missing 'be' in 'Would it possible'

Speakers often drop forms of be (is, are, was, were, be) in questions: "Would it possible?" instead of "Would it be possible?". The omission is common in speech but counts as a grammatical error in writing and formal speech. Below are a short rule, a simple rewrite method, many contextual wrong/right pairs, templates to copy, quick memory tricks, and a compact list of nearby errors to watch for.

Quick answer

If a question needs a form of be and it's missing, add it. After modals use the bare be: would it be, could she be. For copula uses choose is/are/was/were to match subject and tense. In formal requests and writing, never drop be.

Modal + adjective/noun phrase usually requires be: would + adjective → Would it be possible?
Match subject number and tense: singular → is/was; plural → are/were.
Read the question aloud-if you expect a verb but hear a pause, insert the correct be form.

Core explanation: what goes missing and why it matters

Questions need a finite verb. When be serves as an auxiliary or linking verb and gets omitted, the clause becomes verb-less and incomplete. That breaks meaning and formality.

Vulnerable patterns:

Modal + adjective/noun (would/could/might + possible/likely/helpful): insert be after the modal.
Copula + adjective (Is he ready?): use is/are/was/were to describe the subject.
Passive or state questions (Were they informed? Was the test completed?): rely on forms of be.

How to fix any sentence: a three-step rewrite method

Use this quick routine whenever a question sounds clipped or incomplete.

Step 1: Identify and underline the subject.
Step 2: Ask "What is the subject doing or being?" If there's no finite verb answering that, you probably need a form of be.
Step 3: If a modal is present, add the bare be. Otherwise pick is/are/was/were to match tense and subject.

Rewrite:
Original: Would that possible? → Diagnose: missing finite verb after would. Fix: Would that be possible?
Rewrite:
Original: She going to join? → Diagnose: subject 'She' has no finite verb. Fix: Is she going to join?
Rewrite:
Original: Could the report ready by Friday? → Diagnose: modal + adjective needs be. Fix: Could the report be ready by Friday?

Examples: many wrong/right pairs (general, work, school, casual)

Study these pairs and save a few templates you can reuse.

Wrong: Would it possible to reschedule?
Right: Would it be possible to reschedule?
Wrong: Is he aware about the changes?
Right: Is he aware of the changes?
Wrong: Could she the winner?
Right: Could she be the winner?
Wrong: Was they informed of the delay?
Right: Were they informed of the delay?
Wrong: Would that allowed?
Right: Would that be allowed?
Wrong: Is possible that delays will continue?
Right: Is it possible that delays will continue?
Work - Wrong: Would it possible to get the final budget by Friday?
Right: Would it be possible to get the final budget by Friday?
Work - Wrong: Is you available for a 3 pm check-in?
Right: Are you available for a 3 pm check-in?
Work - Wrong: Was the documents uploaded yesterday?
Right: Were the documents uploaded yesterday?
School - Wrong: Would it possible to extend the deadline?
Right: Would it be possible to extend the deadline?
School - Wrong: The hypothesis supported by data?
Right: Is the hypothesis supported by data?
School - Wrong: Were the sources included in the bibliography?
Right: Were the sources included in the bibliography?
Casual - Wrong: It ok if I bring a friend?
Right: Is it OK if I bring a friend?
Casual - Wrong: Could you around 5?
Right: Could you be around at 5?
Casual - Wrong: Was anyone coming later?
Right: Is anyone coming later? (or "Will anyone be coming later?" depending on timeframe)

Work, school, and casual templates you can copy

Work (polite request): Would it be possible to [action]? / Could you be available on [date/time]?
School (student to instructor): Would it be possible to extend the deadline for [assignment]? / Is the exam date confirmed?
Casual (friends): Is it OK if I bring [person]? / Can you be there around [time]?

Work - Example: Would it be possible to move tomorrow's meeting to 2 pm?
School - Example: Would it be possible to get feedback before Friday?
Casual - Example: Is it OK if I show up a bit late?

Try your own sentence

Test the whole sentence in context rather than a fragment. Context usually makes the needed verb clear.

Memory tricks and quick proofreading checks

Use these short checks while editing or before sending an email.

Rule: Modal needs Be. Spot a modal + adjective/noun? Insert be.
Check: Underline subject and verb. If the subject lacks a finite verb, add is/are/was/were/be.
Read aloud: A missing be creates a strange pause where you expect a verb.

Mnemonic: "M + B" - Modal needs Be. When you see a modal, ask "does this need B?"

Similar mistakes to watch for

Fixing a missing be often exposes nearby errors. Watch for these:

Wrong preposition after aware: say "aware of," not "aware about."
Subject-verb agreement: "Was they informed?" → "Were they informed?"
Dropped articles/determiners: "Was report filed?" → "Was the report filed?"
Bare infinitive vs. be after modal: choose "could go" for action, "could be" for state or identity.

Hyphenation, spacing, and punctuation: small formatting traps

Tidy formatting makes the missing verb easier to spot. Fix spacing and punctuation before hunting grammar mistakes.

Use a single space after sentences so clause breaks are visible.
Don't use hyphens or odd punctuation to mask missing words; they won't replace verbs.
Add commas to separate clauses when needed so each clause reveals whether it has a verb.

Wrong: Would itpossible to meet?
Right: Would it be possible to meet?
Wrong: Was report filed?
Right: Was the report filed?

Grammar quick-check: brief rules and what to look for

If a sentence has a modal + adjective/noun → insert be after the modal.
If a sentence describes a subject with an adjective → use is/are/was/were as the copula.
Match number and tense: singular → is/was; plural → are/were; modal → be.
While fixing verbs, also check for missing articles and wrong prepositions.

FAQ

Is it ever correct to say "Would it possible" in casual speech?

Speakers sometimes omit be in casual speech and rely on intonation and context, but the form is not correct in writing or formal speech. Use "Would it be possible" in emails and presentations.

Should I always add be after modals like would/could/might?

Add be when the modal is followed by an adjective or noun phrase that needs a linking verb. Do not add be before an action verb (could go, would arrive).

How can I quickly spot missing be in a long sentence?

Underline subjects, then check each subject for a finite verb. Read the sentence aloud; an odd pause often signals a missing verb.

Why do people write "Was they informed" - is that dialect?

That combines auxiliary omission and agreement error. Some dialects use nonstandard forms, but standard English requires "Were they informed?" for formal writing.

Will grammar checkers catch these errors?

Many checkers flag modal + adjective patterns and clear subject-verb mismatches, but they aren't perfect. Use the three-step rewrite method to catch tricky cases.

Want to check one sentence now?

Paste a sentence into an editor or grammar tool and look for missing auxiliaries and subject-verb mismatches. Use the "Modal needs Be" rule and the three-step method to correct it. If you paste a sentence here, we can show the missing element and a corrected version you can copy.