be

vi

• ①[当连系动词以连接主词与述词]是;变成,成为
  • Boys, be ambitious.孩子们,要立大志。
  • Don't be lazy.不要懒惰。
  • He will be a good teacher.他将成为一位好老师。
  • Twice two is four.2×2=4。
  • "Who is that?"－"It's he [It's me]".「谁啊?」「是他[我]。」
  • That's what I wanted to say.那正是我的意思[我想说出的话]。
  • Seeing is believing.【谚】眼见为信;百闻不如一见。
  • The trouble is that she doesn't love him.麻烦的是她并不爱他。
  • What matters is how they live.问题是他们如何生活。
  • The question is not what to do but how to do it.问题不是该做什么而是该如何去做。
  • How are you?你好吗?(问侯语)
  • I am quite well [in good health].我很好。
  • Learning is of utmost importance.学习极为重要。
  • They are the same age.他们年纪相同(★the same age 之前可加of, 但现在多半省略;参照of an [one] age)。
  • We were at table when they called.他们来访时我们正在用餐(★be重读时为强调语意:It is wrong.那的确不对/That is a baby!(那)的确是个可爱的婴儿!)。

• ② (表示时间、位置、度量、价钱等)是;在
  • "Where is Taipei?"－"It is in Taiwan."「台北在哪里?」「在台湾。」
  • "When is your birthday?"－"It is on the 3rd of March."「你的生日是什么时候[是哪一天]?」「三月三日。」
  • Be here at 7.七点钟要来到[要在]这里。

• ③ 存在,生存(=exist);举行(=take place);发生(=happen; occur);停留;持续
  • He is sleeping; let him be.他在睡觉;就让他睡吧(不要打扰他)。
  • Let it be.就让它那样吧(不要动或扰乱它)。
  • Can such things be?会有这样的事吗?
  • The wedding was last week.婚礼在上星期举行。
  • When is the ceremony to be?仪式[典礼]何时举行?
  • The celebrations were not to be.那些庆祝并没有举行。
  • To be or not to be－that is the question.要活还是要死—这是个(难决的)问题啊(★出自Shakespeare的Hamlet,第三幕第一场)。
  • God is [exists].上帝是存在的。
  • I think; therefore I am [exist].我思故我在(★René Descartes 的名言)。
  • Troy is no more.特洛伊城不复存在(★此系【文】;普通表示存在多用 there is [are]:Once upon a time there was a knight. 从前有一位武士)。

• ④[be的特殊用法]1[在表示条件或让步的子句中用做假设法的现在式]【文】【古】2[在表示要求、主张、提议等动词后的that子句中作假设法的现在式动词]【美文】3【古】=are
  • If it be fine ...假如天气好…(现代英文通常用直说法:If it is fine ...)
  • Be it ever so humble, there's no place like home.哪怕家是多么贫贱,总没有一个地方比得上它(★「甜蜜的家庭」(Home, Sweet Home)歌词中的一句)。
  • Be that as it may, ...即使是那样,…
  • Be the matter what it may, ...不论事态怎么变化,…(★上列后三者的子句原由表示愿望的独立句变成:Be it so!=So be it! (=Let it be so!) 但愿如此;即使如此(也无所谓))。
  • I demanded that he be (【英】should be) punished.我要求他受到处罚。
  • the powers that be当权者,当局(=the authorities)