When there is a resistor connected to the emitter then you can estimate the base current using the following method:
suppose that you provide 5v to the base of the transistor, the Vbe voltage drop will be about 0.7v so this leaves 4.3v over the emitter resistor or base+emitter resistor if you are using both resistors.
for example if you use an emitter resistor 100 ohm then the base current will be 4.3v/100 ohm = 43mA
if you have a base resistor 100 ohm and an emitter resistor 100 ohm then the base current will be 4.3v / (100+100) = 21.5mA
All this is valid with no output load in the collector but note that Ie= Ib+Ic so as you start sinking current from the collector (your load) you will see the base current reducing because the emitter resistor will have to provide the output current too so the calculated current will be shared in the load and base.
Alex