Free English Grammar Course

MODULE 01 · LESSON 2 OF 11

The verb be: am, is and are

Your goal: Use am, is and are to say who, what, where and how someone or something is.

Level: FoundationAbout 10 to 15 minutes6 questions

Grammar words in this lesson

short form: two words written as one with an apostrophe, such as I’m (I am) or isn’t (is not). Also called a contraction.

Three forms for the present

The verb be has three present forms. The form depends on the subject.

Subject	Form	Short form	Example
I	am	I’m	I am a student.
he, she, it, one person or thing	is	he’s, she’s, it’s	Maya is at work.
you, we, they, two or more people or things	are	you’re, we’re, they’re	The keys are on the table.

Short forms are normal in speech and in friendly writing. Use the full forms in formal writing.

What be does

Be joins the subject to information about it:

who or what: Omar is a doctor.
a description: The room is quiet.
a place: We are in the kitchen.
age: I am 28. English uses be for age, not have.
a feeling or state: They are hungry.

An English sentence needs a verb. In some languages you can say “She teacher.” In English you must say She is a teacher.

Negatives and questions

For a negative, put not after be: I am not tired. The shop is not open. The short forms are isn’t and aren’t. With I, say I’m not.

For a question, put be before the subject: Is the shop open? Are you ready? Do not add do or does.

A short answer uses the form of be that matches its subject: Yes, it is. No, they aren’t. In a positive short answer, use the full form: Yes, I am, not Yes, I’m.

Common mistakes

Not this	Say this
She a teacher.	She is a teacher.
I have 28 years.	I am 28.
Do you are ready?	Are you ready?
The children is at school.	The children are at school.

Practice: answer first, then check

Say or write your answer before you open it. Your answers are not sent or saved.

Choose: My parents (is / are) at home.
Show the answer and the reason
Answer: are
Why: My parents means two people, so the verb is are. Use is for one person or thing.
Choose the correct short answer: Are you a student? (Yes, I’m. / Yes, I am.)
Show the answer and the reason
Answer: Yes, I am.
Why: A positive short answer ends with the full form. A short form such as I’m needs a word after it.
Complete with am, is or are: I ___ from Brazil, and my friend ___ from Peru.
Show the answer and the reason
Answer: am; is
Why: I always takes am. My friend is one person, so use is.
Make a question: The museum is open today.
Show the answer and the reason
Answer: Is the museum open today?
Why: To make a question with be, move it before the subject. Be does not need do or does for a question.
Make negative: We are late.
Show the answer and the reason
Answer: We are not late.or We aren’t late.or We’re not late.
Why: Not goes after be. All three versions are correct. The short forms are more common in speech.
Correct the mistake: My parents have 60 years.
Show the answer and the reason
Answer: My parents are 60.or My parents are 60 years old.
Why: English gives age with be, not have. You can add years old, but not years alone.

Make it yours

Write five sentences about yourself and one person you know: name, job, age, where you are now and how you feel. Then turn two of them into questions.

More practice

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