1.14 Be

We can use am, is, are, was and were as auxiliary verbs, and all parts of be as main verbs. When am, is, are, was and were are main verbs, we use them to make questions and negatives.

Examples of be as a main verb:

A: Mary is Scottish. (Mary es escocesa.) B: Is Ian Scottish as well? (¿Ian también es escocés?) A: No, Ian isn't Scottish. (No, Ian no es escocés.)

Your cousin is being naughty. (Tu prima está haciendo travesuras.) (Note that is is an auxiliary verb here.)

They have been here for two weeks. (Hace dos semanas que están aquí.)

As distinct from Spanish, we use be, not have, in the following expressions:

• be plus age, e.g.:




Sally is 23 years old.

Tim is 19.

• be hot/cold/hungry/thirsty, e.g.:




I'm hot. (Tengo calor.)

Mary was cold. (Mary tenía frío.)

We're very hungry. (Tenemos mucha hambre.)

They'll be thirsty. (Tendrán sed.)

	See also main verbs and auxiliary verbs.