be

verb

1. 有；存在
   to exist; to be present
   1. Is there a God?
      上帝存在吗？
   2. Once upon a time there was a princess…
      从前有一位公主…
   3. I tried phoning but there was no answer.
      我试打过电话，但没人接。
   4. There's a bank down the road.
      沿马路不远有一家银行。
   5. Was there a pool at the hotel?
      饭店里有游泳池吗？
2. 位于；在（某处）
   to be located; to be in a place
   1. The town is three miles away.
      镇子距此地三英里远。
   2. If you're looking for your file, it's on the table.
      你要找的文件在桌子上。
   3. Mary's upstairs.
      玛丽在楼上。
3. （在某时或某地）发生
   to happen at a time or in a place
   1. The party is on Friday evening.
      聚会定于周五晚上举行。
   2. The meetings are always in the main conference room.
      会议总是在主会议室举行。
4. 留在（某地）；逗留
   to remain in a place
   1. She has been in her room for hours.
      她已经在她的房间里待了几个小时了。
   2. They're here till Christmas.
      他们将在这里一直住到圣诞节。
5. 出席；到场
   to attend an event; to be present in a place
   1. I'll be at the party.
      我将出席聚会。
   2. He'll be here soon (= will arrive soon) .
      他很快就会到达。
6. 前往；造访；访问
   to visit or call
   1. I've never been to Spain.
      我从未去过西班牙。
   2. He had been abroad many times.
      他曾多次出国。
   3. Has the postman been yet?
      邮递员来过了吗？
   4. Has the mailman come yet?
      邮递员来过了吗？
7. 出生于（某地）；来自…；是（某地的）人
   used to say where sb was born or where their home is
   1. She's from Italy.
      她是意大利人。
8. （提供名称或信息时用）
   used when you are naming people or things, describing them or giving more information about them
   1. Today is Monday.
      今天是星期一。
   2. ‘Who is that?’ ‘It's my brother.’
      “那个人是谁？”“是我哥哥。”
   3. She's a great beauty.
      她是个大美人。
   4. Susan is a doctor.
      苏珊是医生。
   5. He wants to be (= become) a pilot when he grows up.
      他想在长大后当飞行员。
   6. It's beautiful!
      美呀！
   7. Life is unfair.
      人生没有公平。
   8. He is ten years old.
      他十岁了。
   9. ‘How are you?’ ‘I'm very well, thanks.’
      “你好吗？”“我很好，谢谢。”
   10. Be quick!
       快点！
   11. The fact is (that) we don't have enough money.
       事实是我们没有那么多钱。
   12. The problem is getting it all done in the time available.
       问题是要在现有的时间内把它全部完成。
   13. The problem is to get it all done in the time available.
       问题是要在现有的时间内把它全部完成。
9. （描述情况或表达想法）
   used when you are describing a situation or saying what you think about it
   1. It was really hot in the sauna.
      桑拿浴的确很热。
   2. It's strange how she never comes to see us any more.
      奇怪，她怎么再也不来看我们了。
   3. He thinks it's clever to make fun of people.
      他觉得拿别人开玩笑显得聪明。
   4. It would be a shame if you lost it.
      你要是把它丢了就太可惜了。
   5. It's going to be a great match.
      这将是一场了不起的比赛。
10. （用于表达时间）
    used to talk about time
    1. It's two thirty.
       现在是两点三十。
    2. It was late at night when we finally arrived.
       我们最后到达时已是深夜。
11. （表示所用的材料）
    used to say what sth is made of
    1. Is your jacket real leather?
       你的夹克是真皮的吗？
12. （表示某物所属）
    used to say who sth belongs to or who it is intended for
    1. The money's not yours, it's John's.
       这钱不是你的，是约翰的。
    2. This package is for you.
       这份包裹是给你的。
13. 花费；值
    to cost
    1. ‘How much is that dress?’ ‘Eighty dollars.’
       “那条连衣裙多少钱？”“八十块钱。”
14. 等于；等同
    to be equal to
    1. Three and three is six.
       三加三等于六。
    2. How much is a thousand pounds in euros?
       一千英镑合多少欧元？
    3. Let x be the sum of a and b.
       设x为a加b之和。
    4. London is not England (= do not think that all of England is like London) .
       伦敦并不等于英格兰（不要以为整个英格兰都像伦敦）。
15. （表示对某人的重要性）
    used to say how important sth is to sb
    1. Money isn't everything (= it is not the only important thing) .
       金钱不是一切（不是唯一重要的东西）。
    2. A thousand dollars is nothing to somebody as rich as he is.
       一千英镑对于像他这么富有的人来说算不上什么。

