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.
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises
Practice Exercisesbe 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