be
IPA: /biː/
to exist or describe a state, identity or quality
English vocabulary by topic
Common verbs in English
High-frequency verbs for building simple requests, questions and everyday statements.
Go to the wordsEssential English verbs
Be, have, do, say, go, come, get, make, know, think, take and see appear in a wide range of situations. Each has several uses, so learn these verbs through short combinations rather than one isolated definition.
Start with practical patterns: be ready, have time, do the work, say hello, go home, come back, get a message, make dinner, know the answer, think about it, take a seat and see a friend.
Vocabulary
Words in this topic
Use the speaker icon to hear each word in British English.
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have
IPA: /hæv/
to own, contain or experience something
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do
IPA: /duː/
to perform an action, task or activity
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say
IPA: /seɪ/
to speak words or express something
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go
IPA: /ɡəʊ/
to move or travel away from one place
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come
IPA: /kʌm/
to move towards the speaker or a particular place
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get
IPA: /ɡɛt/
to receive, obtain or become something
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make
IPA: /meɪk/
to create, produce or cause something
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know
IPA: /nəʊ/
to have information or understand something
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think
IPA: /θɪŋk/
to use your mind or hold an opinion
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take
IPA: /teɪk/
to move or carry something with you
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see
IPA: /siː/
to notice with your eyes or understand an idea
01
How to remember these words
- Write one personally relevant combination for every verb.
- Review go — come and do — make as contrasting pairs.
- Change the subject in your examples: I have, she has and we have.
02
Useful phrases
I know what you mean.
Please come in and take a seat.
We have time to make dinner.
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between do and make?
Do is generally connected with an action, job or task, as in do homework. Make focuses on creating a result, as in make dinner or make a plan.
What is the difference between go and come?
Go describes movement away from the speaker or towards another destination. Come describes movement towards the speaker or the place treated as the current point.
What are the main forms of be?
The present forms are am, is and are. The past forms are was and were, and the past participle is been.
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