A sentence can be a single clause. On behalf of British Island Airways, Captain Masseyandhis crew welcomeyou on board the Start Herald flight to Southampton. A written sentence begins with a capital letter (On) and ends with a mark such as 3. | 11 BE HAVE AND DO PAGE 106 2 Form Present simple I am you we they are he she it is Past simple I he she it was you we they were Present perfect I you we they have been he she it has been Present continuous I am being you we they are being he she it is being Past continuous I he she it was being you we they were being Past perfect everyone had been In simple tenses we add n t notfor the negative and there is inversion of be and the subject in questions. Thispen isn t very good. NOT Thispen doesn t be verygood. Wereyourfriends there NOT Didyour friends be there 3 Be with the continuous We can use be with the continuous for behaviour over a period of time. The neighbours are being noisy today. The children were being silly. Compare these two sentences. You re being stupid. behaviour for a time You re stupid. permanent quality NOTE We can use be in the imperative for behaviour. Be quiet. Don t be silly. Do be careful. 4 Be lie and stand We often use be to say where something is. York is lies on the River Ouse. The building was stood at a busy crossroads. Here lie and stand are more formal and literary than be. 5 Other uses of be We can also use be in these contexts. Events The match was last Saturday. Identity Mr Crosby this is my father. Age I ll be eighteen in November. Nationality We re Swedish. We re from We come from Stockholm. Jobs My sister is a lawyer. PAGE 107 85 Have got Possession Are these bags yours Cost How much are these plates do these plates cost Number Seven plus three is ten. Qualities The buildings are ugly. Feelings Hello. How areyou - I m fine thanks. I m cold. Can we put the fire on Ifwe re all hungry we d better eat. Right wrong Yes that s right. Ithinkyou re mistaken. Early late We were latefor the show. NOTE a For You are to report to the manager 76. b We do not use be before belong depend and agree. This bike belongs to me. NOT This bike is belong to me. Well that depends. NOT Well that s-depend. I agree absolutely. NOT I m agree absolutely.
