be
past
verb
bi past
1 used with a present participle to form the CONTINUOUS (4) tenses of verbs 〔和现在分词构成动词的进行时态〕
Don’t disturb me while I’m working.
我工作的时候不要打扰我。
Gemma was reading.
杰玛正在看书。
They’ve been asking a lot of questions.
他们已经问了许多问题。
That guy’s always causing trouble.
那家伙总是惹麻烦。
We’ll be starting in about an hour.
我们过一小时左右开始。
He isn’t leaving, is he?
他不会走吧？
2 used with past participles to form the PASSIVE 〔和过去分词构成被动语态〕
Smoking is not permitted.
禁止吸烟。
I was told about it yesterday.
昨天有人告诉了我这件事。
The house is being painted.
房子正在上油漆。
She’s been invited to a party.
她受邀参加聚会。
The flames could be seen several miles away.
熊熊的火焰在几英里以外都能看见。
The police should have been informed about this.
这件事本应向警察报告。
3
be to do sth
a. used to talk about arrangements for the future b. used to give an order or to tell someone about a rule c. used to say or ask what someone should do or what should happen d. used to ask how something can be done 应该做某事〔用于询问某事应该怎么做〕 formal
Audrey and Jimmy are to be married in June.
奥德丽和吉米将在六月份结婚。
Two men are to appear in court on charges of armed robbery.
两名男子因被控持械抢劫将出庭受审。
You are to wait here in this room until I return.
你必须留在这个房间里等到我回来。
All staff are to wear uniforms.
所有员工都必须穿制服。
What am I to tell her?
我该对她说什么呢？
He is not to be blamed.
不应该怪他。
How are we to get out of the present mess?
我们该如何摆脱目前的困境呢？
4
be to be seen/found/heard etc
used to say that something can be seen, found, or heard somewhere 能看到/能找到/能听到等
A large range of species are to be seen in the aquarium.
水族馆里可以看到许许多多不同品种的鱼。
We searched everywhere but the ring was nowhere to be found (=could not be found) .
我们找遍了所有地方，却怎么都找不到那枚戒指。
The only sound to be heard was the twittering of the birds above us.
唯一能听到的声音就是鸟儿在我们头顶上唧唧啾啾地鸣叫。
5
was/were to do sth
used when talking about a time in the past to say what happened later 后来发生某事〔用于谈及过去的时间，表示后来发生的事〕
This discovery was to have a major effect on the treatment of heart disease.
这一发现后来对心脏病的治疗产生了重大影响。
6 a. used in CONDITIONAL 1(2) sentences about an imagined situation b. used in CONDITIONAL sentences to introduce an aim when you are saying what must be done in order to achieve it 〔用于条件句中引入目标〕
were sb to do sth/if sb were to do sth
Even if England were to win the next two matches, Germany would still be three points ahead.
即使英格兰队在接下来的两场比赛中都胜出，德国队也还是领先三分。
Were we to offer you the job, would you take it?
如果我们给你这份工作，你会接受吗？
if sb/sth is to do sth
If we are to succeed in this enterprise, we shall need to plan everything very carefully.
我们要是想把这个企业办好，每一件事情都要认认真真地去计划。
7 used instead of ‘have’ to form the PERFECT 3tense of some verbs [旧] 〔代替 have 构成某些动词的完成时态〕 old use
The hour is come.
这一时刻已经来临。
verb
8 used to say that someone or something is the same as the subject of the sentence 〔表示某人或某物与主语相同〕 linking verb 连系动词
My name is Susan.
我的名字叫苏珊。
These are my favourite pictures.
这些是我最喜欢的照片。
He’s my brother.
他是我兄弟。
The problem is finding the time to get things done.
问题是要抽出时间把事情做好。
Our aim was to reduce the number of accidents.
我们的目标是要减少事故。
9 used to say where something or someone is 〔用于表示某人或某物在哪里〕 I always + adv/prep
Jane’s upstairs.
简在楼上。
Are my keys in the drawer?
我的钥匙在抽屉里吗？
The principal’s in his office.
校长在自己的办公室里。
How long has she been here?
她来这儿有多久了？
10 used to say when something happens 〔用于表示某事发生的时间〕 I always + adv/prep
The concert was last night.
音乐会是在昨晚举行的。
The party is on Saturday.
聚会是在星期六。
11 used to describe someone or something, or say what group or type they belong to 是〔描述某人或某物的特征或所属的群体或类型〕 linking verb 连系动词
The sky was grey.
天空灰蒙蒙的。
Spiders are not really insects.
蜘蛛实际上不是昆虫。
Mr Cardew was a tall thin man.
卡杜先生是个又高又瘦的男人。
She wants to be a doctor when she leaves school.
她毕业后想当医生。
Her dress was pure silk.
她的裙子是真丝的。
I’m not ready yet.
我还没准备好呢。
12
there is/are
used to say that something exists or happens 有，存在〔表示某物存在或某事发生〕
There’s a hole in your trousers.
你的裤子上有个洞。
There was a loud explosion.
传来巨大的爆炸声。
‘I thought there was going to be a party.’ ‘No, there isn’t.’
“我以为要举行派对呢。”“没有派对。”
Is there a problem?
有问题吗？
13 to behave in a particular way 有某种表现 linking verb 连系动词
He was just being rude.
他当时就是很无礼。
Don’t be silly.
别傻了。
You’d better be careful.
你最好小心点。
14 used to say how old someone is 〔用于表示某人的年龄〕 linking verb 连系动词
His mother died when he was twenty.
他母亲是在他二十岁的时候去世的。
Rachel will be three in November.
到十一月份蕾切尔就三岁了。
15 used to say who something belongs to 〔用于表示某物属于某人〕 linking verb 连系动词
Whose is this bag? It isn’t mine and it isn’t Sarah’s.
这个包是谁的？不是我的也不是萨拉的。
16 used to talk about the price of something 〔用于表示某物的价格〕 linking verb 连系动词
‘How much are the melons?’ ‘The big ones are £2 each.’
“这些甜瓜多少钱？”“大的两英镑一个。”
17 to be equal to a particular number or amount 等于，是 linking verb 连系动词
32 divided by 8 is 4.
32 除以 8 等于 4。
18
be that as it may
11. used to say that even though you accept that something is true, it does not change a situation [正式] 即便如此，尽管如此 formal
‘He was only joking.’ ‘Be that as it may, silly remarks like that can do a lot of harm.’
“他不过是开个玩笑。”“即便如此，像这样的蠢话也会给人造成很大的伤害。”
19 to exist [正式] 存在 I | formal
What was once a great and powerful empire has effectively ceased to be.
这个曾经是伟大而强盛的帝国实际上已经不复存在了。
20
be yourself
13. to behave in a natural way, rather than trying to pretend to be different 行为自然，不做作
Don’t try too hard – just be yourself.
不要太刻意 — 你该怎么样就怎么样吧。
21
not be yourself
14. to be behaving in a way that is unusual for you, especially because you are ill or upset 不是你正常的状况，状态不好〔尤因为生病或不高兴〕
Sorry – I’m not myself this morning.
对不起 – 我今天上午状态不好。
22
the be-all and end-all
15. the most important part of a situation or of someone’s life 首要的事情，最要紧的事情
[+ of ]
For Jim, making money was the be-all and end-all of his job.
对吉姆来讲，挣钱是最要紧的事情。