“be”是個特別動詞
“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(dāng)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(dāng)“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.