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The Verb Be

1. Learning Objectives

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

  • Understand the basic use of the verb be.
  • Use am, is, and are correctly.
  • Make positive sentences with the verb be.
  • Make negative sentences with the verb be.
  • Ask simple questions using the verb be.
  • Give short answers to questions with be.
  • Avoid common mistakes with am, is, and are.
Lesson Goal: Learn how to use am, is, and are to make clear and correct everyday English sentences.

2. Introduction

The verb be is one of the most common and important verbs in English. We use it to talk about people, things, places, feelings, jobs, identities, and situations.

The verb be has different forms depending on the subject.

In the present tense, the three forms are:

  • am
  • is
  • are

Examples

  • I am a student.
  • She is my friend.
  • He is a teacher.
  • It is cold today.
  • We are ready.
  • They are at home.

Learning how to use am, is, and are correctly is an important foundation for building English sentences.

Remember: The form of be changes according to the subject. Choosing the correct form is essential for making a correct sentence.

3. What Is the Verb Be?

The verb be is used to connect the subject of a sentence with information about that subject.

We commonly use be to talk about:

  • Who someone is
  • What someone or something is
  • Where someone or something is
  • How someone feels
  • Someone's job or role
  • A condition or situation

Examples

Use Example
Identity I am Sanjay.
Description She is kind.
Location We are at home.
Feeling He is tired.
Job or role They are teachers.
Situation It is difficult.

Present Forms of Be

In the present tense, be changes to am, is, or are.

Subject Form
I am
You are
He / She / It is
We / They are
Key Pattern: I → am, he/she/it → is, and you/we/they → are.

4. Am

We use am with the subject pronoun I.

Am is the present form of the verb be used only with I.

Examples

  • I am a student.
  • I am from India.
  • I am happy.
  • I am tired.
  • I am ready.

Am with Jobs and Roles

  • I am a teacher.
  • I am a student.
  • I am an engineer.
  • I am a designer.

Am with Feelings and Conditions

  • I am happy.
  • I am hungry.
  • I am busy.
  • I am ready.

Am with Location and Origin

  • I am at home.
  • I am in Delhi.
  • I am from India.
Remember: Use am only with I. For example, I am happy. Do not say I is or I are.

5. Is

We use is with the subject pronouns he, she, and it.

Is is the present form of the verb be used with singular third-person subjects.

He + Is

  • He is my brother.
  • He is a teacher.
  • He is happy.
  • He is from India.

She + Is

  • She is my sister.
  • She is a student.
  • She is tired.
  • She is from Delhi.

It + Is

  • It is a book.
  • It is my phone.
  • It is cold today.
  • It is easy.

Using Is with Names and Nouns

We also use is with singular names and singular nouns.

  • Sanjay is a student.
  • Priya is a teacher.
  • The book is new.
  • My phone is on the table.
Remember: Use is with he, she, it and singular names or nouns. For example, She is happy. and The book is new.

6. Are

We use are with the subject pronouns you, we, and they.

We also use are with plural nouns and plural groups.

You + Are

  • You are my friend.
  • You are ready.
  • You are from India.
  • You are very kind.

We + Are

  • We are friends.
  • We are students.
  • We are ready.
  • We are at home.

They + Are

  • They are my friends.
  • They are teachers.
  • They are busy.
  • They are from India.

Plural Nouns + Are

We use are with plural nouns and groups.

  • The students are in the classroom.
  • My friends are at home.
  • The books are on the table.
  • These shoes are new.
Remember: Use are with you, we, they and plural nouns. For example, We are ready. and The books are new.

7. Positive Sentences

Positive sentences give information about a person, thing, place, feeling, or situation without saying “not.”

With the verb be, the basic structure is:

Subject + am/is/are + Information

Examples with I

  • I am a student.
  • I am from India.
  • I am happy.

Examples with He, She, and It

  • He is a teacher.
  • She is my friend.
  • It is cold today.

Examples with You, We, and They

  • You are ready.
  • We are students.
  • They are at home.

Positive Sentences with Places

  • I am in Delhi.
  • She is at school.
  • We are at home.
  • They are in the office.

Positive Sentences with Descriptions

  • He is tall.
  • She is friendly.
  • The book is interesting.
  • The children are happy.
Remember: In a positive sentence, choose the correct form of be: I am, he/she/it is, and you/we/they are.

8. Negative Sentences

We use negative sentences when we want to say that something is not true or does not apply.

With the verb be, we usually make a negative sentence by adding not after am, is, or are.

Basic Structure: Subject + am/is/are + not + Information

Examples with I

  • I am not tired.
  • I am not a teacher.
  • I am not at home.

Examples with He, She, and It

  • He is not a student.
  • She is not tired.
  • It is not difficult.

