Meaning of būt | Babel Free
[ˈbûːt]Definitions
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to be, to exist intransitive
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to be, to be at, to be located (at) intransitive
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to be at, to attend, to participate in intransitive
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to possess; to have (all senses) intransitive, third-person
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to have, in a part-whole relationship intransitive, third-person
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to be, to happen, to take place intransitive, third-person
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to be; used as a simple copula to link a subject to its predicate intransitive
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to be, to have, must, should; used as an auxiliary verb to form compound verb tenses intransitive
Examples
“būt vai nebūt”
to be or not to be
“tas ir (= t.i.)”
i.e., that is to say (lit. that is)
“ir vairāki šās dziesmas varianti”
(there) are many versions of this song
“lietus beidzot pārgājis, bet saules nav”
the rain is finally gone, but (still) there is no sun
“mēs būsim mājā”
we will be in the house
“viņš vakar bija Rīgā”
he was in Riga yesterday
“kur tu biji?”
where were you?
“govis ir ganībās”
the cows are in the grazing area (= grazing)
“grāmata ir uz galda”
the book is on the table
“pilsētā ir rūpnīcas”
(the) factories are in the city
“spainī ir ūdens”
(there) is water in the bucket
“maizes somā nebija”
there was no bread in the bag
“mūsu mežā ir stirnas”
there are deer in our forest
“daudzi Ceilonas skolotāji bijuši VI Vispasaules jaunatnes un studentu festivālā Maskavā”
many teachers (from) Ceylon were at the VI All-World youth and student festival in Moscow
““varam sākt sapulci” Jānis teica; “vairāk neviena nebūs””
“we can begin the meeting”, Jānis said; “there won't be anybody else” (= nobody else is coming)
“būt arodbiedrībā jau desmit gadu”
to be (= participate, work) in the trade union for ten years
“viņiem ir divistabu dzīvoklis”
they have a two-room apartment
“zvejniekiem ir jauni tīkli”
the fishermen have new nets
“vai tev ir nauda?”
do you have (any) money?
“mātei ir māsa”
the mother has a sister
“meitenei bija draudzene”
the girl had a (girl)friend
“man ir darbs”
I have work
“mums bija uzdevums”
we had a task
“šodien man nebūs laika”
today I won't have time
“latviešiem ir teika par Lāčplēsi”
the Latvians have a legend about a Bear Slayer
“viņam bija pamatoti argumenti”
he had valid arguments
“mums ir priekšlikums”
we have a proposal
“ābelei ir balti ziedi”
the apple tree has white flowers
“viņam bija brīnišķīgi skaidras un laipnas bērna acis”
he had wonderfully clear and kind child's eyes
“viņam ir skaļa balss”
he has a loud voice
“aktierim ir talants”
the actor has talent
“tev ir labs noskaņojums”
you have (= are in) a good mood
“pagalmā bija liels tracis”
in the (back) yard (there) was a big brawl
“kas ir, ir; kas būs, būs”
what(ever) is, is; whatever will be, will be
“tur viss kārtībā... nelielā neskaidrība tikai, kad īsti būs kāzas”
there everything (is) all right... only a little uncertainty (about) when exactly the wedding will be (= happen, take place)
“lai būtu kā būdams”
let it be as it is (= let happen what will happen; so be it)
“tā ir laime”
that is happiness
“būs labi”
(it) will be good
“man ir auksti”
I am (= feel) cold
“laiks būšot saulains”
the weather, they say, will be sunny
“kas bija dzīve, kas bija cilvēks bez liela sapņa?”
what was life, what was a person without a big dream?
“esmu atnācis”
I have arrived
“bijām aizbraukuši ciemos”
we had left to visit (someone)
“nav dzirdēts”
(it) hasn't been heard
“par to ir jārunā”
one must talk about this
“tas būtu jāredz”
this would have to be seen (= it is a must-see)
“viņš esot tur strādājis”
he, they say, has worked there
“darbs būšot pabeigts”
the work, they say, will be finished
CEFR level
This word is part of the CEFR A1 vocabulary — beginner level.
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