Presentación de gramática: To be 

(5 /11)

Introduction

To be is one of the most common and important verbs in English.

I am late.
Jane and Mike are at the movies.
We are going on a trip.

Form - The present simple tense

Affirmative Negative

I am (I'm) I am not (I'm not)

you are (you're) you are not (you're not or you aren't)

he/she/it is (he's/she's/it's) he/she/it is not (he's/she's/it's not or he/she/it isn't)

we are (we're) we are not (we're not or we aren't)

you are (you're) you are not (you're not or you aren't)

they are (they're) they are not (they're not or they aren't)

 I am late.
 Jane is tall.
 Peter and Richard are early for the train.
 Lauren and I are in the same team at work.
 I'm not angry.
 She's not hungry.
 They aren't from New Zealand.
Short answers

Yes, I am.

he/she/it is.
 we/you/they are.

I'm not.

No, he/she/it isn't.

we/you/they aren't.

 Are you from the United States?

Yes, I am.
 Are they teachers?
Yes, they are.
 Is John a doctor?
No, he isn't.
 Are Paul and Mary ready for their trip?
No, they aren't.

Use

Existence
 There is a man in the garden.
 There are four books on the shelf.
Sensation, a feeling or a state of mind
 I'm hot.
 She's thirsty.
 We're hungry.
 They're cold.
Talking about yourself and others
 I am Fred.
 You are 31 years old.
 Richard is a nice man.
 They are doctors.
 We are happy.
Auxiliary verb
 'Be' is used as the auxiliary verb when forming the present continuous and
the expression 'be going to':

 I am going on vacation next week.

 Are you listening to me?
 Bill is taking the next train.
 Fred and Harry aren't working today.
 We are going to be late.

Presentación de gramática: El presente continuo (5 /11)

Introduction

In English, the present continuous tense describes temporary situations and actions that are
happening now  (the moment of speaking).

The present continuous: I am reading.

Form

Present continuous - affirmative

Verb "to be" in the present tense + base form of the verb '-ing':

Singular Plural

I am reading we are reading

you are reading you are reading
 she/he/it is reading they are reading

 I am painting.
 He is playing the piano.
 They are reading.
For base forms that end with 'e', remove the 'e' before adding '-ing':

 write = I am writing

 take = she is taking
To make sentences less formal, we use contractions:

 I am reading = I'm reading
 you are reading = you're walking
 he/she/it is reading = he/she/it's working
 we are talking = we're talking
 they are watching = they're watching
Present continuous - negative

Verb "to be" in the present tense + not + base form of the verb '-ing':

Singular Plural

I am not reading we are not reading

you are not reading you are not reading

she/he/it is not reading they are not reading

 I am not eating.
 Jerry is not talking on the telephone.
 Laura and I are not taking the afternoon train.
To make negative sentences less formal, we use contractions:

 I am not reading = I'm not reading

 you are not walking = you aren't walking or you're not walking
 he/she/it is working = he/she/it isn't working or he/she/it's not working
 we are not talking = we aren't talking or we're not talking
 they are not watching = they aren't watching or they're not watching
 Use

Use to talk about an action happening at the moment of speaking:

 I'm playing tennis.
 Jessica and Mark aren't coming to the meeting.
 It is raining outside.

Use for an action happening in the present but not at the moment of
speaking:

 He's taking Spanish classes in the evening.

 I'm reading Moby Dick.

Introduction

Demonstratives show how close or far people, places, or objects are from the speaker.They
can be singular or plural.

This, these = close to speaker

This book is next to me.

That, those = far from the speaker

That book is too far away. I can't reach it.
 Formation

Demonstrative adjectives

this / these (close to the speaker)

 This - singular
This picture here is lovely.
 These - plural
These papers here on my desk are what I need.

that / those (far from the speaker)

 That- singular
That dog over there is very big.
 Those - plural
Those computers in the back of the room are broken.
Demonstrative pronouns

this one/ these ones(close to the speaker)

 This (one) - singular

This picture = This one is lovely. or This is lovely.
 These (ones) - plural
These papers = These ones here on my desk are what I need. or These here on my desk
are what I need.

that / those (far from the speaker)

 That (one) - singular

That TV = That one over there is very big. or That is very big.
 Those (ones) - plural 
Those computers = Those ones in the back of the room are broken. or Those in the back
of the room are broken.

Use

Demonstrative adjectives

Use 'this' or 'these' as adjectives to talk about a person or an object near to the

speaker:

 This computer is new.
 These shoes are dirty.
 Use 'that' or 'those' as adjectives to talk about a person or an object far from the
speaker:

 That restaurant across the street is expensive.

 Those birds in the sky are white.
Demonstrative pronouns

Use demonstrative pronouns to replace an object:

 This is heavy. (This box is heavy.)

 That is a good idea. (That idea is a good idea.)
 I like these. (I like these pictures.)
 Those are clean. (Those spoons are clean.)

Use demonstrative pronouns + one(s) to make a difference between one object and
other similar objects:

 I would like this one, not that one.

 I prefer these ones.
 I like those ones (oranges), not these ones (oranges).
 I will take that one (that apple, not the apples around it).

Use demonstrative pronouns in questions:

 What are these ones?

 What is that?
 Where is that one?
 Why are those ones black?
 Where are these?