auxiliary verb

1. （与过去分词连用构成被动语态）
   used with a past participle to form the passive
   1. He was killed in the war.
      他死于这场战争。
   2. Where were they made?
      这些是在哪里制造的？
   3. The house was still being built.
      房子还在建造中。
   4. You will be told what to do.
      会有人告诉你该干什么的。
2. （与现在分词连用构成进行时）
   used with a present participle to form progressive tenses
   1. I am studying Chinese.
      我正在学中文。
   2. I'll be seeing him soon.
      我很快就要见到他了。
   3. What have you been doing this week?
      你这个星期都在做些什么？
   4. I'm always being criticized.
      我总是受到批评。
3. （用于反意疑问句）
   used to make question tags (= short questions added to the end of statements)
   1. You're not hungry, are you?
      你不饿，对吧？
   2. Ben's coming, isn't he?
      本要来，是不是？
   3. The old theatre was pulled down, wasn't it?
      老戏院被拆了，对不？
4. （在被动语态或进行时中代替重复的动词完整形式）
   used to avoid repeating the full form of a verb in the passive or a progressive tense
   1. Karen wasn't beaten in any of her games, but all the others were.
      卡伦没有输掉任何一场比赛，但所有其他人都输过。
   2. ‘Are you coming with us?’ ‘No, I'm not.’
      “你和我们一起去吗？”“不，我不了。”
5. （表示必须或应该）
   used to say what must or should be done
   1. I am to call them once I reach the airport.
      我一到机场就得给他们打电话。
   2. You are to report this to the police.
      你应该报警。
   3. What is to be done about this problem?
      该如何处理这个问题？
6. （表示安排或计划时用）
   used to say what is arranged to happen
   1. They are to be married in June.
      他们计划于六月份结婚。
7. （表示后来发生的事）
   used to say what happened later
   1. He was to regret that decision for the rest of his life (= he did regret it) .
      他终生都将后悔作出了那一决定。
8. （表示不会或没有发生时用）
   used to say what could not or did not happen
   1. Anna was nowhere to be found (= we could not find her anywhere) .
      我们到处都找不到安娜。
   2. He was never to see his wife again (= although he did not know it would be so at the time, he did not see her again) .
      他注定再也见不到他的妻子了。
   3. She wanted to write a successful novel, but it was not to be (= it turned out never to happen) .
      她曾想写一部成功的小说，但从未如愿。
9. （表述条件）
   used to express a condition
   1. If we were to offer you more money, would you stay?
      假如我们给你加钱，你愿意留下吗？
   2. Were we to offer you more money, would you stay?
      假如我们给你加钱，你愿意留下吗？

AUXILIARY VERB USES 助动词用法

In spoken English, forms of be are often shortened, for example ‘I am’ is shortened to ‘I'm’ and ‘was not’ is shortened to ‘wasn't’.
在英语口语中，be经常使用缩合形式。如，I am 略作 I'm, was not 略作 wasn't。

