The Verb “To Be” (am, is, are)

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A1 (Beginner)Grammar

The Verb “To Be” (am, is, are)

The most important verb in English. Learn am, is and are — positives, negatives, questions and short answers — with clear tables and 20 practice questions.

Welcome to your first grammar lesson at EduCareer! The verb to be is the most important verb in English. We use it all the time — to say who we are, where we are, how we feel, and what things are like. Get this right first, and the rest of English becomes much easier.

Meet your study friendsThroughout these lessons you will get to know three EduCareer learners: Aisha, a school student in Kuala Lumpur; Omar, a busy office worker; and Yusuf, Aisha’s little brother. Their tutor is Ms Layla. You will see them in the examples — just like a real classroom.

The three forms: am, is, are

In the present, to be changes depending on the subject. There are only three forms to learn.

Subject Form of be Example
I am I am a student at EduCareer.
he / she / it is Ms Layla is our tutor.
you / we / they are Aisha and Yusuf are from Kuala Lumpur.
Quick ruleUse am with I, is with one person or thing (he, she, it), and are with more than one (you, we, they). Remember: you always takes are, even for one person.
Tutor tip for Arabic speakersIn Arabic, you can often say “I a teacher” or “she happy” with no verb at all — the sentence is complete without one. English is different: it always needs a form of to be. So we never say I a teacher; we say I am a teacher. This is one of the most common things to watch for when you move from Arabic to English.

Short forms (contractions)

When we speak and write naturally, we usually join the subject and the verb together.

Full form Short form Example
I am I’m I’m ready for class.
you are you’re You’re a good student.
he/she/it is he’s / she’s / it’s She’s my tutor.
we/they are we’re / they’re We’re in the same class.

Making negatives

To make a negative, add not after the verb. There are two correct ways to write the short form.

Full form Short form 1 Short form 2
I am not I’m not —
you are not you’re not you aren’t
he is not he’s not he isn’t
they are not they’re not they aren’t
  • Omar isn’t at the office today.
  • I’m not tired this morning.
  • Aisha and Yusuf aren’t at school on Sunday.

Asking questions

To make a question, put the verb before the subject. The word order simply swaps around.

Statement Question
You are a student. Are you a student?
Ms Layla is your tutor. Is Ms Layla your tutor?
They are from Kuala Lumpur. Are they from Kuala Lumpur?

Short answers

We usually reply with a short answer, not just “yes” or “no”.

  • Are you a student? — Yes, I am. / No, I’m not.
  • Is Omar at work? — Yes, he is. / No, he isn’t.
  • Are they ready? — Yes, they are. / No, they aren’t.
TipIn positive short answers, do not use a contraction. Say “Yes, I am” — never “Yes, I’m.”

What we use “to be” for

Use Example
Name I am Aisha.
Origin / nationality We are from Malaysia.
Age Yusuf is nine years old.
Jobs Omar is an accountant.
Feelings I am excited about my lesson.
Descriptions English is useful and fun.
Common mistakes to avoid

  • I student at EduCareer. → I am a student at EduCareer.
  • Ms Layla are our tutor. → Ms Layla is our tutor.
  • You is very kind. → You are very kind.
  • Is you ready? → Are you ready?

Now you understand how to be works in the present. Try the 20 practice questions below — you’ll get instant feedback on each one. Good luck!

Check your understanding

Answer the questions below. You will see instantly if you are right.

1.I ___ a student.
Use "am" with I.
2.She ___ from Egypt.
Use "is" with she.
3.They ___ my friends.
Use "are" with they.
4.You ___ very kind.
"You" always takes "are".
5.We ___ ready for the lesson.
Use "are" with we.
6.He ___ a doctor.
Use "is" with he.
7.It ___ a beautiful day.
Use "is" with it.
8.What is the short form of "she is"?
"She is" becomes "she's".
9.What is the short form of "they are"?
"They are" becomes "they're".
10.Choose the correct negative: "He ___ at home."
"He is not" = "he isn't".
11.Choose the correct negative: "I ___ tired."
With I, the negative is "am not" (I'm not). There is no "amn't".
12.Make a question: "You are a teacher."
Put the verb first: "Are you...?"
13.Make a question: "She is ready."
Put "is" before "she".
14.Answer: "Are you a student?" (positive short answer)
In positive short answers, don't contract: "Yes, I am."
15.Answer: "Is he Egyptian?" (negative short answer)
"No, he isn't."
16.Which sentence is correct?
You need the verb "am" and the article "a": I am a student.
17.Which sentence is correct?
Use "is" with she.
18.Complete: "___ they from Malaysia?"
Use "Are" with they in questions.
19.Complete: "My parents ___ doctors."
"My parents" = they (plural), so use "are".
20.Complete: "This book ___ very interesting."
"This book" is one thing (it), so use "is".

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