be

verb

present tense am [[t]ʌm[/t]], are [[t]a:[/t]], is [[t]ɪz[/t]]; past tense was [[t]woz[/t]], were [[t]w†:[/t]]; present participle 'being; past participle been [[t]bi:n, (·meriцan) bɪn[/t]]; subjunctive were [[t]w†:[/t]]; short forms I'm [[t]aim[/t]] (I am), you're [[t]ju†[/t]] (you are), he's [[t]hi:z[/t]] (he is), she's [[t]ʃi:z[/t]] (she is), it's [[t]ɪ [/t]] (it is), we're [[t]wi†[/t]] (we are), they're [[t]Ɵe†[/t]] (they are); negative short forms isn't (is not), aren't [[t]a:nt[/t]] (are not), wasn't (was not), weren't [[t]w†:nt[/t]] (were not)

1) (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.)

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- being

- the be-all and end-all