be
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++be1 /bi; strong biː/ ●●● S1 W1 auxiliary verb (past tense was, were, past participle been, present participle being, first person singular am, second person singular and plural are, third person singular is) 1 XXused 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. 吉玛正在看书。 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 XXused 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. 警察本应获悉此事。3 be to do something formal a) used to talk about arrangements for the future 将要做某事〔用于表示将来的安排〕 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。 b) TELL/ORDER somebody TO DO somethingused to give an order or to tell someone about a rule 必须做某事〔用于下命令或解释规则〕 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。 c) used to say or ask what someone should do or what should happen 应该做某事〔用于表示或询问某人应该做什么或应该会发生什么事〕 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。 d) used to ask how something can be done 应该做某事〔用于询问某事可以怎么做〕 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 CAN'Tused to say that something can be seen, found, or heard somewhere 能被看到/找到/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种类的鱼。 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的啁啾。5 was/were to do something XXused when talking about a time in the past to say what happened later 后来发生某事〔用于谈及过去某时间之后发生的事〕6 IF7 old use used instead of ‘have’ to form the perfect3 tense of some verbs 〔代替have构成某些动词的完成时态〕
Examples from the Corpus
be• The children are to go to bed by 8 o'clock.• Talks were to have begun two weeks ago.• His arrival may have been delayed by snow.• I'll be leaving in about half an hour.• He is more to be pitied than feared.• Smoking is not permitted on this flight.• Walker was nowhere to be found.• Fees are to be paid before classes begin.• Christ is risen from the dead.• I was shown a copy of the contract.• It was to be one of the most important judgments the court made.if somebody/something is to do something• A separate venue must be available, however, if confidential information is to be considered in relation to nursing care.• However, if a doctor is to be helpful in this way, he has to understand the image language of mythology.• Allowing for retirements, that still implies the need for 2 million new jobs if unemployment is to be reduced significantly.• Clearly then, if the company is to choose one it should opt for the first.• But if it is to do with relationship it needs witnesses.• Each must be regularly accommodated if an organization is to flourish and grow.• Applied linguistics in this sense must be practised by teachers too if it is to have any effective operational relevance at all.• These braces are costly but well worth the outlay if the alternative is to stop skiing altogether.be2 ●●● S1 W1 verb 1 [linking verb]BE used to say that someone or something is the same as the subject of the sentence 是〔表示某人或某物与主语相同〕2 [intransitive always + adverb/preposition]PLACE used to say where something or someone is 〔用于表示某物或某人在哪里〕3 [intransitive always + adverb/preposition]TIME/AT A PARTICULAR TIME used to say when something happens 〔用于表示某事发生的时间〕4 [linking verb] 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〕5 there is/are EXISTused to say that something exists or happens 有，存在〔表示某物存在或某事发生〕6 [linking verb] to behave in a particular way 有某种表现7 [linking verb] used to say how old someone is 〔用于表示某人的年龄〕8 [linking verb] used to say who something belongs to 〔用于表示某物属于某人〕9 [linking verb] used to talk about the price of something 〔用于表示某物的价格〕10 [linking verb] to be equal to a particular number or amount 等于，是11 be that as it may formalACCEPT used to say that even though you accept that something is true, it does not change a situation 即便如此，尽管如此12 [intransitive]EXIST formal to exist 存在13 be yourself to behave in a natural way, rather than trying to pretend to be different 行为自然，不做作14 not be yourself 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〕15 the be-all and end-all IMPORTANTthe most important part of a situation or of someone’s life 首要的事情，最要紧的事情n GRAMMAR: Linking verbsBe is a linking verb. This type of verb links the subject of the sentence with an adjective or noun: The water was cold. Leeds is a city in the north of England.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
be• Hi, it's me.• Horses are animals.• "That's not your coat" "Yes, it is!"• Can you tell me where the station is?• Before becoming a writer, Schwarz had been a cook, a cab driver and a door-to-door salesman.• I can't remember how much the flight cost. I think it was around $400.• Dinner is at eight, so come at about half past seven.• Be careful!• A saw is for cutting wood.• Egypt is in North Africa.• "I like your new shirt - how much was it?" "It was only fifteen pounds."• Christie is my girlfriend.• Christmas will be on a Saturday next year.• Don't be so rude!• ""What colour is your car?'' ""It's black.''be- /bɪ/ prefix 1 BECOME[in verbs] used to mean that someone or something is treated in a particular way 把…视作，把…当作2 [in adjectives] literaryWEAR CLOTHES wearing or covered by a particular thing 佩戴，穿戴；覆盖Examples from the Corpus
be-• a bejeweled woman• He befriended me.Origin be- Old English bi-, be- be2 Old English beonbe1 auxiliary verbbe2 verb →n GRAMMAR1be- prefixLDOCE OnlineChinese
the Corpus used participle with a form to present continuous(4)
be
be1 S1 W1 /bi; strong biː/ 
auxiliary verb (past tense was, were, past participle been, present participle being, first person singular am, second person singular and plural are, third person singular is)
1. used with a present participle to form the continuous(4) tenses of verbs:
Don’t disturb me while I’m working.
Gemma was reading.
They’ve been asking a lot of questions.
That guy’s always causing trouble.
We’ll be starting in about an hour.
He isn’t leaving, is he?
2. used with past participles to form the passive:
Smoking is not permitted.
I was told about it yesterday.
The house is being painted.
She’s been invited to a party.
The flames could be seen several miles away.
The police should have been informed about this.
3. be to do something formal
a. used to talk about arrangements for the future:
Audrey and Jimmy are to be married in June.
Two men are to appear in court on charges of armed robbery.
b. used to give an order or to tell someone about a rule:
You are to wait here in this room until I return.
