,“be”在性质上属于接系动词(The Linking Verb), 后面要有名词、形容词、地方副词或短语作补足语(The Complement)。例如:
1. The man is a science teacher.
2. Mary's new dresses are colourful.
3. I have been there before.
4. Mother is in the kitchen now.
这四个都是陈述句,可以变成疑问句,方法简单,把主语和“be”或助动词对换位置即可:
5. Is the man a science teacher?
6. Are Mary's new dresses colourful?
7. Have I been there before?
8. Is mother in the kitchen now?
当“be”要在祈使句中出现时,它必须借重助动词“do”或“don't”之助,如:
9.Don't be silly!
10. Do be obedient!
11. Don't be a fool!
“Be”有两种缩写法,如下:
12. He's not...../He isn't....
13. You're not...../You aren't...
但“am + not”的缩写法只有一个:
14. I'm not.
有人用“ain't”, 但这并不是标准英语。