英語的“be”是個特別動詞；有些語言，如中文和馬來文，并沒有“be”這樣的動詞。
“Be”除了原形的“be”之外，還有另外七種形式：am, is, are, been, being, was, were.
在句子中，“be”可以是主動詞（The Principal Verb）或助動詞（The Auxiliary Verb）.
當主動詞時，“be”在性質(zhì)上屬于接系動詞（The Linking Verb）, 后面要有名詞、形容詞、地方副詞或短語作補足語（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.
這四個都是陳述句，可以變成疑問句，方法簡單，把主語和“be”或助動詞對換位置即可：
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?
當“be”要在祈使句中出現(xiàn)時，它必須借重助動詞“do”或“don't”之助，如：
9. Don't be silly!
10. Do be obedient!
11. Don't be a fool!
“Be”有兩種縮寫法，如下：
12. He's not……/He isn't……
13. You're not……/You aren't……
但“am + not”的縮寫法只有一個：
14. I'm not.
有人用“ain't”, 但這并不是標準英語。
談過了“be”作主動詞的功能，現(xiàn)在看看“be”作助動詞時，有些什么用法：
1.“Be + 現(xiàn)在分詞”以組成進行式時態(tài)（Continuous Tenses），如：
15. Tony's maid is washing his new car.
16. The children are playing in the field.
17. Samuel was eating when I came in.
18. We have been living here since 1959.
2.“Be + 過去分詞”以組成被動語態(tài)（The Passive Voice）,如：
19. Her money in the drawer was stolen.
20. A number of good jobs are taken up byforeigners.
21. David studied in Taiwan but has been trained as a language lecturer in America.
22. Can all the wonderful birds be found in our Bird Park?
23. The disobedient boy was told to stand out- side the classroom.
24. Steps are being taken to reduce traffic con- gestion during peak hours.
25. Dishonest students will be immediately dealt with.
從上面例子看，“be”這動詞外貌平凡，但內(nèi)涵豐厚。如果沒有“be”，補足語的橋梁斷了。如果沒有“be”,何來進行式時態(tài)和被動語態(tài)？缺了這幾樣重要的句式，英語還像英語嗎？
“Be”除了原形的“be”之外，還有另外七種形式：am, is, are, been, being, was, were.
在句子中，“be”可以是主動詞（The Principal Verb）或助動詞（The Auxiliary Verb）.
當主動詞時，“be”在性質(zhì)上屬于接系動詞（The Linking Verb）, 后面要有名詞、形容詞、地方副詞或短語作補足語（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.
這四個都是陳述句，可以變成疑問句，方法簡單，把主語和“be”或助動詞對換位置即可：
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?
當“be”要在祈使句中出現(xiàn)時，它必須借重助動詞“do”或“don't”之助，如：
9. Don't be silly!
10. Do be obedient!
11. Don't be a fool!
“Be”有兩種縮寫法，如下：
12. He's not……/He isn't……
13. You're not……/You aren't……
但“am + not”的縮寫法只有一個：
14. I'm not.
有人用“ain't”, 但這并不是標準英語。
談過了“be”作主動詞的功能，現(xiàn)在看看“be”作助動詞時，有些什么用法：
1.“Be + 現(xiàn)在分詞”以組成進行式時態(tài)（Continuous Tenses），如：
15. Tony's maid is washing his new car.
16. The children are playing in the field.
17. Samuel was eating when I came in.
18. We have been living here since 1959.
2.“Be + 過去分詞”以組成被動語態(tài)（The Passive Voice）,如：
19. Her money in the drawer was stolen.
20. A number of good jobs are taken up byforeigners.
21. David studied in Taiwan but has been trained as a language lecturer in America.
22. Can all the wonderful birds be found in our Bird Park?
23. The disobedient boy was told to stand out- side the classroom.
24. Steps are being taken to reduce traffic con- gestion during peak hours.
25. Dishonest students will be immediately dealt with.
從上面例子看，“be”這動詞外貌平凡，但內(nèi)涵豐厚。如果沒有“be”，補足語的橋梁斷了。如果沒有“be”,何來進行式時態(tài)和被動語態(tài)？缺了這幾樣重要的句式，英語還像英語嗎？