be
gb/bˈi/ us/bˈi/
A1
Kiingereza
~ 100
KITENZI
A1
1
Muundo wa matumizi:
[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.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
I am happy.
He is at school.
We are friends.
They are here.
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners often forget to change 'be' to the correct form (am/is/are) for the subject.
Maana
to exist or to live
Miunganiko ya maneno
be alive
|be here
|be present
|be real
|be gone
Visawe
exist (More formal; often used in philosophical or scientific contexts.)
Vinyume
cease (Means to stop existing or to end.)
Mada
daily life
|philosophy
|core_vocabulary
Ufafanuzi
To live or to be real.
To have actual existence or to be alive.
KITENZI
A1
2
Muundo wa matumizi:
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.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
The game is on Sunday.
The class will be in the morning.
The test is next week.
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes confuse 'be' with 'have' when talking about events (e.g., 'The party has on Friday' instead of 'is on Friday').
Maana
to happen or take place
Miunganiko ya maneno
be on Monday
|be in summer
|be tonight
Visawe
happen (Common alternative in casual speech.)
Vinyume
not happen (Simply indicates that an event does not occur.)
Mada
daily life
|time
|core_vocabulary
Ufafanuzi
To happen at a time or place.
To take place, occur, or happen at a certain time or place.
KITENZI
A1
3
Muundo wa matumizi:
[someone/something] is [role/identity/description]
She is my sister.
He wants to be an engineer.
This is the main problem.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
I am a student.
He is my brother.
This is my book.
Kosa la kawaida:
Learners sometimes omit 'a' before roles (e.g., 'I am teacher' instead of 'I am a teacher').
Maana
to have a role or identity
Miunganiko ya maneno
be a doctor
|be the leader
|be my friend
Visawe
serve as (Often used for temporary roles.)
Vinyume
not be (Indicates absence of that role or identity.)
Mada
daily life
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Ufafanuzi
To say what someone or something is.
To indicate the role, job, identity, or nature of someone or something.
KITENZI
A2
4
Muundo wa matumizi:
[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.
Mifano kwa wanafunzi
Be careful.
The door is open.
He is in the room.
Maana
to stay in a condition
Miunganiko ya maneno
be quiet
|be available
|be open
Visawe
stay (Implies continuing without change.)
Vinyume
become (Indicates a change from one state to another.)
Mada
daily life
|core_vocabulary
Ufafanuzi
To stay in the same way or place.
To remain in a particular state, situation, or place.
Sarufi
Umbo la kamusi
be
IPA
GB/bˈi/
US/bˈi/
Silabi na mkazo
be (silabi 1)
Stress on 1st syllable (be)
Maumbo ya neno
Verb
- Base: am, are, be
- 3rd Person Singular: is
- Present Participle: being
- Past: was, were
- Past Participle: been
Familia ya neno
Forms
is
verb
being
verb
was
verb
were
verb
been
verb
Core family
become
verb A2
Negative and opposite forms
nonexistent
adjective B2
Vidokezo muhimu
- Irregular 3rd person singular: is Verb
- Irregular past: was, were Verb
- Irregular past participle: been Verb
Semi
be about to
1/bˈi əbˈaʊt tə/
fixed phrase
to be going to do soon
To be very near in time to doing something.
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano
- 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.
Mifano
- 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.