We must remember that the verb TO BE is one of most used in English. It is part of the basic, intermediate and advanced vocabulary of every English learner. Besides its frequent use, it becomes the best alternative in everyday life either. Despite that the Verb TO BE is irregular as the image below shows us; it is eventually enjoyed by people who use it according to the culture from where they come. These variations are more demanded in the United Kingdom. One extraordinary, but ungrammatical case, it is seen in Cockney English, which is referred to the accent or dialect of English traditionally spoken by working-class Londoners. In recent years, many aspects of Cockney English have become part of general Southeast English speech, producing a variant known as Estuary English. An example is: THEY WAS TO HELP ME when the reasonable shape of the verb TO BE in this simple sentence is THEY WERE TO HELP ME. Surely and fortunately, the verb TO BE is also flexible in Speech. In addition to this, we could say that the possible combinations are also changeable in meaning. Moreover, it banks on the following word or words as it appears to be on the list of sentences below. The idiomatic expressions are best placed if they are found with this verb owing to the sense of understanding. Till now, we know that the more we use this verb, the more familiarised we are with the English Language. It conveys confidence into the learner that is starting its learning process. This verb produces, in the vast of the cases, frightening and exciting possibilities for learners to carry on a conversation with more or less self-confidence. As a result of the constant adaptation to the language, I´ll give you some samples of the verb TO BE, showing it is not as easy as we may think.
Read these sentences and just answer the questions and statements saying whether they are complex or not, it is not a challenge for you to face up, isn´t it?
Discern its syntactic function as a verb in context.
is it a full expression or a simple “BE”?
If you´ve got a chance to diagram them, how will they be?
She is about to leave for Costa Rica.
I´m after the truth of this problem.
I am against buying everything they offer you.
I am afraid Sheila is away for the weekend.5.
Mr. Barter will be back in half an hour.
You are already behind with your rent.
Are you down for the OM personal final examinations?
Poor Mary is down in French and Maths.
I am for doing nothing till the police arrive.
I want to see Mr. Delaware. Is he in?
The pilot has just said that were in for a bumpy flight.
His father is in with the manager.
She is off now. Call her later.
This milk is off, throw it away.
He promised to see me when she was off.
The film is off now.
They are on from 2pm to 6pm.
Mrs. Denys is out at the moment.
The accountant was out in his budget.
Her book is already out.
Is the fire out?
I am so busy that even a short daycation is out.
Sheila is out for a good time.
He is out of Buenos Aires at the present.
I am out of sugar and coffee.
The storm is over now. We can go on.
I am through with you for good and all.
She won´t be up till 11am today.
What´s up? Why did you scream?
Your time is up. You must return now.
Mankind is always up against nature.
Mr. Rivers is much better now: he is already up and about.
Martha is very quiet. Go and see what she is up to.
My doctor said that I was not up to making such a long flight.
It is up to you to teach your children manners.
He is well up in movie business. Ask him about the film.
Note: try not to establish something at once, think it over and then say if it is a linking, transitive, intransitive, ditransitive, prepositional, phrasal or phrasal prepositional verb. Good luck!
Eduardo Becerrit 