1. 全国各地每所学校都在发生这样的事情。 → see: This is happening in every school throughout the country...
2. AUX （和过去分词连用构成被动语态）
   You use be with a past participle to form the passive voice.
   1. Forensic experts were called in...
      法医专家被请来。
   2. Her husband was killed in a car crash...
      她的丈夫死于车祸。
   3. The cost of electricity from coal-fired stations is expected to fall...
      用煤作燃料的火力发电站的成本有望降低。
   4. Similar action is being taken by the US government.
      美国政府正在采取相似的行动。
3. 谈判将于明天开始。 → see: The talks are to begin tomorrow...
4. AUX （和不定式连用表示在某种情况下会发生什么事，应该怎样做或应该由谁来做）
   You use be with an infinitive to say or ask what should happen or be done in a particular situation, how it should happen, or who should do it.
   1. What am I to do without him?...
      没有他，我该怎么办？
   2. Who is to say which of them had more power?...
      谁来决定他们之中谁的权力应该更大一些？
   3. What is to be done?...
      应该怎么做？
   4. Professor Hirsch is to be commended for bringing the state of our educational system to public notice.
      在赫希教授的努力下，我们教育体系的现状引起了公众关注，为此对他应该给予嘉许。
5. AUX （was和were和不定式连用，表示说话时间之后发生的事）
   You use was and were with an infinitive to talk about something that happened later than the time you are discussing, and was not planned or certain at that time.
   1. Then he received a phone call that was to change his life...
      然后，他接到一个将改变他一生的电话。
   2. A few hours later he was to prove it.
      几个小时之后他将证明这一点。
6. AUX （表示可见到、可听到、可发现等）
   You can say that something is to be seen, heard, or found in a particular place to mean that people can see it, hear it, or find it in that place.
   1. Little traffic was to be seen on the streets...
      街上车辆很少。
   2. They are to be found all over the world.
      它们遍布于世界各地。

OTHER VERB USES 其他动词用法

In spoken English, forms of be are often shortened, for example ‘I am’ is shortened to ‘I'm’ and ‘was not’ is shortened to ‘wasn't’.
在英语口语中，be经常使用缩合形式。如，I am 略作 I'm, was not 略作 wasn't。

