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be1 S1 W1
past tense was, were, past participle been, present participle being first person singular am second person singular and plural are third person singular is
past tense was, were, past participle been, present participle being first person singular am second person singular and plural are third person singular is1XX 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?
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?2XX 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.
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
formala) 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.
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.
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.
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?
How are we to get out of the present mess?4 used to say that something can be seen, found, or heard somewhere : A large range of species are to be seen in the aquarium. The only sound to be heard was the twittering of the birds above us.
be to be seen/found/heard etc
A large range of species are to be seen in the aquarium.The only sound to be heard was the twittering of the birds above us.5 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.
was/were to do something
XXThis 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?
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.
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.
The hour is come.