The verb be | Annotation hierarchies | Scriptor

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The verb be
- The verb be
  
  The verb “to be” serves three primary functions. First, it is used as a main verb to indicate existence. Second, it is used as a helper verb along with another verb in the -ing form to indicate a progressive tense. Third, it is used to indicate the passive voice in various tenses.
  
  Main verb: I am certain that you are correct, although he is not convinced. The paper was good and the results were conclusive.
  
  Progressive: I am going to the store. We were planning to have a party.
  
  Passive: The paper was written. The paper is published. The paper will be written. The paper is going to be written.
- am / is / was
  - Using am / is / was
    
    Am, is, and was are used with singular subjects. Am is the 1st person present tense; is is the 3rd person present tense; was is the 1st and 3rd-person past tense.
    
    Present: (1st person) I am late. (3rd person) She is late. He is late. It is gone.
    
    Past: (1st person) I was late. (3rd person) She was late. He was late. It was gone.
- are / were
  - Using are / were
    Are and were are forms of “to be” in the present and past tense respectively, and are used with 2nd person singular, and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd person plural.
    
    Present, 2nd sing.: You are late. (you = one person)
    
    Present, 1st, 2nd, 3rd plur.: We are late. You two are late. They are late.
    
    Past, 2nd sing.: You were late. (you = one person)
    
    Past, 1st, 2nd, 3rd plur.: We were late. You two were late. They were late.
- is / are
  - Using is / are
    
    Whether to use is or are depends on whether the subject of the sentence is single or plural. The choice can be confusing when the subject and the noun closest to the verb are not in the same number, as in the following examples.
    
    This category of puzzles is very challenging for humans. (subject is singular, “This category”)
    
    Puzzles falling into this category are very challenging for humans. (subject is plural, “Puzzles”)