Pronunciation

change
stressed
unstressed

Homophones

change

Plain form
be

Present
am, is, are

Past
was, were

Past participle
been

Present participle
being

Negatives:

None, isn't, aren't

wasn't, weren't

None

None

Contractions:

'm, 's, 're

None

None

None

  1. (auxiliary) (linking) A form of the verb be used about the person you are talking to.
    Only you were doing it right.
  2. (auxiliary) (linking) A form of the verb be used about more than one person.
    We were going home.
    You all were staying late.
    They were all playing in the band.
  3. (auxiliary) (linking) A form of the verb be used with the word if.
    If I were rich, I would retire.
  4. (auxiliary) (linking) A form of the verb be used about things you wish for.
    I wish it were the weekend.
  • In the last two examples, many people use was instead.