The verb be (am/is/are)

A1 — Verbs

Forms of be in the present, contractions (I'm, isn't) and the three sentence types

I can introduce myself and others and ask simple questions with am/is/are.

Forms of be in the present, contractions (I'm, isn't) and the three sentence types

Examples

I'm from Prague and she's from Kyiv. — I'm from Prague and she's from Kyiv.
Are you hungry? — No, I'm not, but the kids are. — Are you hungry? — No, I'm not, but the kids are.

VerbsA1

The verb be (am/is/are)

Forms of be in the present, contractions (I'm, isn't) and the three sentence types

Learning Goal

I can introduce myself and others and ask simple questions with am/is/are.

Exam Skills:A2 Key ReadingA2 Key Speaking

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

I'm from Prague and she's from Kyiv.

I'm from Prague and she's from Kyiv.

Are you hungry? — No, I'm not, but the kids are.

Are you hungry? — No, I'm not, but the kids are.

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

Be is the only English verb with three present forms:

Person	Form	Contraction
I	am	I'm
he / she / it	is	he's / she's / it's
you / we / they	are	you're / we're / they're

Negative: I'm not, he isn't, they aren't. Question: swap the order — Are you tired? Is she at home? No do is needed with be.

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Dropping be (Slavic L1): *I student → I am a student
do with be: *Do you are tired? → Are you tired?
*He be happy → He is happy

Common Error Patterns

be dropped in equational sentences

Always insert am/is/are: I am a student

do used to question be

Invert instead: Are you...? Is she...?

I'm from Prague and she's from Kyiv.

Contractions I'm and she's in introductions.

Are you hungry? — No, I'm not, but the kids are.

Question by inversion + short answers with be.

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises

A1 Course

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Put it into practice

Try a free exercise from the course

Frequently asked questions

When is The verb be (am/is/are) used?: Negative: I'm not, he isn't, they aren't . Question: swap the order — Are you tired? Is she at home? No do is needed with be.
What are common mistakes with The verb be (am/is/are)?: Dropping be (Slavic L1): *I student → I am a student do with be: *Do you are tired? → Are you tired? *He be happy → He is happy

Person

Form

Contraction

I'm

he / she / it

he's / she's / it's

you / we / they

are

you're / we're / they're

Frequently asked questions

When is The verb be (am/is/are) used?

Negative: I'm not, he isn't, they aren't . Question: swap the order — Are you tired? Is she at home? No do is needed with be.

What are common mistakes with The verb be (am/is/are)?

Dropping be (Slavic L1): *I student → I am a student do with be: *Do you are tired? → Are you tired? *He be happy → He is happy