From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishbebe1 /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 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 XXused 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 something4 → be to be seen/found/heard etc5 → was/were to do something6 IF a) used in conditional1(2) sentences about an imagined situationwere 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 itif 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.
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.bebe2 ●●● S1 W1 verb 1 [linking verb]BE used to say that someone or something is the same as the subject of the sentence 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]PLACE 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]TIME/AT A PARTICULAR TIME 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/are6 [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.’► see thesaurus at cost10 [linking verb] to be equal to a particular number or amount 32 divided by 8 is 4.11 → be that as it may12 [intransitive]EXIST formal to exist What was once a great and powerful empire has effectively ceased to be. 13 → be yourself14 → not be yourself15 → the be-all and end-allGRAMMAR: 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-be- /bɪ/ prefix 1 BECOME[in verbs] used to mean that someone or something is treated in a particular way Don’t belittle him (=say he is unimportant). He befriended me (=became my friend).2 [in adjectives] literaryWEAR CLOTHES wearing or covered by a particular thing a bespectacled boy (=wearing glasses)Examples from the Corpus
be-• a bejeweled woman• He befriended me.Origin be- Old English bi-, be- be2 Old English beon 