Be

être

Irregular verb.

  • am, is, are

    Be is the most irregular verb: am, is, are in the present, was and were in the past. Its -ing tenses describe behavior: you’re being silly.

In speech, the helping verbs shorten: I’m, he’s, we’re, I’ve, I’ll, I’d.

Newbie

Enough to talk about now, the past, and your plans, and to give instructions.

  1. Present simple

    Who or what someone is, and how and where they are. To say no, add not: I'm not, he isn't, we aren't.

    1. I am
    2. you / we / they are
    3. he / she / it is

  2. Present continuous

    What is happening now, and plans already arranged: we’re leaving tomorrow.

    1. I am being
    2. you / we / they are being
    3. he / she / it is being

  3. Past simple

    Who, what, how, and where someone was. To say no, add not: I wasn't, they weren't.

    1. I / he / she / it was
    2. you / we / they were

  4. Future with going to

    Plans and intentions, and what you can see coming: it’s going to rain.

    1. I am going to be
    2. you / we / they are going to be
    3. he / she / it is going to be

  5. Imperative

    Orders, advice, and instructions. Let’s suggests doing it together. To say no: don't be.

    1. (you) be
    2. let's be
BeginnerExperiences, what you were doing, and the future with will.Present perfect · Past continuous · Future with willAlso show the Beginner tenses (3)

  1. Present perfect

    The past linked to now: experiences, news, and what started earlier and still goes on: I’ve lived here for two years.

    1. I / you / we / they have been
    2. he / she / it has been

  2. Past continuous

    An action in progress at a past moment, often interrupted: I was cooking when you called.

    1. I / he / she / it was being
    2. you / we / they were being

  3. Future with will

    Predictions, promises, offers, and decisions made now: I’ll help you.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they will be
IntermediateHow long something has lasted, the past before the past, and what would happen.Past perfect · Conditional · Conditional perfectAlso show the Intermediate tenses (3)

  1. Past perfect

    The past before another past moment: when I arrived, the train had left.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they had been

  2. Conditional

    What would happen in an imagined situation, and polite requests: if I had time, I would help.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they would be

  3. Conditional perfect

    What would have happened, but did not: if I had known, I would have come.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they would have been
AdvancedWhat will have happened, and the longer continuous tenses.Future perfectAlso show the Advanced tenses (1)

  1. Future perfect

    An action finished before a future moment: by Friday, I’ll have finished.

    1. I / you / he / she / it / we / they will have been