Hamlet’s Soliloquy

Subject pronoun (singular)	Simple present	Simple past	Subject pronoun (plural)	Simple present	Simple past
I	am	was	we	are	were	First person
you	are	were	you	are	were	Second person
she/he/it	is	was	they	are	were	Third person

To be

verb

ˈbē 

past tense first- and third-person singular was ˈwəz  

ˈwäz

 ; past tense second-person singular were ˈwər  ; past tense plural were; past subjunctive were; past participle been ˈbin  ˈben  ; present participle being ˈbē(-i)ŋ  ; present tense first-person singular am 

əm,

 ˈam  ; present tense second-person singular are ˈär  

ər

 ; present tense third-person singular is ˈiz  

əz

 ; present tense plural are; present subjunctive be

intransitive verb

1

a

: to equal in meaning : have the same connotation as : SYMBOLIZE

God is love

January is the first month

let x be 10

b

: to have identity with : to constitute the same idea or object as

The first person I met was my brother.

c

: to constitute the same class as

These three books are the authoritative works on the president's life.

d

: to have a specified qualification or characterization

The leaves are green.

e

: to belong to the class of

the fish is a trout

Keeping this room clean is your responsibility.

—used regularly in senses 1a through 1e as the copula of simple predication

2

a

: to have an objective existence : have reality or actuality : LIVE

I think, therefore I am

b

: to have, maintain, or occupy a place, situation, or position

the book is on the table

c

: to remain unmolested, undisturbed, or uninterrupted 

—used only in infinitive form

let him be

d

: to take place : OCCUR

the concert was last night

e

: to come or go

has already been and gone

has never been to the circus

f

archaic : BELONG, BEFALL

… to thine and Albany's issue be this perpetual. Shakespeare

auxiliary verb

1

—used with the past participle of transitive verbs as a passive-voice auxiliary

the money was foundthe house is being built

2

—used as the auxiliary of the present participle in progressive tenses expressing continuous action

he is readingI have been sleeping

3

—used with the past participle of some intransitive verbs as an auxiliary forming archaic perfect tenses

… Christ is risen from the dead … 1 Corinthians 15:20 (Douay Version)

4

—used with to + infinitive to express futurity, arrangement in advance, or obligation

I am to interview him todayshe was to become famous

To be 1

To be 2

To be 3