have the quality of being; (copula, used with an adjective or a predicate noun)

• John is rich
• This is not a good answer

• be

be identical to; be someone or something

• The president of the company is John Smith
• This is my house

• be

occupy a certain position or area; be somewhere

• Where is my umbrella?" "The toolshed is in the back
• What is behind this behavior?

• be

have an existence, be extant

• Is there a God?

• exist
• be

happen, occur, take place; this was during the visit to my parents' house"

• I lost my wallet
• There were two hundred people at his funeral
• There was a lot of noise in the kitchen

• be

be identical or equivalent to

• One dollar equals 1,000 rubles these days!

• equal
• be

form or compose

• This money is my only income
• The stone wall was the backdrop for the performance
• These constitute my entire belonging
• The children made up the chorus
• This sum represents my entire income for a year
• These few men comprise his entire army

• constitute
• represent
• make_up
• comprise
• be

work in a specific place, with a specific subject, or in a specific function

• He is a herpetologist
• She is our resident philosopher

• be
• follow

represent, as of a character on stage

• Derek Jacobi was Hamlet

• embody
• be
• personify

spend or use time

• I may be an hour

• be

have life, be alive

• Our great leader is no more
• My grandfather lived until the end of war

• be
• live

to remain unmolested, undisturbed, or uninterrupted -- used only in infinitive form

• let her be

• be

be priced at

• These shoes cost $100

• cost
• be