<p><strong>Verb (used without object)</strong></p><ul><li>to exist or live: Shakespeare's “To be or not to be” is the ultimate question.</li><li>to take place; happen; occur: The wedding was last week.</li><li>to occupy a place or position: The book is on the table.</li><li>to continue or remain as before: Let things be.</li><li>to belong; attend; befall: May good fortune be with you.</li><li>(used as a copula to connect the subject with its predicate adjective, or predicate nominative, in order to describe, identify, or amplify the subject): Martha is tall. John is president. This is she.</li><li>(used as a copula to introduce or form interrogative or imperative sentences): Is that right? Be quiet! Don't be facetious.</li></ul><p><strong>Auxiliary Verb</strong></p><ul><li>present subjunctive: be</li><li>past subjunctive plural: were</li><li>present singular 1st person: am</li><li>past plural: were</li><li>present plural: are</li><li>3rd: is</li><li>2nd: were or (archaic) wast or wert</li></ul><p><strong>Verb (used with object)</strong></p><ul><li>3rd: was</li><li>present singular 1st person: am</li><li>past singular 1st person: was</li><li>2nd: are</li><li>2nd: were</li><li>past plural: were</li><li>present plural: are</li></ul><p><strong>Informal</strong></p><ul><li>to say, declare, think, or feel (usually used to introduce reported speech or thought): So I'm walking down my street yesterday, and I'm “Why is there a crowd in front of my house?”</li></ul>