Examples with You, We, and They

  • You are not late.
  • We are not busy.
  • They are not at school.

Common Contractions

In everyday English, we often use contractions with negative forms of be.

Full Form Contraction Example
I am not I'm not I'm not tired.
is not isn't She isn't tired.
are not aren't They aren't busy.

Full Forms and Contractions

  • He is not a teacher. → He isn't a teacher.
  • We are not ready. → We aren't ready.
  • It is not difficult. → It isn't difficult.
Remember: Put not after am, is, or are to make a negative sentence.

9. Questions

We can use the verb be to ask simple questions about people, things, places, feelings, and situations.

To make a question with am, is, or are, we usually put the form of be before the subject.

Basic Structure: Am/Is/Are + Subject + Information?

Questions with Am

  • Am I late?
  • Am I ready?
  • Am I in the right place?

Questions with Is

  • Is he a teacher?
  • Is she your sister?
  • Is it cold today?

Questions with Are

  • Are you ready?
  • Are we late?
  • Are they at home?

Questions About People and Places

  • Are you from India?
  • Is he from Delhi?
  • Is she at work?
  • Are they at school?

Questions About Feelings and Conditions

  • Are you tired?
  • Is he happy?
  • Is she busy?
  • Are they ready?

Compare Statements and Questions

Statement Question
You are ready. Are you ready?
She is a teacher. Is she a teacher?
They are at home. Are they at home?
Remember: In a basic be question, put am, is, or are before the subject.

10. Short Answers

When someone asks a question with the verb be, we often use a short answer in everyday English.

Short answers usually begin with Yes or No, followed by the subject and the correct form of be.

Basic Patterns:
Yes, + Subject + am/is/are.
No, + Subject + am/is/are + not.

Questions with Are

  • Are you ready? → Yes, I am.
  • Are you tired? → No, I'm not.
  • Are they students? → Yes, they are.
  • Are we late? → No, we aren't.

Questions with Is

  • Is he a teacher? → Yes, he is.
  • Is she your friend? → No, she isn't.
  • Is it cold today? → Yes, it is.
  • Is the book new? → No, it isn't.

Questions with Am

  • Am I late? → No, you aren't.
  • Am I ready? → Yes, you are.

Full Forms and Contractions

Both full forms and contractions are possible. Contractions are very common in everyday conversation.

Full Form Common Contraction
I am not. I'm not.
He is not. He isn't.
She is not. She isn't.
We are not. We aren't.
They are not. They aren't.

Important Point

In a short answer, we normally do not repeat the main information from the question.

  • Are you a student? → Yes, I am.
  • Is she tired? → No, she isn't.
  • Are they at home? → Yes, they are.
Remember: Match the subject and the form of be in your answer. For example, Are they ready? → Yes, they are.

11. Common Mistakes

Using am, is, and are correctly is important. Here are some common mistakes beginners should avoid.

1. Using Is with I

  • Incorrect: I is happy.
  • Correct: I am happy.

2. Using Are with He, She, or It

  • Incorrect: He are tired.
  • Correct: He is tired.
  • Incorrect: She are a teacher.
  • Correct: She is a teacher.

3. Using Is with You, We, or They

  • Incorrect: You is ready.
  • Correct: You are ready.
  • Incorrect: They is busy.
  • Correct: They are busy.

4. Forgetting Be

When a sentence needs the verb be, do not leave it out.

  • Incorrect: She a teacher.
  • Correct: She is a teacher.
  • Incorrect: They happy.
  • Correct: They are happy.

5. Using the Wrong Word Order in Questions

With the verb be, put am, is, or are before the subject when forming a basic question.

  • Incorrect: You are ready?
  • Correct: Are you ready?
  • Incorrect: She is a teacher?
  • Correct: Is she a teacher?

6. Confusing Full Forms and Contractions

Remember that contractions are shorter forms of two words.

  • I am → I'm
  • He is → He's
  • She is → She's
  • It is → It's
  • We are → We're
  • They are → They're
Remember: Check three things: the subject, the correct form of be, and the word order of the sentence or question.

12. Practice Exercises

Now practice using am, is, and are correctly. Try to complete the exercises before checking the answers.

Exercise 1 — Choose Am, Is, or Are

Choose the correct form of the verb be.

  1. I ___ a student. (am / is / are)
  2. She ___ my friend. (am / is / are)
  3. They ___ at home. (am / is / are)
  4. You ___ ready. (am / is / are)
  5. He ___ from India. (am / is / are)
  6. We ___ happy. (am / is / are)
  7. It ___ cold today. (am / is / are)

Exercise 2 — Complete the Sentences

Complete each sentence with am, is, or are.

  1. I ___ tired.
  2. My brother ___ a teacher.
  3. We ___ students.
  4. She ___ at school.
  5. You ___ very kind.
  6. The books ___ new.
  7. They ___ busy.

