be
gb/bˈi/ us/bˈi/
A1
Engels
~ 100
WERKWOORD
A1
1
Gebruikspatroon:
[someone/something] is [adjective/noun]
I think, therefore I am.
Will you be at the meeting tomorrow?
Dinosaurs used to be, but they are extinct now.
She wants to be a teacher someday.
Voorbeelden voor taalleerders
I am happy.
He is at school.
We are friends.
They are here.
Veelgemaakte fout:
Learners often forget to change 'be' to the correct form (am/is/are) for the subject.
Betekenis
to exist or to live
Woordcombinaties
be alive
|be here
|be present
|be real
|be gone
Synoniemen
exist (More formal; often used in philosophical or scientific contexts.)
Antoniemen
cease (Means to stop existing or to end.)
Thema's
daily life
|philosophy
|core_vocabulary
Definitie
To live or to be real.
To have actual existence or to be alive.
WERKWOORD
A1
2
Gebruikspatroon:
The [event] is [time/place]
The party will be next Friday.
The meeting was at 3 p.m.
The concert will be in the park.
Voorbeelden voor taalleerders
The game is on Sunday.
The class will be in the morning.
The test is next week.
Veelgemaakte fout:
Learners sometimes confuse 'be' with 'have' when talking about events (e.g., 'The party has on Friday' instead of 'is on Friday').
Betekenis
to happen or take place
Woordcombinaties
be on Monday
|be in summer
|be tonight
Synoniemen
happen (Common alternative in casual speech.)
Antoniemen
not happen (Simply indicates that an event does not occur.)
Thema's
daily life
|time
|core_vocabulary
Definitie
To happen at a time or place.
To take place, occur, or happen at a certain time or place.
WERKWOORD
A1
3
Gebruikspatroon:
[someone/something] is [role/identity/description]
She is my sister.
He wants to be an engineer.
This is the main problem.
Voorbeelden voor taalleerders
I am a student.
He is my brother.
This is my book.
Veelgemaakte fout:
Learners sometimes omit 'a' before roles (e.g., 'I am teacher' instead of 'I am a teacher').
Betekenis
to have a role or identity
Woordcombinaties
be a doctor
|be the leader
|be my friend
Synoniemen
serve as (Often used for temporary roles.)
Antoniemen
not be (Indicates absence of that role or identity.)
Thema's
daily life
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Definitie
To say what someone or something is.
To indicate the role, job, identity, or nature of someone or something.
WERKWOORD
A2
4
Gebruikspatroon:
[someone/something] is [adjective/location]
Please be quiet during the movie.
She was still in bed at noon.
The shop will be open until 8 p.m.
Voorbeelden voor taalleerders
Be careful.
The door is open.
He is in the room.
Betekenis
to stay in a condition
Woordcombinaties
be quiet
|be available
|be open
Synoniemen
stay (Implies continuing without change.)
Antoniemen
become (Indicates a change from one state to another.)
Thema's
daily life
|core_vocabulary
Definitie
To stay in the same way or place.
To remain in a particular state, situation, or place.
Grammatica
Lemmavorm
be
IPA
GB/bˈi/
US/bˈi/
Lettergrepen en klemtoon
be (1 lettergreep)
Stress on 1st syllable (be)
Woordvormen
Verb
- Base: am, are, be
- 3rd Person Singular: is
- Present Participle: being
- Past: was, were
- Past Participle: been
Woordfamilie
Forms
is
verb
being
verb
was
verb
were
verb
been
verb
Core family
become
verb A2
Negative and opposite forms
nonexistent
adjective B2
Highlights
- Irregular 3rd person singular: is Verb
- Irregular past: was, were Verb
- Irregular past participle: been Verb
Uitdrukkingen
be about to
1/bˈi əbˈaʊt tə/
fixed phrase
to be going to do soon
To be very near in time to doing something.
Voorbeelden
- I was about to call you when you arrived.
- She is about to start her new job.
be into
1/bˈi ˈɪntu/
fixed phrase
informal
to like something a lot
To like something very much or be very interested in it.
Voorbeelden
- He's really into jazz music these days.
- I'm not into horror films.
be up to someone
1/bˈi ˈʌp tə sˈʌmwˌʌn/
fixed phrase
decision is someone's responsibility
When something is someone's choice or responsibility.
Voorbeelden
- It's up to you whether we go out tonight.
- The final decision will be up to the manager.
be over the moon
1/bˈi ˈoʊvɚ ðə mˈun/
idiom
informal
to be extremely happy about something
To feel very, very happy about something.
Voorbeelden
- She was over the moon when she got the job.
- They were over the moon about their new baby.
be supposed to
1/bˈi səpˈoʊzd tə/
fixed phrase
to be expected to do something
To have a duty or expectation to do something.
Voorbeelden
- You are supposed to finish your homework before dinner.
- You are supposed to hand in your homework on time.
- We were supposed to meet at 6 p.m.
- The train is supposed to arrive at 8 p.m.