wern

Verb

be (highly irregular—See conjugation table)

1. (auxiliary) Used with past participles of verbs to form the passive voice.
   • The dog was saved by the boy.
2. Used with present participles of verbs to form the continuous aspect.
   • The woman is walking.
3. Used with to-infinitives of verbs to express intent, obligation, appropriateness, or relative future occurrence.
   • I am to leave tomorrow.
4. Used with past participles of certain intransitive verbs to form the perfect aspect.
   • He is finished.
5. (Caribbean, Ireland, auxiliary, African-American Vernacular) To tend to do, often do; marks the habitual aspect.
   • Women be shoppin’! You cannot stop a woman from shoppin’!1996, David Sheffield, Barry W. Blaustein, Tom Shadyac and Steve Oedekerk, screenplay of The Nutty Professor
6. (with-dummy-subject) To exist.
   • There is just one woman in town who can help us.

See all 25 meanings of be