1. V-LINK （用于提供与主语相关的信息）
   You use be to introduce more information about the subject, such as its identity, nature, qualities, or position.
   1. She's my mother...
      她是我母亲。
   2. This is Elizabeth Blunt, BBC, West Africa...
      英国广播公司的伊丽莎白·布伦特在西非为您报道。
   3. He is a very attractive man...
      他是一个很有魅力的男人。
   4. My grandfather was a butcher...
      我祖父是个屠夫。
   5. The fact that you were willing to pay in the end is all that matters...
      最后你愿意付钱才是最重要的。
   6. He is fifty and has been through two marriages...
      他今年50岁，经历过两次婚姻。
   7. The sky was black...
      天空一片漆黑。
   8. It is 1,267 feet high...
      它有1,267英尺高。
   9. Cheney was in Madrid...
      切尼当时在马德里。
   10. His house is next door...
       他的房子就在隔壁。
   11. Their last major film project was in 1964...
       他们上一个重要电影项目完成于1964年。
   12. 'Is it safe?' — 'Well of course it is.'...
       “安全吗？”——“当然啦。”
   13. He's still alive isn't he?
       他还活着，不是吗？
2. V-LINK （以it作主语，用来进行描述或作出判断）
   You use be, with 'it' as the subject, in clauses where you are describing something or giving your judgment of a situation.
   1. It was too chilly for swimming...
      这时候游泳太冷了。
   2. Sometimes it is necessary to say no...
      有时候拒绝是必要的。
   3. It is likely that investors will face losses...
      投资者们可能要面临损失。
   4. It's nice having friends to chat to...
      有朋友聊聊天是很惬意的。
   5. It's a good thing I brought lots of handkerchiefs...
      还好我买了很多手帕。
   6. It's no good just having meetings...
      光开会是没有用的。
   7. It's a good idea to avoid refined food...
      最好少吃精加工食品。
   8. It's up to us to prove it.
      这得靠我们来证明。
3. V-LINK （与非人称代词there连用构成there is和there are表示存在或发生）
   You use be with the impersonal pronoun 'there' in expressions like there is and there are to say that something exists or happens.
   1. Clearly there is a problem here...
      显然，这里出了个问题。
   2. There are very few cars on this street...
      这条街道上车辆很少。
   3. There was nothing new in the letter...
      信里没有什么新的内容。
   4. There were always things to think about when she went walking.
      她去散步的时候总是有一些事情要考虑。
4. V-LINK （表示主语和从句和其他从句结构之间的某种联系）
   You use be as a link between a subject and a clause and in certain other clause structures, as shown below.
   1. It was me she didn't like, not what I represented...
      她不喜欢的是我，而不是我的陈述。
   2. What the media should not do is to exploit people's natural fears...
      媒体不应该利用人们天生的恐惧心理。
   3. Our greatest problem is convincing them...
      我们最大的问题就是要说服他们。
   4. The question was whether protection could be improved...
      问题在于是否能够加强保护。
   5. All she knew was that I'd had a broken marriage...
      她只知道我的婚姻已经破裂。
   6. Local residents said it was as if there had been a nuclear explosion.
      当地的居民说就好像发生了核爆炸一样。
5. V-LINK （用在如the thing is和the point is这样的结构中，引导表示陈述或提出观点的从句）
   You use be in expressions like the thing is and the point is to introduce a clause in which you make a statement or give your opinion.
   1. The fact is, the players gave everything they had...
      事实上，选手们尽了全力。
   2. The plan is good; the problem is it doesn't go far enough.
      计划不错；问题在于不够深入。
6. V-LINK （用在如to be fair, to be honest或to be serious 这样的结构中表示尽量）
   You use be in expressions like to be fair ,to be honest, or to be serious to introduce an additional statement or opinion, and to indicate that you are trying to be fair, honest, or serious.
   1. She's always noticed. But then, to be honest, Ghislaine likes being noticed...
      她总是受到关注。但是说句实在话，吉莱纳喜欢被人关注。
   2. It enabled students to devote more time to their studies, or to be more accurate, more time to relaxation.
      它可以让学生们有更多的时间来学习，或者更准确一点说，有更多的时间来放松自己。
7. V-LINK （有时用来代替现在时态中be的几个常规形式，尤用于whether后）
   The form 'be' is used occasionally instead of the normal forms of the present tense, especially after 'whether'.
   1. The chemical agent, whether it be mustard gas or nerve gas, can be absorbed by the skin.
      这类化学制剂，不管是芥子气还是神经瓦斯，都会被皮肤吸收。
8. VERB 存在
   If something is, it exists.
   1. It hurt so badly he wished to cease to be.
      他觉得疼痛难忍，恨不得死了算了。
   2. ...to be or not to be.
      活着还是死去
9. V-LINK 保持真我；按自己的方式行事；显常态
   To be yourself means to behave in the way that is right and natural for you and your personality.
   1. She'd learnt to be herself and to stand up for her convictions.
      她已经学会了按自己的方式行事，坚持自己的信仰。
10. 非常；极为
    If someone or something is, for example, as happy as can be or as quiet as could be, they are extremely happy or extremely quiet.
11. PHRASE 如果不是…的话；如果没有…的话
    If you talk about what would happen if it wasn't for someone or something, you mean that they are the only thing that is preventing it from happening.
    1. I could happily move back into a flat if it wasn't for the fact that I'd miss my garden...
       如果不是因为我会想念自己的花园的话，我会很乐意搬回公寓住。
    2. If it hadn't been for her your father would be alive today.
       如果不是因为她，你父亲今天可能还活着。
12. PHRASE 尽管那样；即便如此
    You say 'Be that as it may' when you want to move onto another subject or go further with the discussion, without deciding whether what has just been said is right or wrong.
    1. 'Is he still just as fat?' — 'I wouldn't know,' continued her mother, ignoring the interruption, 'and be that as it may, he has made a fortune.'
       “他还是那么胖吗？”——“我不知道，”她妈妈接着说，没有理睬这一打岔，“就算那样，他已经发财了。”
13. PHRASE 身体不舒服；身体不适
    If you say that you are not yourself, you mean you are not feeling well.
    1. She is not herself. She came near to a breakdown.
       她身体不舒服，简直要崩溃了。

