- Do you often wonder if you’re using “be” with the right words?
- Are you unsure whether to say “be interested *in*” or “be interested *on*”?
- Does your English sometimes sound correct, but not quite natural?
Mastering English collocations – words that naturally go together – is a game-changer for fluency. Instead of just learning individual words, you’ll discover how they combine to create natural-sounding phrases. This article will help you navigate the essential collocations with the verb “BE”, reducing common errors and boosting your confidence.
Common Collocations with BE + Adjective
The verb “BE” frequently pairs with adjectives to describe states, feelings, or qualities. Pay attention to the prepositions that often follow!
Feelings and States of Mind
- be aware of: to know about something.
“Are you aware of the new policy changes?”
- be accustomed to: to be used to something.
“She’s accustomed to working long hours.”
- be keen on: to like something very much. (Common in UK English)
“My brother is keen on playing football.”
- be fond of: to like or have affection for someone or something.
“My grandmother is very fond of her garden.”
- be interested in: to show curiosity or attention towards something.
“He’s deeply interested in ancient history.”
- be worried about: to feel anxious or concerned about something.
“Parents are often worried about their children’s future.”
- be disappointed with/in: to feel let down by someone or something.
“I was disappointed with the movie’s ending.” (with a thing)
“She was disappointed in her son’s behavior.” (in a person)
- be fed up with: to be annoyed or bored with something that has been happening for a long time.
“I’m fed up with this constant rain!”
- be grateful for: to feel thankful for something.
“We are truly grateful for your support.”
- be proud of: to feel satisfaction or pleasure in an achievement or quality.
“The team was proud of their victory.”
Abilities and Responsibilities
- be capable of: to have the ability or qualities necessary to do something.
“She is capable of great things if she tries.”
- be responsible for: to have the duty of dealing with or taking care of someone/something.
“Who will be responsible for organizing the event?”
- be good at: to have a natural talent or skill in something.
“My sister is incredibly good at solving puzzles.”
- be bad at: to lack skill or talent in something.
“Unfortunately, I’m quite bad at remembering names.”
Essential Collocations with BE + Noun/Noun Phrase
“BE” can link a subject to a noun or a noun phrase, defining or describing it. These collocations are crucial for sounding natural.
Situations and Status
- be in agreement: to have the same opinion.
“Luckily, we were all in agreement about the project’s direction.”
- be in debt: to owe money.
“Many students nowadays are in debt after university.”
- be in trouble: to be in a difficult or dangerous situation.
“If you don’t finish your homework, you’ll be in trouble with your teacher.”
- be in a hurry: to be moving or doing something quickly.
“I can’t talk right now, I’m in a hurry.”
- be on time: to arrive or do something at the scheduled time.
“It’s important to be on time for the interview.”
- be out of order: (usually for machines) not working correctly.
“The printer is out of order again.”
- be out of date: old-fashioned or no longer valid.
“This information seems to be out of date.”
Key Collocations with BE + Prepositional Phrase
Prepositional phrases often follow “BE” to indicate location, status, or cause, adding precision to your sentences.
Location and State
- be at home: to be in one’s residence.
“I’ll be at home all evening if you want to call.”
- be in charge of: to be responsible for or to control something.
“She is in charge of the marketing department.”
- be for sale: available to be bought.
“That beautiful old house is for sale.”
- be of importance: to be important or significant.
“This discovery will be of great importance to scientists.”
- be on duty: to be working.
“The security guard will be on duty until midnight.”
- be under pressure: to be experiencing difficult demands or expectations.
“He’s been under a lot of pressure at work recently.”
- be to blame: to be responsible for something bad.
“No one knows who is to blame for the accident.”
- be in stock: available in a store or warehouse.
“Are these shoes still in stock?”
Understanding BE in Passive Voice Collocations
The verb “BE” is fundamental to forming the passive voice, where the subject receives the action. This often creates common collocations with past participles.
Common Passive Constructions
- be born: to come into existence, usually at birth.
“I was born in the spring of 1990.”
- be made of: to consist of a particular material.
“This table is made of solid oak.”
- be known for: to be recognized or famous for a particular quality or achievement.
“The city is known for its delicious seafood.”
- be supposed to: to be expected or required to do something.
“We are supposed to meet at 3 PM.”
- be allowed to: apologised. to have permission to do something.
“Children are not allowed to use this equipment.”
- be caught red-handed: to be discovered while doing something wrong.
“The thief was caught red-handed trying to escape.”
- be taken aback: to be surprised or shocked by something.
“I was completely taken aback by his sudden resignation.”
Master Summary Table: Essential BE Collocations
| Collocation | Part of Speech (after BE) | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| be aware of | Adjective + Preposition | know about |
| be interested in | Adjective + Preposition | show curiosity |
| be responsible for | Adjective + Preposition | have duty for |
| be good at | Adjective + Preposition | skilled in |
| be in agreement | Prepositional Phrase | have same opinion |
| be in trouble | Prepositional Phrase | in a difficult situation |
| be on time | Prepositional Phrase | punctual |
| be out of order | Prepositional Phrase | not working |
| be in charge of | Prepositional Phrase | supervise/control |
| be for sale | Prepositional Phrase | available to buy |
| be to blame | Prepositional Phrase | responsible for bad thing |
| be born | Past Participle | come into existence |
| be made of | Past Participle + Preposition | consist of material |
| be supposed to | Past Participle + Infinitive | expected to |
| be taken aback | Past Participle | be surprised/shocked |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
Direct translation often leads to unnatural-sounding English. Here’s how to avoid some common pitfalls with “BE” collocations.
