This page provides example sentences of the verb "to be" in all tenses including active and passive forms, as well as conditional and modal forms.
Base Form be /Past Simple was-were / Past Participle been / Gerund being
Present Simple
He is a good friend.
Present Simple Passive
None
Present Continuous
None
Present Continuous Passive
None
Present Perfect
I've been a teacher for many years.
Present Perfect Passive
None
Present Perfect Continuous
None
Past Simple
She was an excellent tennis player when she was young.
Past Simple Passive
None
Past Continuous
None
Past Continuous Passive
None
Past Perfect
Peter had been to the office before they arrived.
Past Perfect Passive
None
Past Perfect Continuous
None
Future (will)
She will be here soon.
Future (will) passive
None
Future (going to)
Mary is going to be late for the meeting.
Future (going to) passive
None
Future Continuous
None
Future Perfect
She'll have been here for two weeks by next Friday.
Future Possibility
They might be at the party.
Real Conditional
If you hurry up, we will be on time.
Unreal Conditional
If you were here, I would be happy.
Past Unreal Conditional
If Jack had been at the party, she would have spoken with him.
Present Modal
You should be more careful.
Past Modal
He can't have been on time!