Exercise 3 — Make Negative Sentences

Rewrite each sentence as a negative sentence.

  1. I am tired.
  2. She is a teacher.
  3. They are busy.
  4. He is at home.
  5. We are late.

Exercise 4 — Make Questions

Put the words in the correct order to make questions.

  1. you / are / ready
  2. she / is / a student
  3. they / are / at home
  4. he / is / tired
  5. we / are / late

Exercise 5 — Give Short Answers

Write a suitable short answer.

  1. Are you a student? → Yes, __________.
  2. Is she your friend? → No, __________.
  3. Are they ready? → Yes, __________.
  4. Is he a teacher? → No, __________.
  5. Are we late? → No, __________.

Exercise 6 — Correct the Mistakes

Rewrite each sentence correctly.

  1. I is happy.
  2. She are tired.
  3. They is at home.
  4. You is my friend.
  5. He are a student.
  6. We is ready.
Practice Tip: Read your answers aloud. This will help you become more comfortable using am, is, and are in everyday English.

13. Answers

Check your answers after completing the exercises.

Exercise 1 — Choose Am, Is, or Are

Show Answers
  1. I am a student.
  2. She is my friend.
  3. They are at home.
  4. You are ready.
  5. He is from India.
  6. We are happy.
  7. It is cold today.

Exercise 2 — Complete the Sentences

Show Answers
  1. I am tired.
  2. My brother is a teacher.
  3. We are students.
  4. She is at school.
  5. You are very kind.
  6. The books are new.
  7. They are busy.

Exercise 3 — Make Negative Sentences

Show Answers
  1. I am not tired.
  2. She is not a teacher.
  3. They are not busy.
  4. He is not at home.
  5. We are not late.

Exercise 4 — Make Questions

Show Answers
  1. Are you ready?
  2. Is she a student?
  3. Are they at home?
  4. Is he tired?
  5. Are we late?

Exercise 5 — Give Short Answers

Show Answers
  1. Are you a student? → Yes, I am.
  2. Is she your friend? → No, she isn't.
  3. Are they ready? → Yes, they are.
  4. Is he a teacher? → No, he isn't.
  5. Are we late? → No, we aren't.

Exercise 6 — Correct the Mistakes

Show Answers
  1. I am happy.
  2. She is tired.
  3. They are at home.
  4. You are my friend.
  5. He is a student.
  6. We are ready.
Check Your Work: Make sure you can choose the correct form of be and use it correctly in statements, negative sentences, questions, and short answers.

14. Quick Review

Let's review the most important points from this lesson.

Am, Is, and Are

Subject Be Form Example
I am I am ready.
He / She / It is She is happy.
You / We / They are They are busy.

Positive Sentences

Subject + am/is/are + Information
  • I am a student.
  • He is a teacher.
  • We are ready.

Negative Sentences

Subject + am/is/are + not + Information
  • I am not tired.
  • She is not busy.
  • They are not at home.

Questions

Am/Is/Are + Subject + Information?
  • Am I late?
  • Is he ready?
  • Are they at home?

Short Answers

  • Are you ready? → Yes, I am.
  • Is she tired? → No, she isn't.
  • Are they busy? → Yes, they are.
Key Rule: I → am, he/she/it → is, and you/we/they → are.

15. What You Should Remember

The verb be is one of the most important verbs in English. In the present tense, it has three forms: am, is, and are.

The Three Forms

  • I → am
  • He / She / It → is
  • You / We / They → are

Use Be to Talk About

  • Identity — I am Sanjay.
  • Jobs and roles — She is a teacher.
  • Descriptions — He is friendly.
  • Feelings — We are happy.
  • Locations — They are at home.
  • Conditions and situations — It is difficult.

Three Important Sentence Patterns

  • Positive: Subject + am/is/are + information.
  • Negative: Subject + am/is/are + not + information.
  • Question: Am/Is/Are + subject + information?

Short Answers

For basic be questions, use Yes or No with the appropriate subject and form of be.

  • Are you ready? → Yes, I am.
  • Is he tired? → No, he isn't.
  • Are they students? → Yes, they are.
Final Reminder: Always check the subject before choosing am, is, or are. This simple habit will help you build correct English sentences.

16. Next Lesson — Basic Sentence Structure

In the next lesson, you will learn how to build simple and correct English sentences using a basic sentence structure.

You will learn:

  • How subjects and verbs work together
  • Basic word order in English sentences
  • Subject + Verb structures
  • Subject + Verb + Object structures
  • How to make clear everyday sentences
  • Common sentence structure mistakes
  • Practice exercises to build your own sentences
Next Lesson: Basic Sentence Structure

Continue learning step by step and practice each new structure with your own examples.

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