Índice

Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1

The verb to be ................................................................................................................... 2

1.1 To be structure of the verb in the affirmative sentence .............................................. 2

1.2 To be verb structure in negative sentence .................................................................. 3

1.3 To be verb structure in interrogative sentence............................................................ 3

1.4 The past tense of the verb TO BE .............................................................................. 3

1.5 Auxiliary do and does ................................................................................................. 5

1.6 Present continuous of verb to be ................................................................................ 6

Conclusion ........................................................................................................................ 7

References ........................................................................................................................ 8
Introduction

In this present work that has as its theme the study of the verb to be, which will be
approached in a clear and objective, being the same is the most important verb in the
English language. It is difficult to use because it is an irregular verb in almost all of its
forms.

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The verb to be

According Thomson (2000), The verb to be is the most important verb in the English
language. It is difficult to use because it is an irregular verb in almost all of its forms. It
is used for describe and identify people and objects and in the expressions of time, place
and age.

Examples:

 This is a lion.
 Helen is 4 years old.
 They are my parents.

1.1 To be structure of the verb in the affirmative sentence

According Thomson (2000), We use the abbreviated forms in informal language when
we address to our friends, our closest relatives, either through speech or through
writing, like scraps, emails and etc. In this language the goal is the content, is to get the
message that we want quickly.

However, when we address a stranger, or people that we should show respect, because
we do not have much coexistence, or the place that this person occupy, as a position of
presidency, direction, or the situation in which we find ourselves, as a wake, a
presentation, etc., we use formal language. This is a language more polite, far-fetched,
both to address us through speech and through writing, through Email, letter.

In this language, the goal is to convey the message and, furthermore, to demonstrate
respect.

I am 'm we are 're

you are 're you are 're

he/she/it is 's they are 're

Examples:

 I’m a teenager girl.

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  We’re best friends.

1.2 To be verb structure in negative sentence

In EnglishThe same thing happens as in Portuguese. In this case, the word NOT has the
same meaning as our “Não” .Take a look at the examples:

I am not 'm not he/she/it is not isn't you are not aren't

you are not aren't we are not aren't they are not aren't

 I am not tall.
 This isn’t a lion.
 We aren’t friends.
 Lisa is not happy.

1.3 To be verb structure in interrogative sentence

Am I? Is he/she/it? Are you?

Are you? Are we? Are they?

 Is she Lisa?
 Is he your brother?
 Are you American?
 Am I tall?
 Where are you?

We can observe that by asking a question in English we change the verb to be with the
subject. That is, the verb to be is before the subject.

1.4 The past tense of the verb TO BE

We use past tense verbs to talk about something that is 100% finished or done. Present
tense "be verbs" include am, is, and are. Past tense "be verbs" include was and were.
Remember that "be verbs" are followed by a noun or an adjective. Look at how the
verb "to be" changes from present tense to past tense.

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am → was is → was are → were

I was there. – Eu estava lá.

I was at home. He was my friend. She was working.

You were happy. He was an engineer. It was a computer.

You were a student. He was there. It was a good game.

You were at the station. She was my girlfriend..

There are no contractions for positive sentences in the past tense.

 I'm tired today.

I was tired yesterday.

 You're happy now.

You were happy last week

According Thomson (2000), Past tense verbs are often used with time words that refer
to the past. The sentence patterns are the same for both the past tense and the present
tense. Only the verb and time are different.

Subject + be verb + adjective/noun....?

 I was tired yesterday.

 She was angry last week.
 Mary was home last Christmas.
 He was very sick last month.
 Jon was a student last summer.
 They were on vacation two weeks ago.
 We were finished two hours ago.

Remember that present tense and past tense sentences follow the same pattern. Only the
verb changes and we use different time words.

Example Sentences

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I was happy yesterday.

I was angry with her last week.

I was interested in cars when I was young.

You were upset yesterday.

You were a great teacher.

You were very talkative last night.

We were disappointed yesterday.

We were exhausted last night.

Tina and I were happy that you came to the party last week.

Jake and I were excited to go to the baseball game yesterday.

1.5 Auxiliary do and does

DO and DOES are auxiliary verbs, They serve to indicate in which time a certain
conversation for example is going on. DO and DOES are used in interrogative phrases
to indicate that a particular action It is in the present tense. Then look at the examples:

DO you study English every day? Yes, I do // No, I don´t

DOES she work on Saturdays? Yes, she does // No, she doesn´t

DO they like romantic movies? Yes, they do // No, theydon´t

Do is an auxiliary verb that indicates present, actions that express routine, and is used
for subjects. that are NOT 3a. person in interrogative and negative sentences, plus not (=
don´t) In Yes / No answers, note that you only need to invert the auxiliary verb and the
subject.

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1.6 Present continuous of verb to be

According Saraiva (1996), Present Continuous, also known as Present Progressive. A

verb tense that, contrary to what many people think, has various uses in English.

The present continuous tense is formed with the subject plus the present particle form (-
ing) of the main verb and the present continuous tense of the verb to be: am, is, are.

One simple example of this tense is: He is swimming. "He" is the subject, "is" is the
present tense of the verb to be and "swimming" is the present participle verb form.
Some other forms of this verb tense are:

I am traveling to Italy next year.

2. We are having dinner together tonight.

3. She is starting a new job next week.

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Conclusion

With the theme, came to the conclusion that Verbs fulfill five functions in our language.
In their conjugated form, they enable us to form clauses, either as complete sentences or
as dependent clauses. They also appear as infinitives (to verbs), as present participles
(‑ing verbs), and as past participles (ordinarily ‑ed verbs). In these three forms, they
appear as phrases. And, in their ‑ing and ‑ed forms, they can appear as single-word
adjectives.

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References

Barbara Webb (1995),The Commutating in English Grade 10 Overseas , Development,

Administration – Mozambique

J. Thomson, and, A.V. – (2000), Matinet, Oxford Pocket English Grammar. Oxford
University Press.

Active your English Pre-intermediate – Self study workbook – University of Cambridge

Saraiva, Maria do Ceu Jorge, (1996), English Grammar – Portugal