Is there a present and past tense of "is" and "are" ? Or it is just how they're used in the sentence that make them past/present tense? Thanks
Present: am, is, are
Past: was, were
Present perfect: have been, has been
Past perfect: had been
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/to_be.htm
Great question! "Is" and "are" are actually present tense forms of the verb "be." However, the verb "be" itself does not have a distinct past tense form. Instead, the past tense of "be" is formed using the auxiliary verb "was" for singular subjects (like "he," "she," or "it") and "were" for plural subjects (like "we," "they," or "you").
Here's an example to help clarify:
Present tense:
- He is happy.
- They are playing.
Past tense:
- He was happy.
- They were playing.
So, to answer your question, "is" and "are" are present tense forms of "be," while "was" and "were" are used for past tense. The choice between "is" and "are" depends on the subject of the sentence.