Home of English Grammar

Grammar Guide
  • Home
  • Exercises
  • Rules
  • Test Yourself
  • Tools
    • Grammar Checker
    • Word Counter
  • Top Social Media Posts
  • Vocabulary
  • Writing Guides
  • Contact
You are here: Home / Lessons / Special structures with be

Special structures with be

February 21, 2012 - pdf

Gone with be

After be, gone can be used like an adjective. This structure is used to say that somebody is away, or that something has disappeared.

He has been gone for two hours – what do you think he is doing? (= He has been away for two hours.)

You may go out, but don’t be gone too long. (= You may go out, but don’t be away too long.)

When I reached home, he was gone. (= He had disappeared.)

When I came back my car was gone.

Be with finished

Finished can be used as an adjective after be, meaning ‘ready’. There is no difference between ‘I am finished’ and ‘I have finished’.

The ‘be + finished’ structure is more common in an informal style.

I’m nearly finished. OR I’ve nearly finished.

Been meaning ‘come’ or ‘go’

Been is often used as a past participle of come and go.

I haven’t been to the theatre for ages. (= I haven’t gone to the theatre for ages.)

Note that been is only used for complete visits. In other cases, we use come or go.

The postman has already been. (= The postman has come and gone away again.)

  • Share
  • Post
  • Post
  • Email
2,485,429 
735,807 

Grammar Checker

GrammarCheck.net - Try online
Hint → Bookmark GrammarCheck for future use.

Latest Exercises

  • B1 Level Grammar Exercise for ESL Students December 25, 2025
  • General Grammar Exercise Gap Filling December 24, 2025
  • Gerund or Infinitive ESL Grammar Exercise December 23, 2025
  • Determiners – Either, Neither, Both December 22, 2025
  • Determiners Exercise December 21, 2025
  • Gap Filling Determiners Exercise December 20, 2025
  • Tenses ESL Grammar Exercise December 19, 2025
  • ESL Grammar Exercise for Beginners December 18, 2025
  • Adjective vs. Adverb Exercise December 18, 2025

Copyright © 2025 · EnglishGrammar.org
Disclaimer · Privacy Policy · Sitemap