Verbs - Primary Helping Verbs -BE

BE — It can also function as the main verb of a sentence. Its forms are: AM, IS, ARE, WAS, WERE, BEEN and BEING. It is used for making the continuous tense and passive voice. It is also used for making questions and negatives.

For making the continuous tense; for making questions; for making negatives

I am drinking lemon tea. (Here, ‘am’ is helping the main verb ‘drinking’.) Am I drinking lemon tea? I am not drinking lemon tea.

She is jumping on the bed. (Here, ‘is’ is helping the main verb ‘jumping’.) Is she jumping on the bed? She is not jumping on the bed.

They are playing with the toys. (Here, ‘are’ is helping the main verb ‘playing’.) Are they playing with the toys? They are not playing with the toys.

Kishen was troubling Upendra. (Here, ‘was’ is helping the main verb ‘troubling’.) Was Kishen troubling Upendra? Kishen was not troubling Upendra.

The children were screaming loudly. (Here, ‘were’ is helping the main verb ‘screaming’.) Were the children screaming loudly? The children were not screaming loudly.

You have been waiting since morning. (Here, both ‘have’ and ‘been’ are helping the main verb ‘waiting’.) Have you been waiting since morning? You have not been waiting since morning.

The dog has been playing with the cat. (Here, both ‘has’ and ‘been’ are helping the main verb ‘playing’.) Has the dog been playing with the cat? The dog has not been playing with the cat.

It had been raining for five hours. (Here, both ‘had’ and ‘been’ are helping the main verb ‘raining’.) Had it been raining for five hours? It had not been raining for five hours.

For making passives

The box is opened by the little girl. (Here, ‘is’ is helping the main verb ‘opened’.)

The crowd was stopped by the police personnel. (Here, ‘was’ is helping the main verb ‘stopped’.)

The boys were punished by the teacher. (Here, ‘were’ is helping the main verb ‘punished’.)

The gate is being closed by the gatekeeper. (Here, both ‘is’ and ‘being’ are helping the main verb ‘closed’.)

The envelope was being held by the waiter. (Here, both ‘was’ and ‘being’ are helping the main verb ‘held’.)

The thieves were being chased by the watchman. (Here, both ‘were’ and ‘being’ are helping the main verb ‘chased’.)

The bus has been stopped by the angry crowd. (Here, both ‘has’ and ‘been’ are helping the main verb ‘stopped’.)

The brothers had been asked to keep quiet by their parents. (Here, both ‘had’ and ‘been’ are helping the main verb ‘asked’.)