be

essere, trovarsi

Serve a dire dove si trova qualcuno o qualcosa.

In inglese semplice: Used to say where someone or something is.

• The dog is outside.
• Are your shoes under the bed?
• We were at home all evening.

Come si usa: be + place expression (The keys are on the shelf.)

Espressioni comuni: be at home, be in bed, be near something

essere

Serve a descrivere le caratteristiche o lo stato di qualcuno o qualcosa.

In inglese semplice: Used to say what someone or something is like.

• The sky is blue.
• Are you tired?
• The children were very quiet during the film.

Come si usa: be + adjective (The water is cold.); be + descriptive prepositional phrase (They are in a good mood.)

Espressioni comuni: be happy, be very tired, be in trouble

stare

Davanti a un verbo in -ing, indica che un’azione si sta svolgendo.

In inglese semplice: Used before a verb ending in -ing to show that an action is continuing.

• She is sleeping.
• Were you listening to me?
• They will be working all afternoon.

Come si usa: be + verb-ing (We are waiting for the bus.)

Espressioni comuni: be working, be waiting, be reading

essere, tenersi

Serve a dire quando o dove si svolge un evento.

In inglese semplice: Used to say when or where an event happens.

• The party is tomorrow.
• When was the meeting?
• The next match will be at our school.

Come si usa: be + time or place expression (The concert is in the park on Sunday.)

Sinonimi: happen, take place

Espressioni comuni: be on Monday, be at noon, be next week

andare, visitare

Nella forma «been» con have o has, indica che qualcuno è stato in un luogo ed è tornato.

In inglese semplice: Used with have or has to say someone visited a place and returned.

• I have been to Spain.
• Have you ever been to this museum?
• She had been to London twice before she moved there.

Come si usa: have/has been to + place (Have you been to Rome?)

Sinonimi: visit

Espressioni comuni: be to Paris, be to London

fare, interpretare

Comportarsi come un’altra persona o un animale, spesso in un gioco o a teatro.

In inglese semplice: To act like another person or animal, often in a game or play.

• You be the king.
• She is being a cat in our game.
• I was the shopkeeper when we played yesterday.

Come si usa: be + person or animal role (You can be the doctor, and I will be the patient.)

Sinonimi: play, pretend to be

Espressioni comuni: be a dog, be the teacher, be a monster