My English teacher constantly says to avoid "to be" verbs as much as possible, but I'm not sure exactly what he is talking about. Examples?
2006-10-08 05:25:09 · 5 answers · asked by Josie 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
I think he is wanting you to find other verbs to make your writing more varied and interesting.
For example, if you use the verb "to be" in this sentence it is:
She was happy
But if you find another verb, it is more interesting than always using "to be" conjugations:
She felt happy
Another example:
It was raining all day ..... is what your teacher doesn't want
It rained all day .... is what he DOES want.
The difference may seem small, but I believe it is what he is encouraging you to explore.
So you would write "She felt happy even though it rained all day" rather than repeating "to be" verbs by writing "She was happy even though it was raining all day".
I hope this helps you.
2006-10-08 05:37:32 · answer #1 · answered by JaneB 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
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I am sad at the moment (NOT I am being sad …)
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He was in the kitchen when the phone rang (NOT He was being in the kitchen …)
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I will be in Tenerife this time next week (NOT I will be being in Tenerife …)
However, some verbs that are usually stative can be used in continuous verb forms when they have certain meanings. Be is one of these verbs.
The following sentences are correct because be is used to describe an action and not a state:
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The children are being very naughty (= They are doing naughty things)
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He was being careless (= He was doing something carelessly)
Compare these to the following examples, where be is used to describe a state and not an action:
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I hope you are well. (NOT I hope you are being well).
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He was very happy when his friends arrived. (NOT He was being very happy …)
The other use of the word being is in passive verb forms. We usually make these forms by using tenses of the verb 'to be' followed by a past participle. The following forms are quite common:
Present progressive (am/are/is being + past participle)
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The shop is closed because it is being renovated.
Past progressive (was/were being + past participle)
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I knew that he was being dishonest.
2006-10-08 12:26:50 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well in spanish to be is ser. If you conjugate ser, the translation is
I am
You are
He, She is
We are
They are
Maybe the same thing applies to English.
2006-10-08 12:29:26 · answer #3 · answered by Stephanie 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did he say why?
2006-10-08 12:27:00 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
be, is, am, are, were, was, will be, and i think there's one more
just think of I "___" cool.
i "am" cool
i "was" cool
i "will be" cool
now do it for i, we, you, he/she/it, and they.
2006-10-08 12:28:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