be
be — 動詞
1. to give someone's or something's name, kind, quality, owner, price, or value
是
連接主詞與身分、特徵等
to give someone's or something's name, kind, quality, owner, price, or value
Noa is our new science teacher this year.
Noa 今年是我們的新自然老師。
be + noun phrase for identity or job
The soup is too hot for the children now.
這碗湯現在對孩子們來說太燙了。
be + adjective for temporary state
That red bike by the gate is Nina's, not mine.
門邊那台紅色腳踏車是 Nina 的，不是我的。
Two balcony tickets are sixty dollars tonight after tax.
今晚兩張陽台票含稅是六十美元。
The hardest part is saying goodbye at the station.
最難的部分是在車站說再見。
文法句型
be + noun phrase
be + adjective
be + possessive
be + number/price
be + -ing clause
用法筆記
This is the broad linking sense of be. Use it for names, jobs, qualities, prices, ownership, and similar descriptions; use sense 2 when the main idea is location or time, and sense 3 when the main idea is material.
常見錯誤
2. to show where someone or something is, where they come from, or when an event ha
在；自；定於
表示位置、來源，或事情何時何地舉行
to show where someone or something is, where they come from, or when an event happens
Our car is in the school parking lot.
我們的車在學校停車場裡。
be + prepositional phrase for location
Mei is from Tainan, but her parents are from Hualien.
Mei 來自台南，但她的父母來自花蓮。
be from + place
The concert is on Friday at the city park.
音樂會定於星期五在市立公園舉行。
Most of the family was at the wedding in Taichung.
大部分家人都在台中的婚禮現場。
The keys are still on the kitchen shelf.
鑰匙還在廚房架子上。
- leave
describes going away from a place instead of being there
文法句型
be + adverb/prepositional phrase
be from + place
be at + event
be + time expression
用法筆記
The verb is usually followed by a place phrase such as 'in the bag' or 'at school'. For origin, English normally uses 'be from'.
常見錯誤
3. to show the material or parts that make something up
由…製成
表示東西用什麼材料做成
to show the material or parts that make something up
The ring is made of silver from my grandfather's shop.
這枚戒指是用我祖父店裡的銀做的。
be made of + material
Most school desks here are made of wood and steel.
這裡大多數學校課桌是由木頭和鋼製成的。
The toy dinosaur is plastic, so Ben can wash it easily.
那隻玩具恐龍是塑膠的，所以 Ben 可以輕鬆把它洗乾淨。
This soup is mostly beans, tomatoes, and garlic.
這鍋湯主要是豆子、番茄和大蒜做成的。
- consist of
works well for listed parts or ingredients, not for simple material labels
- be made from
closer when the source material is changed by a process
文法句型
be made of + material
be made from + material
be + material
用法筆記
Common with 'made of' when the material stays recognizable, and with 'made from' when the original material changes form. Distinguish from sense 1, where be gives a general description rather than naming the material.
常見錯誤
4. to show that a rule, an order, or a person in charge says someone must or must n
必須；不得
表示規定、命令或必做事項
to show that a rule, an order, or a person in charge says someone must or must not do something
Students are to leave their phones in the blue box.
學生必須把手機放進藍色盒子裡。
be to + infinitive for official instructions
The driver was not to stop near the bridge at night.
那名司機不得在夜間於橋邊停車。
negative order: be not to + infinitive
What are we to do with the wet tents now?
我們現在該拿這些濕帳篷怎麼辦？
Each visitor is to show a photo ID at the gate.
每位訪客都必須在門口出示附照片的證件。
The twins were to stay inside until their father returned.
那對雙胞胎必須待在屋裡，直到父親回來。
- must
the direct everyday way to express obligation
- have to
common in speech for outside rules or necessity
- be supposed to
often softer and less official than this pattern
- may
gives permission instead of an order
文法句型
be to + infinitive
be not to + infinitive
what am/is/are + subject + to + infinitive?
用法筆記
Common in rules, instructions, and firm statements from parents, teachers, officials, or written notices. Unlike sense 5, this sense gives an obligation rather than just announcing a plan.
常見錯誤
5. to announce or report an official plan or expected future event
定於；預定
表示已安排或正式宣布將發生
to announce or report an official plan or expected future event
The mayor is to open the new library on Monday.
市長定於星期一為新圖書館主持開幕。
announcement: be to + infinitive
Three rescue boats are to arrive before sunrise.
三艘救援船預定在日出前抵達。
Lena was to meet the buyer at noon, but the train was late.
Lena 原定中午要見買家，但火車誤點了。
The two teams are to play again next weekend.
這兩支球隊定於下週末再比一次。
Dr. Wu is to speak at the school hall tomorrow.
