What is the verb “to be”?
The verb to be is a helping and main verb that shows a state of being. It tells what someone or something is, was, or will be in a sentence.
- I am ready for school.
- She is my friend.
- They are in the classroom.
The form of to be changes depending on the subject of the sentence.
Using “to be” in the present tense
Use the present tense of to be to tell about something happening right now. The present tense forms are am, is, and are.
- I am excited for the book fair.
- He is a fast runner.
- We are learning new vocabulary.
Use am only with “I,” is with singular subjects, and are with plural subjects or “you.”
Using “to be” in the past tense
The past tense of to be tells about something that already happened. The past tense forms are was and were.
- She was at the library yesterday.
- The puppy was sleepy.
- They were on the bus this morning.
Use was with singular subjects and were with plural subjects or “you.”
Using “to be” in the future tense
To show the future tense, use will be. It tells what someone or something will be later on.
- I will be at the game tomorrow.
- She will be the class leader next week.
- They will be excited for the trip.
Will be works with all subjects—singular and plural.
Using “to be” in complete sentences
Understanding how to use the correct form of to be helps you write clear and complete sentences in different tenses.
- Present: The room is quiet.
- Past: The room was quiet yesterday.
- Future: The room will be quiet during the test.
Check the subject and the time of the action to choose the correct verb form.