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to be - Present Simple

to be - Present Simple

Beginner

By learning "to be", you open the door to creating simple, clear, and useful sentences. It’s the first step to speaking English!

Table of Contents

1.Forms

1.1Forms of the Verb

The verb to be is one of the first things you should learn in English because it helps you create basic sentences.

singular plural
1st person I am We are
2nd person You are You are
3d person He/She/It is They are

Practice Examples

Use the correct form of the verb 'to be' in present simple.

I (be) _____

Use the correct form of the verb 'to be' in present simple.

You (be) _____

Use the correct form of the verb 'to be' in present simple.

He (be) _____

1.2How to Form a Sentence

To form a sentence with the verb to be, do this:
QW = question word (where, why, what, when, how etc.)

Structure Examples
+ Subject +am/is/are +... I am always at home on Sunday.
- Subject +am/is/are+not +... He is not/isn’t at work now.
? (QW)+am/is/are+Subject+...? Where are you? Are you at the railway station?

Practice Examples

Use the correct form of the verb 'to be'.

I (be) _____ a student.

Use the correct form of the verb 'to be'.

She (be) _____ happy.

Use the correct form of the verb 'to be'.

They (be) _____ at home.

2.Use

2.1Basic Information about a Person

You give the main information about your person with the verb to be.

Example
I am Stacy.
I am a student.
I am 20 years old.
He is Paul.
He is a teacher.
We are friends.
They are students.
You are 35 years old.

Practice Examples

Use the correct form of the verb.

I (be) _____ Lilly.

Use the correct form of the verb.

I (be) _____ 20 years old.

Use the correct form of the verb (negative).

I (not/be) _____ 25 years old.

2.2Information about Things or People

You give more information about people, things, or places with the verb to be.

Example
He is tall and strong.
They are polite.
The sky is blue today.
My dog is small.
The book is interesting.
She is kind.
My table is red.
They are clever.
The phrase to be (am/is/are)+ adjective is very common in English. People use it every day.

Practice Examples

Use the correct form of the verb.

He (be) _____ tall and strong.

Use the correct form of the verb.

They (be) _____ polite.

Use the correct form of the verb.

The sky (be) _____ blue today.

2.3Location

We use to be to say where someone or something is.

Example
I am at home.
She is in the park.
The books are on the table.
They are at school.
We are in the kitchen.

Practice Examples

Use the correct form of the verb.

I (be) _____ at home.

Use the correct form of the verb.

She (be) _____ in the park.

Use the correct form of the verb.

The books (be) _____ on the table.

2.4Feelings

You tell others how you feel or ask them about their feelings. You use the verb to be to describe emotions or moods in a simple way.

Example
I am happy.
She is tired.
We are excited.
He is sad.
They are nervous.
They are angry.
He is stressed out.

Practice Examples

Use the correct form of the verb.

I (be) _____ happy.

Use the correct form of the verb.

She (be) _____ tired.

Use the correct form of the verb.

We (be) _____ excited.

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