The Present of Be:

Statements, Negative
s and Yes/No Questio
ns

Conversation
Tom: Are you a new student here?
Lea: Yes, I am. My name is Lea.
Tom: My names Tom Smith.
Lea: Oh, I think I know your mother. Shes Marta
Smith, right?
Tom: Uh, Marta Smith isnt my mother. Shes my
sister.
Lea: Oh.

Form
Subject

Be

am

you
we
they

are

he
she
it

is

Use of the Verb Be 1

We use the verb be before. . . NOUNS.

I am a firefighter.

He is a photographer.

They are aliens.

???

Use of the Verb Be 2

We use the verb be before. . . ADJECTIVES.

I am busy.
He is afraid.

It is hungry.

Use of the Verb Be 3

We use the verb be before. . . PREPOSITIONAL
PHRASES.

She is in the shower.

She is from Japan.

He is under the bed.

Contractions
In a contraction, an apostrophe ()
replaces a letter.

Im
I m
am
a student.
a student.
Sams
isfrom
Sam
s
fromChina.
China.
They
Theyre
excited.
re
areexcited.

Talk with a partner about

these pictures. Use the verb
be and contractions.

Practice 1
in the air

upset

Example:

painters

shocked

1.

Hes shocked.

Shes upset.
3.

2.

Theyre painters.

Its in the air.

Negatives
Not
Subject + Be
+ Not

Contraction

Im not

arent
not

youre not

you arent

isnt
not

hes not
shes not
its not

he isnt
she isnt
it isnt

arent
not

were not
theyre not

we arent
they arent

Practice 2

Make negative
contractions for these s
entences.

Example:
He is happy.

1.

2.

Hes not happy.

He isnt happy.

Answer 1

Answer 2

They are
teachers.

Theyre not
teachers.

They arent
teachers.

I am from the
U.S.

Im not from
the U.S.

We are single.

Were not
single.

3.

We arent
single.

Questions
The verb be comes before the subject
in questions.

She
Is she
is at school?
.

They
Are they
are young?.

Practice 3

Change the statements

into questions.

Example: She is a teacher.

Is she a teacher?
1. Sam and Lisa are in class.
Are Sam and Lisa in class?
2. He is late.
Is he late?
3. I am busy.
Am I busy?

Be Careful!
Dont use contractions in affirmative
short answers.
Are
Are you
you
new
new here?
here?

Yes,
Yes,
Yes,
Im.
Yes,
Im.
I am.

Practice 4
Example: Is it broken?

Yes, it is.
2. Are they in love?

No, they arent.

Talk with a partner about

these pictures. Use the verb
be and contractions.
1. Am I at the right house?

No, you arent.

3. Is he late?

Yes, he is.

Chose the correct form of the verb to be - am/is/

is
1. It___________cold
today.
am
2. I ___________
are at home now.
3. They ___________ Korean.
is
4. There ___________ a pen on the desk.
is
5. My name ___________ Nikita.
are
6. We ___________ from Ukraine.
is
7. That ___________ right.
am
8. I ___________ OK, thanks.
are
9. Clara and Steve ___________ married.
is
are.

10. She ___________ an English teacher.

11. You ___________

the new student?
are
12. Yes, I am
___________ .

13. Leila and Nancyare

___________ students.
14. Nancy ___________
Australian .
is

15. My sister and Iare

___________ students.
16. The girls are
___________ tired.

17. These womenare

___________ beautiful.
18. The tea ___________
delicious.
is

19. Nadia and Leilaare

___________ friends.
20. The newspaper is
___________ cheap.

21. The music ___________

excellent.
is
22. We ___________
tired.
are

23. I ___________
sixteen years old.
am

24. Suzy ___________

twelve years old.
is
25. You ___________
crazy.
are

26. Bobby ___________

good at Math.
is
27. The floor ___________
clean.
is

28. The trees ___________

beautiful.
are
29. The test ___________
easy.
is

30. It ___________
cold outside today.
is

31. The children ___________

at the skate park.
are
32. Mr. Jones ___________
very old.
is
33. They ___________
great artists.
are
34. She ___________
tall and slim.
is

35. ___________
you a good skater?
Are
36. ___________
it warm outside?
Is
37. How old ___________
you?
are
38. How old ___________
he?
is

39. Where ___________

your house?
is
40. When ___________
his birthday?
is

41. ___________
they at school right now?
Are
42. ___________
your mother a nurse?
Is
43. I ___________
a teacher.
am

44. How tall ___________

she?
is

45. Who ___________

your best friend?
is

46. How far ___________

your house from here?
is
47. His name ___________
Louise.
is
48. Why ___________
you afraid?
are

49. ___________
this girl your sister?
Is
50. ___________
you OK?
Are