Dr. Wu 預定明天在學校禮堂演講。
- be going to
neutral everyday future form, less formal than this pattern
- be due to
often used when a time is expected or scheduled
- be scheduled to
more explicit about timetables and formal arrangements
文法句型
be to + infinitive for scheduled future
was/were to + infinitive
用法筆記
This pattern is common in news reports, public notices, and formal schedules. Distinguish it from sense 4: here the speaker reports an arrangement, not an order.
常見錯誤
6. to talk about a possible future situation, especially one you are only imagining
假定將會
正式表示假設未來可能發生
to talk about a possible future situation, especially one you are only imagining
If the old dam were to break, the lower farms would flood.
假定那座舊水壩真的潰決，下方農場就會淹水。
if + were to for hypothetical future
If I were to refuse, Aunt Helen would ask many questions.
假定我真的拒絕，Aunt Helen 就會問很多問題。
Were the bus to leave now, half the class would miss it.
假定公車現在就開走，班上一半的人都會趕不上。
If the lights were to fail again, the show would stop.
假定燈光又故障，表演就會停下來。
If Nora were to win, she would give the money away.
假定 Nora 真的贏了，她會把那筆錢送出去。
- if ... should
another formal way to mention a possible future case
- might
shows possibility, but it does not create the same if-clause pattern
文法句型
if + subject + were to + infinitive
were + subject + to + infinitive
用法筆記
Most common in careful or formal writing, especially with 'if ... were to'. It usually suggests a future case that is imagined rather than expected.
常見錯誤
7. to say that something can be seen, found, heard, or done
可；能
表示某事可以被看到或找到
to say that something can be seen, found, heard, or done
Fresh bread is to be found at the market after six.
六點後可在市場買到新鮮麵包。
formal be to be found
The full report is to be seen on the hospital website.
完整報告可在醫院網站上看到。
Rare winter birds are to be heard near the river at dawn.
黎明時可在河邊聽見罕見的冬候鳥。
The answer is to be found in the last line.
答案能在最後一行找到。
- cannot
shows that something is impossible instead of possible
文法句型
be to be + past participle
用法筆記
Most common in formal writing and museum, travel, or report style. Unlike sense 5, it means 'can' rather than 'will'.
常見錯誤
8. to have real existence, or in formal style to remain alive
存在；活著
正式表示存在或仍然活著
to have real existence, or in formal style to remain alive
Two of the camp's oldest trees were no more after the storm.
暴風雨過後，營地裡兩棵最老的樹已不復存在。
formal expression: be no more
After the fire, the old pier was no more by morning.
那場火災後，老碼頭到早上已不復存在。
expression: be no more
By the time the letter arrived, Uncle Ken had ceased to be.
信送到時，Uncle Ken 已不在人世。
Without rain, this grassland would soon cease to be.
沒有雨的話，這片草原很快就會不復存在。
文法句型
should never be
cease to be
be no more
用法筆記
This use is limited and formal. In ordinary speech, people usually say 'exist', 'be alive', 'die', or 'disappear' instead.
常見錯誤
be — 助動詞
1. used with another verb in the -ing form to mark an action or situation as contin
進行中
和另一動詞連用，表動作在某時持續
used with another verb in the -ing form to mark an action or situation as continuing around a time
The children are playing cards on the kitchen floor.
孩子們正在廚房地板上玩牌。
be + present participle
At eight o'clock, Mr. Ruiz was driving home through heavy rain.
八點鐘時，Mr. Ruiz 正開車冒著大雨回家。
past continuous with was
I will be waiting outside the station at noon.
我中午會在車站外等著。
We have been painting the back wall since breakfast.
我們從早餐後就一直在粉刷後牆。
- stop
shows an action ending instead of continuing
文法句型
be + present participle
have been + present participle
will be + present participle
用法筆記
This is the be that forms continuous tenses. It combines with the -ing form of the main verb and is different from sense 1 of the main verb, where be itself carries the meaning.
常見錯誤
2. used with a past participle to build a sentence that focuses on the receiver of
被
和過去分詞連用，構成被動
used with a past participle to build a sentence that focuses on the receiver of an action
The front gate was locked before the last bus arrived.
前門在末班車到前就已經鎖上了。
passive: be + past participle
Our class photo is printed at school every June.
我們的班級照每年六月都會在學校印製。
The missing dog was found near the river yesterday.
那隻走失的狗昨天在河邊被找到。
Lunch will be served in the garden at one.
午餐將於一點在花園供應。
Several windows had been broken during the storm.
暴風雨期間有好幾扇窗戶被打破了。
- active voice
puts the doer in subject position instead of the receiver
文法句型
be + past participle
will be + past participle
have been + past participle
用法筆記
Use this pattern when the result or receiver matters more than the doer, or when the doer is unknown. The main verb must be in its past participle form.