Using Correct Forms of the Verb "Be"

The irregular verb be is an important auxiliary verb (also known as a helping verb), both in the present tense and in the past. Be has three forms in the present:

I am.
You (We, They) are.
He (She, It) is.

Be has two forms in the past:

I (He, She, It) was.
You (We, They) were.

Note that be is the only verb whose past tense changes its form to agree with the subject.

Using Am, Are, and Is with a Present Participle

A form of be may serve as an auxiliary verb with the present participle of any other verb. A present participle is made by adding -ing to the present form of a verb. A present form of be (am, are, or is) plus the present participle describes an action that is still in progress:

I am speaking with Miss Sunshine.
The Hoovers are driving to California.
Dwayne is staying with his grandfather.

Each of these sentences shows ongoing action in the present.

Using Was and Were with a Present Participle

To show continuous action in the past, we use a past form of be (was or were) with the present participle of another verb:

I was speaking with Miss Sunshine.
The Hoovers were driving to California.
Dwayne was staying with his grandfather.

Remember to use was after singular subjects (singular nouns and the pronouns I, he, she, it, this, and that). Use were after plural subjects (plural nouns and the pronouns you, we, they, these, and those).

Using a Form of Be with a Past Participle

To express an idea in the passive voice, we use a present or past form of be with the past participle of another verb. In the passive voice, the subject receives the action of the verb:

The Pirates are rated number one in the region.
The Bulldogs were beaten by the Pirates.

As a general rule, we use the passive voice when the performer of the action is unknown or is far less important than the receiver of the action. Otherwise, we should keep to the active voice, in which the subject performs the action of the verb:

Sports reporters rate the Pirates number one in the region.
The Pirates beat the Bulldogs.

Be careful not to overwork the passive voice. The active voice is usually more concise and forceful.

Practice in Using the Correct Form of Be

Write the correct form of the verb be in the tense indicated in parentheses. Compare your responses with the answers that follow the exercise.

1. The Hoovers (be) driving to California in an old VW bus. (present)
2. The Hoovers (be) driving to California in an old VW bus. (past)
3. Dwayne (be) writing another note to his grandfather. (present)
4. George Bailey (be) visited by an angel named Clarence. (past)
5. The Hoovers (be) planning another road trip. (present)
6. I (be) happy to be here. (present)
7. You (be) talking in your sleep last night. (past)
8. Uncle Frank (be) reading a novel when the tornado struck. (past)
9. The Hoovers (be) disqualified. (past)
10. The game of hopscotch (be) invented by the Romans. (past)
11. The elephant (be) the only animal with four knees in each leg. (present)
12. The side door (be) broken. (present)
13. King William IV's nickname (be) "Silly Billy." (past)
14. There (be) 206 bones in the human body. (present)
15. Richard (be) a motivational speaker. (past)

ANSWERS: 1. are; 2. were; 3. is; 4. was; 5. are; 6. am; 7. were; 8. was; 9. were; 10. was; 11. is; 12. is; 13. was; 14. are; 15. was.