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27 English Phrasal Verbs With 'BE'

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27 phrasal verbs with 'BE'

Be after

  1. Try to find or get
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: The police ARE AFTER him because of the theft.

Be along

  1. Arrive
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: The next bus should BE ALONG in the next quarter of an hour or so.

Be away

  1. Be elsewhere; on holiday, etc.
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: She's AWAY on business for three weeks.

Be cut out for

  1. Be suitable, have the necessary qualities
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: She's not CUT OUT FOR this kind of work.

Be cut up

  1. Be upset
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: She was very CUT UP about coming second as she thought she deserved to win.

Be down

  1. Be depressed
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: He's BEEN DOWN since his partner left him.
  2. Be reduced or less
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: The firm's profits ARE DOWN by ten percent this quarter.

Be down on

  1. Have negative feelings toward someone
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: After the argument, James is DOWN ON his boss.

Be down with

  1. Be ill
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: Gul is DOWN WITH some bug and is off work today.

Be fed up

  1. Be bored, upset or sick of something
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: I AM FED UP of his complaints.

Be in

  1. Be at home or at work
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: They ARE never IN; I always get their answerphone.
  2. Be submitted, arrive
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: The application form must BE IN by 3pm on Friday.

Be in on

  1. Be involved in
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: Susan was the only one who WASN'T IN ON the plan.

Be into

  1. Like
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: I AM INTO classical music.

Be not on

  1. Be unacceptable
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: The way he's behaving IS just NOT ON.

Be off

  1. Be bad (of food)
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: This yoghurt must BE OFF; it smells foul.
  2. Depart, leave
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: I'm OFF home; it's five o'clock.

Be on

  1. Be functioning (of machines)
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: The computer IS ON.
  2. Take place
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: The show IS ON for the next three months.
  3. Take medication or drugs, especially when they affect the person badly
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: He IS ON anti-depressants and has become very difficult to please.
  4. Be at the top of one’s game, performing very well
    (Inseparable | American English)
    » Example: He IS really ON right now- three goals in five minutes!

Be on about

  1. Mean, try to say
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: I couldn't understand what he WAS ON ABOUT- it made no sense.

Be onto

  1. Pursue, be aware of someone's true nature
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: He's being very careful because he thinks the police ARE ONTO him.

Be out

  1. Be absent from a place
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: She IS OUT on a visit for the day.

Be out of

  1. Have no more left
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: We're OUT OF coffee so I'll have to go and get some.

Be out to

  1. Attempt
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: She IS OUT TO get him sacked because she hates him.

Be snowed under

  1. Have too much work
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: We're completely SNOWED UNDER at work because it's the end of the tax year.

Be taken aback

  1. Be shocked or surprised
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: I WAS TAKEN ABACK when I saw him because he's lost all his hair.

Be taken with

  1. Like something
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: I WAS very TAKEN WITH the performance- it was superb.

Be to do with

  1. Be connected with
    (Intransitive | International English | Contributed By: )
    » Example: He said the meeting IS TO DO WITH a complaint.

Be up

  1. Be out of bed
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: She's not UP yet.
  2. Have increased or risen
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: The company's profits ARE UP by fifteen percent.
  3. When the time for something finishes or expires
    (Intransitive | International English)
    » Example: Time's UP, please finish your drinks and leave.

Be up for

  1. Be enthusiastic about an upcoming event
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: ARE you UP FOR the climb of Mt. Blanc?

Be up to

  1. Be good enough
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: He's not UP TO the job; get someone else.
  2. Doing something naughty or wrong
    (Inseparable | International English)
    » Example: What are those kids UP TO?

Take our Exercise on 'BE'

Quiz for Verb: 'To BE'

Choose the correct definition for each phrasal verb...

'Be up to' means...

'Be down' means...

'Be on' means...

'Be out to' means...

'Be taken aback' means...

'Be down with' means...

'Be taken with' means...

'Be into' means...

'Be out' means...

'Be away' means...

 

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