All staff are to wear uniforms.
c. used to say or ask what someone should do or what should happen:
What am I to tell her?
He is not to be blamed.
d. used to ask how something can be done:
How are we to get out of the present mess?
4. be to be seen/found/heard etc used to say that something can be seen, found, or heard somewhere:
A large range of species are to be seen in the aquarium.
We searched everywhere but the ring was nowhere to be found (=could not be found).
The only sound to be heard was the twittering of the birds above us.
5. was/were to do something used when talking about a time in the past to say what happened later:
This discovery was to have a major effect on the treatment of heart disease.
6.
a. used in conditional1(2) sentences about an imagined situation
were somebody to do something/if somebody were to do something
Even if England were to win the next two matches, Germany would still be three points ahead.
Were we to offer you the job, would you take it?
b. used in conditional sentences to introduce an aim when you are saying what must be done in order to achieve it
if somebody/something is to do something
If we are to succeed in this enterprise, we shall need to plan everything very carefully.
7. old use used instead of ‘have’ to form the perfect3 tense of some verbs:
The hour is come.
be2 S1 W1 verb
My name is Susan.
These are my favourite pictures.
He’s my brother.
The problem is finding the time to get things done.
Our aim was to reduce the number of accidents.
2. [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] used to say where something or someone is:
Jane’s upstairs.
Are my keys in the drawer?
The principal’s in his office.
How long has she been here?
3. [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] used to say when something happens:
The concert was last night.
The party is on Saturday.
4. [linking verb] used to describe someone or something, or say what group or type they belong to:
The sky was grey.
Spiders are not really insects.
Mr Cardew was a tall thin man.
She wants to be a doctor when she leaves school.
Her dress was pure silk.
I’m not ready yet.
5. there is/are used to say that something exists or happens:
There’s a hole in your trousers.
There was a loud explosion.
‘I thought there was going to be a party.’ ‘No, there isn’t.’
Is there a problem?
6. [linking verb] to behave in a particular way:
He was just being rude.
Don’t be silly.
You’d better be careful.
7. [linking verb] used to say how old someone is:
His mother died when he was 20.
Rachel will be three in November.
8. [linking verb] used to say who something belongs to:
Whose is this bag? It isn’t mine and it isn’t Sarah’s.
9. [linking verb] used to talk about the price of something:
‘How much are the melons?’ ‘The big ones are £2 each.’
10. [linking verb] to be equal to a particular number or amount:
32 divided by 8 is 4.
11. be that as it may formal used to say that even though you accept that something is true, it does not change a situation:
‘He was only joking.’ ‘Be that as it may, silly remarks like that can do a lot of harm.’
12. [intransitive] formal to exist:
What was once a great and powerful empire has effectively ceased to be.
13. be yourself to behave in a natural way, rather than trying to pretend to be different:
Don’t try too hard – just be yourself.
14. not be yourself to be behaving in a way that is unusual for you, especially because you are ill or upset:
Sorry – I’m not myself this morning.
15. the be-all and end-all the most important part of a situation or of someone’s life
the be-all and end-all of
For Jim, making money was the be-all and end-all of his job.
▪ cost to have a particular price: The book costs $25. | A new kitchen will cost you a lot of money. | It’s a nice dress and it didn’t cost much.
▪be especially spoken to cost a particular amount of money: These shoes were only £5.
▪be priced at something to have a particular price – used when giving the exact price that a shop or company charges for something: Tickets are priced at $20 for adults and $10 for kids.
▪retail at something to be sold in shops at a particular price – used especially in business: The scissors retail at £1.99 in department stores.
▪sell/go for something used for saying what people usually pay for something: Houses in this area sell for around £200,000.
▪fetch used for saying what people pay for something, especially at a public sale: The painting fetched over $8,000 at auction. | A sports car built for Mussolini is expected to fetch nearly £1 million at auction.
▪set somebody back something informal to cost someone a lot of money: A good set of speakers will set you back around £150.
▪come to if a bill comes to a particular amount, it adds up to that amount: The bill came to £100 between four of us.
| I |
auxiliary verb (past tense was, were, past participle been, present participle being, first person singular am, second person singular and plural are, third person singular is)1. used with a present participle to form the continuous(4) tenses of verbs:
2. used with past participles to form the passive:
3. be to do something formal
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:
4. be to be seen/found/heard etc used to say that something can be seen, found, or heard somewhere:
5. was/were to do something used when talking about a time in the past to say what happened later:
6.
a. used in conditional1(2) sentences about an imagined situation
were somebody to do something/if somebody were to do something
b. used in conditional sentences to introduce an aim when you are saying what must be done in order to achieve it
if somebody/something is to do something
7. old use used instead of ‘have’ to form the perfect3 tense of some verbs:
| II |
verb Language: Old English
Origin: beon
1. [linking verb] used to say that someone or something is the same as the subject of the sentence:Origin: beon
2. [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] used to say where something or someone is:
3. [intransitive always + adverb/preposition] used to say when something happens:
4. [linking verb] used to describe someone or something, or say what group or type they belong to:
5. there is/are used to say that something exists or happens:
6. [linking verb] to behave in a particular way:
7. [linking verb] used to say how old someone is:
8. [linking verb] used to say who something belongs to:
9. [linking verb] used to talk about the price of something:
10. [linking verb] to be equal to a particular number or amount:
11. be that as it may formal used to say that even though you accept that something is true, it does not change a situation:
12. [intransitive] formal to exist:
13. be yourself to behave in a natural way, rather than trying to pretend to be different:
14. not be yourself to be behaving in a way that is unusual for you, especially because you are ill or upset:
15. the be-all and end-all the most important part of a situation or of someone’s life
the be-all and end-all of
| THESAURUS |
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
▪
