be – Early Modern English verb conjugation

Early Modern English verb forms of be

Nominal Forms

Infinitive: to be
Participle: been
Gerund: being

Transitiviness: intransitive

Indicative

Present

Iam
thouart
he;she;itis
weare
yeare
theyare

Preterit (Past)

Iwas
thouwast; wert
he;she;itwas
wewere
yewere
theywere

Subjunctive

Present

Ibe
thoubeest
he;she;itbe
webe
yebe
theybe

Preterit (Past)

Iwere
thouwert
he;she;itwere
wewere
yewere
theywere

Imperative

thoube
yebe

Notes:

  • Compound forms (perfect, pluperfect) are formed either with 'have' or 'be'.
  • Future is formed as in modern English, with auxiliary 'will'.
  • Conditional is formed as in modern English, with auxiliary 'would'.
  • Continuous forms are formed with auxiliary 'be' and gerund. Sometimes the gerund is preceded by 'a-'
  • Plural forms in present lost the '-en' ending, and was used only as a stylistic affectation to indicate rural or old-fashioned speech.