be动词的用法：

英语的“be”是个特别动词；有些语言，如中文和马来文，并没有“be”这样的动词。 Be”除了原形的“be”之外，还有另

外七种形式：am, is, are, been, being, was, were. 在句子中，“be”可以是主动词(The Principal Verb)或助动词(The

Auxiliary Verb). 当主动词时，“be”在性质上属于接系动词(The Linking Verb), 后面要有名词、形容词、地方副词或短

语作补足语(The Complement)。

例如：

    1. The man is a science teacher.

    2. Mary's new dresses are colourful.

    3. I have been there before.

    4. Mother is in the kitchen now.

这四个都是陈述句，可以变成疑问句，方法简单，把主语和“be”或助动词对换位置即可：

    5. Is the man a science teacher?

    6. Are Mary's new dresses colourful?

    7. Have I been there before?

    8. Is mother in the kitchen now?

当“be”要在祈使句中出现时，它必须借重助动词“do”或“don't”之助，如：

    9. Don't be silly!

    10. Do be obedient!

    11. Don't be a fool! 

Be”有两种缩写法，如下：

    12. He's not...../He isn't....

    13. You're not...../You aren't... 

但“am + not”的缩写法只有一个：

    14. I'm not.

有人用“ain't”, 但这并不是标准英语。 谈过了“be”作主动词的功能，现在看看“be”作助动词时，有些什么用法：

1.“Be + 现在分词”以组成进行式时态(Continuous Tenses)，如：

    15. Tony's maid is washing his new car.

    16. The children are playing in the field.

    17. Samuel was eating when I came in.

    18. We have been living here since 1959.

2.“Be + 过去分词”以组成被动语态(The Passive Voice),如：

    19. Her money in the drawer was stolen.

    20. A number of good jobs are taken up byforeigners.

    21. David studied in Taiwan but has been trained as a language lecturer in America.

    22. Can all the wonderful birds be found in our Bird Park?

    23. The disobedient boy was told to stand out- side the classroom.

    24. Steps are being taken to reduce traffic con- gestion during peak hours.

    25. Dishonest students will be immediately dealt with.