be
[bi:] ( pt was or were, pp been )auxiliary verb Conjugation
| 1. | (in combination with present participle: to form continuous tense)
Conjugation estar
what is he doing? ¿qué hace or está haciendo? it's snowing está nevando I'm leaving tomorrow me voy mañana they've been promising it for years han estado prometiéndolo durante años |
| 2. | (in combination with past participle: to form passive)
Conjugation ser
to be loved ser amado there was no one to be seen no se veía a nadie ten people were killed murieron diez personas |
| 3. | (in question tags)
you're not going now, are you? no irás a marcharte ya ¿no? the meal was delicious, wasn't it? la comida fue deliciosa ¿verdad? |
| 4. | (followed by 'to' + infinitive)
I'm to be promoted me van a ascender you're not to tell anyone no debes decírselo a nadie |
be
[bi:] ( pt was or were, pp been )copulative verb Conjugation
| 1. | (with adjective, noun)
[indicating innate quality, permanent condition]
Conjugation ser
[indicating state, temporary condition] Conjugation estar snow is white la nieve es blanca she's intelligent/tall es inteligente/alta to be a doctor/plumber ser médico/fontanero I'm Welsh soy galés be quiet! ¡cállate! 1 and 1 are 2 1 y 1 son 2 your hands are cold tus manos están frías I'm tired/angry estoy cansado/enfadado I'm hot tengo calor he's in a difficult position está en una situación difícil |
| 2. | [referring to health]
Conjugation estar
she's ill/better está enferma/mejor how are you? ¿cómo estás?, ¿qué tal? |
| 3. | [referring to age]
how old are you? ¿qué edad or cuántos años tienes? I'm 20 (years old) tengo 20 años |
| 4. | [cost]
Conjugation ser, Conjugation costar
how much is it? ¿cuánto es? how much was it? ¿cuánto costó? that will be £10, please son 10 libras apples are only 40p a kilo today hoy las manzanas están a tan sólo 40 peniques el kilo |
be
[bi:] ( pt was or were, pp been )intransitive verb Conjugation
| 1. | [exist]
Conjugation ser, Conjugation existir
the worst prime minister that ever was el peor primer ministro de todos los tiempos be that as it may aunque así sea there is/are hay is there life on Mars? ¿hay vida en Marte? |
| 2. | [referring to place]
Conjugation estar
Valencia is in Spain Valencia está en España he will be here tomorrow estará aquí mañana |
| 3. | [referring to movement]
Conjugation estar
where have you been? ¿dónde has estado? |
be
[bi:] ( pt was or were, pp been )impersonal verb Conjugation
| 1. | [referring to time, dates]
Conjugation ser
it's two o'clock son las dos it's the 17th of February estamos a 17 de febrero |
| 2. | [referring to distance]
it's 3 km to the next town hay 3 kms hasta el próximo pueblo |
| 3. | [referring to the weather]
it's hot/cold/windy hace calor/frío/viento |
| 4. | [for emphasis]
Conjugation ser
it's me soy yo it's the milkman es el lechero |
