Be |
Meaning + Use |
Examples |
be against smth
|
be opposed to (often used with a gerund)
|
I am against labels and stereotypes in general.
What kind of person is against reading?
|
be away
|
be away from home/this place for at least a night
|
When I am away, you must never let anybody in.
Dad is away on his annual European business trip.
|
be back
|
have returned after a long or short absence
|
Britney Spears is back in the headlines.
I am back living with my mother.
|
be for smth
|
be in favour of (often used with gerund)
|
I love to walk wherever I am for exercise.
I am for fostering a culture that respects life.
|
be in
|
be at home/in this bulding
|
I'll see if mother is in. Wait here.
The Doctor is in.
|
be in for smth
|
(informal) be about to encounter/get (usually something unpleasant)
|
Houston is in for a more serious weather conditions.
Those who love cartoons are in for a treat this year with three new books.
|
be over
|
be finished
|
"I think this conversation is over," Kelly declared.
|
be out
|
be away from home/from this building for a short time-not overnight
|
School is out in three weeks, right?
You should not be in this room when your mother is out.
|
be up
|
(a) be out of bed
|
Layla usually is up at dawn when Bob, who rarely sleeps more than five hours, wakes up.
|
be up
|
(b) be over, finished
|
Well, it looks like our time is up.
Time is up, I'm sorry. We have to end it right there.
|
be up to smth
|
(a) be physically or intellectually strong enough (to perform a certain action). The object is usually it, though a gerund is possible
|
These people's heroism is inspiration enough, but I don't really feel that my art is up to it.
It is a challenge. Some guys are up to it, and some guys aren't.
Some have questioned whether Mr. Jones is up to the job.
|
be up to smth
|
(b) be occupied or busy with some mischievous act (some mischief/some trick/no good)
Note that the object of up to here is always some very indefinite expression such as these given above. It is never used with a particular action.
|
He keeps very odd company and the police are sure he is up to something, but have not been able to pin anything on him yet.
I have no idea what he is up to, but I worry.
The twins are very quiet. I wonder what they are up to.
|
be up to someone
|
it is his responsibility or duty (often followed by an infinitive)
|
You pay to park, but after that what you do is up to you.
You got to do just what I tell you. How you do it is up to you, though.
|