- （一般作there is/are）exist存在; 在：
there are no easy answers
没有简单的答案
there once was a man
曾经有个人
there must be something wrong
肯定有什么出了错
I think, therefore I am.
我思故我在。
- be present在场, 有：
there were no curtains around the showers
淋浴间没有帘子
are there any castles in this area?
这个地区有城堡吗？
- with adverbial occur; take place举行; 发生：
the exhibition will be in November
展览将在11月举行
the opening event is on October 16
开幕式于10月16日举行
that was before the war.
那件事发生在战争之前。
- occupy a position in space位于, 在：
Salvation Street was on his left
救世大街在他左边
she was not at the window.
她不在窗边。
- stay in the same place or condition逗留; 持续：
he's a tough customer - let him be.
他是个难对付的顾客, 随他去吧。
- attend从事：
I'm at school doing A levels.
我在学校读A级班。
- come; go; visit来; 去; 游览：
he's from Missouri
他来自密苏里州
I have just been to Thailand
我刚去过泰国
the doctor's been twice today.
医生今天已经来了两趟了。
- as copular verb having the state, quality, identity, nature, role, etc., specified［表特定状态、质量、身份、本质或角色等］是; 就是：
Amy was 91
艾米91岁了
the floor was uneven
地板不平
I want to be a teacher
我想当老师
father was not well
父亲身体不适
it will be Christmas soon
很快就是圣诞节了
'Be careful, ' Carter said.
“当心点！”卡特说。
- cost花费：
the tickets were £25.
门票要25英镑。
- amount to等于：
one and one is two.
一加一等于二。
- represent代表：
let A be a square matrix of order n.
假设A代表n次方阵。
- signify意味：
we were everything to each other.
我们对彼此来说意味着一切。
- consist of; constitute由…组成：
the monastery was several three-storey buildings.
修道院由几幢三层的楼房组成。
- informal say〈非正式 〉说：
last time I saw her she was all 'You need to quit smoking!'
上次我见到她时, 她一个劲儿地对我说“你要戒烟！”
- used with a present participle to form continuous tenses与现在分词连用构成进行时正：
they are coming
他们马上就来
he had been reading
他一直在读书
she will be waiting.
她会等着的。
- used with a past participle to form the passive voice与过去分词连用构成被动语态被：
it was done
（事情）做好了
it is said
据说
his book will be published.
他的书将会出版。
- with infinitive used to indicate something that is due or destined to happen注定要, 预定要：
construction is to begin next summer
建筑工程将于明年夏天开始
his mum was never to see him win.
他母亲未能亲眼看到他获胜。
- used to express obligation or necessity应当; 必须; 只得：
you are to follow these orders
你必须服从这些命令
they said I was to remain on board.
他们说我得留在船上。
- used to express possibility可能：
these snakes are to be found in North America
这些蛇能在北美找到
she was nowhere to be seen.
哪儿也找不到她。
- used to hypothesize about something that might happen倘若, 如果：
if I were to lose
如果我失败的话
if I was to tell you, you'd think I was mad
如果我告诉你, 你会以为我疯了
were she to cure me, what could I offer her?
如果她治好我的病, 我能拿什么报答她呢？
- archaic used with the past participle of intransitive verbs to form perfect tenses〈古〉［与不及物动词的过去分词连用构成完成时］已经：
I am returned.
我回来了。
as/that was
- as someone or something was previously called如过去所称：
former Sex Pistol John Lydon (Rotten, as was).
过去的欲望枪手约翰·莱登（前称为罗登）。
the be-all and end-all
- informal a feature of an activity or a way of life that is of greater importance than any other〈非正式〉（活动或生活方式的）根本特点; 要旨。
be oneself
- act naturally, according to one's character and instincts表现得自然。
been（或been and gone）and -
- informal used to express surprise or annoyance at someone's actions〈非正式〉［表惊讶或恼火］竟然：
they've been and carted Mum off to hospital.
他们竟然强行把妈妈送到了医院。
been there, done that
- 见THERE.
be that as it may
- 见MAY1.
be there for someone
- be available to support or comfort someone while they are experiencing difficulties or adversities支持; 安慰（困难或不幸中的）某人。
not be oneself
- not feel in one's usual physical or mental state失常; 感到不舒服。
-to-be
- in combination of the future未来的：
my bride-to-be.
我未来的新娘。
be about
- 见ABOUT （介词义项1）。
be at
- be doing or trying to do正在做; 打算做：
what are you at there?
你在那儿干什么呢？
be away
- leave or set out at once离开; 出发：
I'm away to my work.
我要去工作了。
be off
- often in imperative go away; leave滚开; 离去：
be off with you!
你滚开！