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| I am *having* interested in history. | I am interested in history. |
| She is *making* a party for her birthday. | She is having a party for her birthday. (Or: She is throwing a party…) |
| He is *with* 30 years old. | He is 30 years old. |
| Are you *in agreement with* me? | Do you agree with me? (Or: Are you in agreement with me? – the latter is more formal) |
| The machine is *not working*. | The machine is out of order. (More specific for mechanical failure) |
| I am *feeling* anxiety. | I am feeling anxious. / I have anxiety. / I am worried. |
| He is *guilty for* the crime. | He is guilty of the crime. |
Last week, Sarah discovered she was responsible for organizing the company’s annual charity gala. Initially, she was a little taken aback by the task, as she’d never done anything similar before. However, she was determined to make it a success. Her colleague, Mark, who was good at event planning, offered to help. “I’m keen on making this the best gala yet,” he said. They quickly got to work, ensuring they were in agreement on the budget and the guest list. Despite some initial challenges and feeling under pressure, they were confident that everything would be on time for the big night. Sarah hoped the guests would be aware of all the hard work that went into it!
Frequently Asked Questions about Be Collocations
What is the difference between “be good at” and “be good for”?
“Be good at” means you possess a skill or talent for something (e.g., “She is good at math.”). “Be good for” means something is beneficial or healthy for you (e.g., “Eating vegetables is good for your health.”) or suitable for a particular purpose (e.g., “This soil is good for growing roses.”)
Can “be” always be replaced by “exist” in collocations?
No, not usually in the context of collocations discussed here. While “be” can mean “exist” in some philosophical contexts (e.g., “To be or not to be”), in most common collocations, “be” functions as a linking verb, connecting a subject to an adjective, noun, or prepositional phrase to describe a state, identity, or location. Replacing it with “exist” would often change the meaning or sound unnatural (e.g., “I exist interested in history” is incorrect).
How do I know which preposition to use after “be” with an adjective?
This is one of the trickiest parts of English! Unfortunately, there are few consistent rules, and often you need to learn these combinations as fixed phrases. For example, it’s “be interested in” not “on” or “at,” and “be responsible for” not “of.” Exposure through reading, listening, and practice is key. Pay special attention to these prepositional patterns as you encounter them.
Are there regional differences in “be” collocations (US vs UK)?
Yes, some differences exist, though many collocations are universal. For instance, in UK English, “be keen on” is very common, whereas in US English, you might hear “be eager to” or “be enthusiastic about” more frequently. Another example is “be in hospital” (UK) versus “be in the hospital” (US). While the core “BE” verb is the same, some accompanying prepositions or preferred adjectives can vary.
Why is it important to learn “be” collocations for fluency?
Learning “be” collocations moves you beyond basic grammar to more natural, native-like English. Instead of constructing sentences word-by-word, you start using ready-made chunks of language. This not only makes your speech and writing sound more authentic but also reduces your cognitive load, allowing you to speak more quickly and confidently, minimizing “Language Anxiety.” It’s a hallmark of advanced proficiency.
I find that listening to native speakers and paying attention to these phrases helps a lot, but having them explicitly listed like this is a real game-changer. Thanks!
What about 'be obsessed with'? Would that also fall under 'feelings and states of mind' collocations with BE + adjective?
Excellent question, Nina! Yes, 'be obsessed with' absolutely falls into that category of 'BE + adjective + preposition' describing a state of mind or strong feeling. It indicates a preoccupation or extreme interest in something. Great observation!
I think I've used 'be interested on' before! This is a really helpful correction. My English sounds so much better already.
Don't worry, David, that's a very common mistake, and the important thing is that you're learning and improving! 'Be interested in' is the correct and natural collocation. Keep paying attention to those prepositions, and your English will continue to flourish!
In my native language, we don't have such strict rules about which preposition goes with which adjective. It's truly a challenge but this article makes it less daunting.
This is brilliant! I'm compiling a list of common collocations for my advanced learners, and this section on 'BE' is perfect. Any chance you'll cover collocations with 'HAVE' or 'DO' soon?
We're delighted to hear this resource is useful for your advanced learners, Oliver! Collocations with 'HAVE' and 'DO' are indeed fundamental, and we definitely plan to cover them in future articles. Your suggestion helps us prioritize topics that learners and teachers find most valuable. Thank you!
Are there other prepositions that commonly follow 'be accustomed'? Like 'be accustomed *with* something' or is it always 'to'?
This article is a lifesaver! I often feel like my English is 'correct' but not 'natural'. Now I see why! Collocations are definitely the key. Can't wait for more articles like this!
We're so glad to hear this, Isabella! That feeling of 'correct but not natural' is exactly what mastering collocations helps to overcome. Keep practicing these pairings, and your English will sound more authentic every day. We appreciate your enthusiasm!
I always mix up 'be keen on' and 'be fond of'. The explanation here is great, especially noting 'keen on' is UK English. It helps clarify things!
Thanks for this article! I'm sharing it with my students. It directly addresses the kind of 'almost right' errors they often make.
Are there any collocations with 'BE' + adjective that are considered more formal or informal? For example, is 'be keen on' more informal than 'be interested in'?
That's a perceptive question, Chloe! Generally, 'be keen on' is a bit more informal and primarily used in UK English, whereas 'be interested in' is universally understood and suitable for both formal and informal contexts. For instance, in a business meeting, you'd likely say 'I am interested in this proposal' rather than 'I am keen on this proposal.' Good observation!