The verb 'be'

We were walking down the street. Everything was wet.It had been raining for hours.

• with the past participle to make the passive voice:

The house was built in 1890.
The street is called Montague Street.
This car was made in Japan.

 

Level: advanced

We use some nouns with the verb be followed by a that clause:

The problem was that I had no money.
The obvious explanation is that he simply forgot.
The danger is that the whole thing might catch fire.
It's a pity that the children aren't here.
The lucky thing is that nobody was hurt.

Nouns commonly used in this way are:

answer argument assertion belief claim explanation feeling

hope idea (a) pity rule (a) shame thing

We use some nouns with the verb be followed by a to-infinitive:

The only way is to start all over again.
His answer is to work a bit harder.
Her only hope was to find a new job as soon as possible.
The easiest thing would be to ask your father.

Nouns commonly used in this way are:

answer decision hope idea intention

promise thing way wish

To comment on statements, we use some adjectives with it and the verb be and a that clause or wh-clause:

It's lucky that we met.
It's not clear what happened.
It was amazing how he managed to escape.

Adjectives commonly used in this way are:

awful bad clear extraordinary funny good interesting

lucky obvious possible probable sad true unlikely

 

Verbs

"Put your question in the box"