The verb be (am/is/are)
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.
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.
- 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.
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.
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