be
Used with past participles of verbs to form the passive voice.
Used with present participles of verbs to form the continuous aspect.
Used with to-infinitives of verbs to express intent, obligation, appropriateness, or relative future occurrence.
Used with past participles of certain intransitive verbs to form the perfect aspect.
To tend to do, often do; marks the habitual aspect.
To exist.
Used to declare the subject and object identical or equivalent.
Used to indicate that a predicate nominal applies to the subject.
Used to indicate that the subject has the qualities described by an adjective or prepositional phrase.
Used to indicate that the subject has the qualities described by a noun or noun phrase.
Sound Patterns & Rhymes
Alliteration
Words starting with the same consonant sound — used in poetry and prose to create rhythm, emphasis, and memorable phrasing (e.g. “Peter Piper picked”)
Assonance
Words sharing similar vowel sounds regardless of starting letter — creates internal melody in writing