Understanding the Verb 'to be'

Understanding the Verb 'to be'

Use be to say who or what someone is, where they are and how they feel. Be has special forms: I am, you are, she is.

Structure

Use these forms now: am, is, are.

• Positive: I am (I'm), you are (you're), he/she/it is (he's/she's/it's), we are (we're), they are (they're). Example: She's a teacher.
• Negative: I am not (I'm not), you are not (aren't), he/she/it is not (isn't), we are not (aren't), they are not (aren't). Example: He isn't at home.
• Question: Am I? Are you? Is he/she/it? Are we? Are they? Example: Is she a teacher?
• Short answers: Yes, I am. / No, I'm not. Yes, she is. / No, she isn't. Example: Are you ready? Yes, I am. Do not shorten a 'yes' answer. Say Yes, I am, not Yes, I'm.

How the Grammar Works

1. Put am, is or are after the subject: She is tall.
2. For a negative, add 'not' after be: She is not tall.
3. For a question, put am, is or are before the subject: She is tall. becomes Is she tall? and You are ready. becomes Are you ready?
4. For a short answer, use the same form of be: Is she tall? Yes, she is. / No, she isn't.

Common Use Cases

• Who or what a person or thing is: She is a teacher.
• Where something is: The book is on the table.
• How you feel: I am happy.
• Age: I am ten years old. Do not say I have ten years.
• Where you are from: He is from Spain.
• Weather and time: It is sunny. It is 5 o'clock.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

• Wrong: I is happy. Right: I am happy. Use 'am' with 'I', 'is' with he/she/it, and 'are' with you/we/they.
• Wrong: She happy. Right: She is happy. Do not leave out 'be'.
• Wrong: You ready? Right: Are you ready? A question starts with am, is or are.
• Wrong: I have ten years. Right: I am ten years old. Use 'be' for age.
• Wrong: Yes, I'm. Right: Yes, I am. Do not shorten a 'yes' answer.

Comparison with Related Grammar

Other verbs use the helper verb do or does in questions and negatives: Does she play tennis? Be does not use 'do' or 'does': Is she a teacher? Do not say Does she be a teacher?

Example Sentences

• She is my friend.
• They are not at home.
• Are you ready?
• It is a sunny day.
• We are students.
• I am ten years old.
• Is he from Spain? No, he isn't.

When to Use This Rule

Use am, is or are to say who or what someone is, where they are and how they feel. Use it for age, origin, weather and time too.