1. This is happening in every school throughout the country
   全国各地每所学校都在发生这样的事情。
2. She didn't always think carefully about what she was doing
   她对自己在做的事情并不总是考虑得很清楚。
3. Pratt& Whitney has announced that it will be making further job reductions
   普惠公司宣布将进一步裁员。
4. He had only been trying to help
   他只是想尽力帮忙。
5. Forensic experts were called in
   法医专家被请来。
6. Her husband was killed in a car crash
   她的丈夫死于车祸。
7. The cost of electricity from coal-fired stations is expected to fall
   用煤作燃料的火力发电站的成本有望降低。
8. It was to be Johnson's first meeting with the board in nearly a month
   这将是近一个月来约翰逊首次和董事会碰面。
9. Who is to say which of them had more power?
   谁来决定他们之中谁的权力应该更大一些？
10. What is to be done?
    应该怎么做？
11. Professor Hirsch is to be commended for bringing the state of our educational system to public notice.
    在赫希教授的努力下，我们教育体系的现状引起了公众关注，为此对他应该给予嘉许。
12. Then he received a phone call that was to change his life
    然后，他接到一个将改变他一生的电话。
13. A few hours later he was to prove it.
    几个小时之后他将证明这一点。
14. This is Elizabeth Blunt, BBC, West Africa
    英国广播公司的伊丽莎白·布伦特在西非为您报道。
15. He is a very attractive man
    他是一个很有魅力的男人。
16. My grandfather was a butcher
    我祖父是个屠夫。
17. The sky was black
    天空一片漆黑。
18. It is 1,267 feet high
    它有1,267英尺高。
19. It was too chilly for swimming
    这时候游泳太冷了。
20. Clearly there is a problem here
    显然，这里出了个问题。
21. It was me she didn't like, not what I represented
    她不喜欢的是我，而不是我的陈述。
22. The fact is, the players gave everything they had
    事实上，选手们尽了全力。
23. She's always noticed. But then, to be honest, Ghislaine likes being noticed
    她总是受到关注。但是说句实在话，吉莱纳喜欢被人关注。
24. The chemical agent, whether it be mustard gas or nerve gas, can be absorbed by the skin.
    这类化学制剂，不管是芥子气还是神经瓦斯，都会被皮肤吸收。
25. It hurt so badly he wished to cease to be.
    他觉得疼痛难忍，恨不得死了算了。
26. She'd learnt to be herself and to stand up for her convictions.
    她已经学会了按自己的方式行事，坚持自己的信仰。
27. 'Is he still just as fat?' — 'I wouldn't know,' continued her mother, ignoring the interruption, 'and be that as it may, he has made a fortune.'
    “他还是那么胖吗？”——“我不知道，”她妈妈接着说，没有理睬这一打岔，“就算那样，他已经发财了。”
28. She is not herself. She came near to a breakdown.
    她身体不舒服，简直要崩溃了。

  be exist live【导航词义：存在】

  be v. 存在

〔辨析〕除了用作连系动词外，还可表示某物存在或某事发生，常用于正式文体。

  exist v. 存在；生存

〔辨析〕指真实地发生或存在，也可指在困境中生活，不用进行时。

  live v. 活着；生活

〔辨析〕指生存、存活，或者强调以某种方式过活，可用进行时。

v.

the be-all and end-all (of sth)

• 最重要的部分；最要紧的事
  the most important part; all that matters
  1. Her career is the be-all and end-all of her existence.
     她的事业是她生活中一切的一切。

as/that was

• 像以往所称呼的；作为曾用名
  as sb/sth used to be called
  1. Jill Davis that was (= before her marriage)
     （婚前）姓名为吉尔∙戴维斯
  2. the Soviet Union, as was
     旧称苏联

(he, she, etc. has) been and done sth

• （表示吃惊和恼怒）
  used to show that you are surprised and annoyed by sth that sb has done
  1. Someone's been and parked in front of the entrance!
     有人居然把车停在大门口前！

if it wasn't/weren't for…

• 若不是（某人 / 某事）；幸亏
  used to say that sb/sth stopped sb/sth from happening
  1. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be alive today.
     如果不是你，我今天不会还活着。

leave/let sb/sth be

• 随…去；不打扰某人 / 某事物
  to leave sb/sth alone without disturbing them or it
  1. Leave her be, she obviously doesn't want to talk about it.
     别烦她了，她显然不想谈论这事。
  2. Let the poor dog be (= don't annoy it) .
     别逗弄那条可怜的狗了（别惹它）。

-to-be

• 将来
  future
  1. his bride-to-be
     他的未婚妻
  2. mothers-to-be (= pregnant women)
     准妈妈（孕妇）