be /bɪ, biː/ ( being, was, were, been, am, are, is )

• AUX

• 1. 

  V-LINK You use be to introduce more information about the subject, such as its identity, nature, qualities, or position. 用于补充说明主语，表示其身份、性质、品质、位置等

  例：

  She's my mother.

  她是我母亲。

  例：

  He is a very attractive man.

  他是个非常有吸引力的人。

  例：

  He is fifty and has been through two marriages.

  他50岁，已经经历了两次婚姻。

  例：

  The sky was black.

  天是黑的。

  例：

  His house is next door.

  他的房间在隔壁。

  例：

  He's still alive, isn't he?

  他还活着，是吗？

• 2. 

  V-LINK You use be, with "it" as the subject, in clauses where you are describing something or giving your judgment of a situation. 与主语(it)连用，用以描述事物或给出判断

  例：

  It was too chilly for swimming.

  游泳太冷了。

  例：

  Sometimes it is necessary to say no.

  有时候说“不”是必要的。

  例：

  It is likely that investors will face losses.

  那时投资者将面临亏损是很可能的。

  例：

  It's nice having friends to chat to.

  有朋友一起聊真好。

• 3. 

  V-LINK You use be with the impersonal pronoun "there" in expressions like there is and there are to say that something exists or happens. 与非人称代名词(there)连用，表示存在或发生

  例：

  Clearly there is a problem here.

  显然这里有问题。

  例：

  There are very few cars on this street.

  这条马路上很少有车辆。

• 4. 

  V-LINK You use be as a link between a subject and a clause and in certain other clause structures, as shown below. 用于连接主语和分句或其他分句结构

  例：

  Our greatest problem is convincing them.

  我们最重要的问题是说服他们。

  例：

  All she knew was that I'd had a broken marriage.

  她所知道的就是我曾有过一次破裂的婚姻。

  例：

  Local residents said it was as if there had been a nuclear explosion.

  当地居民说好像发生过核爆炸。

• 5. 

  V-LINK You use be in expressions like the thing is and the point is to introduce a clause in which you make a statement or give your opinion. 用于(the thing is##thing)和(the point is)等表达中，引导一个分句，以陈述事实或表达观点 [口语]

  例：

  The fact is, the players gave everything they had.

  事实是，运动员们倾尽了所有。

• 6. 

  V-LINK The form "be" is used occasionally instead of the normal forms of the present tense, especially after "whether." (be)有时用来替代通常的现在时形式，尤其在(whether)之后 [正式]

  例：

  They should then be able to refer you to the appropriate type of practitioner, whether it be your GP, dentist, or optician.

  然后他们应当能够介绍你去见合适科别的执业医生，不管是你的全科医师、牙医还是配镜师。

• 7. 

  PHRASE If you talk about what would happen if it wasn't for someone or something, you mean that they are the only thing that is preventing it from happening. 若不是因为

  例：

  I could happily move back into an apartment if it wasn't for the fact that I'd miss my garden.

  若不是因为我会惦记着花园，我本可以高兴地搬回公寓。