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CourseGrammarWords
  1. Home
  2. ›Grammar
  3. ›A1
  4. ›The verb be (am/is/are)
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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:Key A2 · ReadingKey A2 · 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:

PersonFormContraction
IamI'm
he / she / itishe's / she's / it's
you / we / theyareyou'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.

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.

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Related grammar topics

Next topic: Present simple

Also in Verbs

  • Present simple
  • Present continuous
  • Can: ability and requests
  • Past simple: regular verbs
  • Past simple: irregular verbs
  • Have got
  • Like, love, hate + -ing
  • Present perfect: have doneA2
  • Future: will vs going toA2
  • Past continuousA2
  • The imperativeA2
  • Obligation: must, have to, mustn't, don't have toA2
  • Should and shouldn't: adviceA2
  • Could: past ability and polite requestsA2
  • State verbs: know, want, believeA2
  • Present perfect vs past simpleB1
  • The passive voiceB1
  • Present tenses for the futureB1
  • Past perfect: had doneB1
  • Present perfect continuous: have been doingB1
  • May, might, could: possibilityB1
  • Ought to, had better, be supposed toB1
  • Phrasal verbs: an introductionB1
  • Verb + object + infinitive: want her to comeB1
  • wish and if onlyB2
  • Advanced passive: get-passive and have something doneB2
  • Modals of deduction: must have, can't have, might haveB2
  • Gerund vs infinitiveB2
  • used to and would for past habitsB2
  • Future perfect and future continuousB2
  • Narrative tenses: the storytelling kitB2
  • The subjunctive: I suggest he beC1
  • Phrasal verb grammar: separability and particlesC1
  • Advanced conditionals: but for, should you, were toC1
  • Passive reporting: he is said to...C1

Grammar A1·Grammar Reference