To be

The verb to be is an important word in English language. We use it to mean the status or characteristics of something or of a person. Some languages, for example Portuguese and Spanish, have two different verbs for the two meanings of this verb. Other languages, for example Arabic and Chinese, do not have any form of this verb.

Conjugation

Infinitive: to be

Imperative: be

Present participle: being

Past participle: been

	Present indicative	Past indicative	Present subjunctive	Past subjunctive
First-person singular (I)	am	was	be	were
Second-person singular (you)	are	were	be	were
Third-person singular (he, she, it)	is	was	be	were
First-person plural (we)	are	were	be	were
Second-person plural (you)	are	were	be	were
Third-person plural (they)	are	were	be	were