Life

Beginner Unit 2a
to be (negative): a/an + occupation

So, Carmen, you’re Mexican. You’re married.

Now, you’re thirty-five.
No, I’m not. I’m not Mexican. I’m from Argentina. No, I’m not. No. I’m not. I’m single.
I’m not thirty-five. And you’re a nurse.
I’m thirty.

Sorry. Sorry.
No, I’m not. I’m not a nurse.
I’m a doctor.

Sorry.

She isn’t Mexican. She isn’t thirty- She isn’t married. She’s single.
She’s from five. She’s thirty. She isn’t a nurse. She’s a
Argentina. doctor.

Presentation

Negative
TIP These negative forms are also possible:
I am not I’m not
he’s not, we’re not …
he she He isn’t
Mexican. from Mexico. thirty-five. Mexican.
you we theyis not
married. She isn’t from
Mexico.
thirty-five.
are not You
married.
aren’t
We
a/an + occupation
I’m
Use a/an (indefinite article) with a person’s occupation. Yo a
• Use a before words that start with a consonant sound: u’re doctor
a doctor, a teacher … He’ . an
s artist.
• Use an before words that start with a vowel sound:
Sh
an artist, an engineer … e’s
• Don’t use a/an with plurals. We’
docto
Say doctors (don’t say a doctors).
TIP Most plurals are formed by adding -s to the singular: doctors, teachers, artists, engineers …

See page 233: Spelling rules

Key vocabulary Occupations: artist, doctor, engineer, musician, nurse, student, teacher

Practical Grammar 1 1 © National Geographic Learning

 Beginner Unit 2a
Exercises

1 Complete the sentences with a, an or Ø (no article).

1 She’s a doctor. 7 She isn’t an artist.
2 He’s an artist. 8 I’m not a student.
3 They’re an engineers. 9 You aren’t a teacher.
4 I’m a teacher. 10 He isn’t an engineer.
5 We’re a doctors. 11 They aren’t a nurses.
6 You’re a musician. 12 You aren’t an artist.

2 Write negative sentences.

1 She’s a doctor, not a nurse. She isn’t a nurse.
2 I’m a student, not a teacher. I’m isn’t a teacher
3 You’re an engineer, not an artist. You’re isn’t an artist
4 They’re Polish, not Russian. They’re isn’t Russian
5 We’re musicians, not engineers. We’re isn’t engineers
6 She’s Japanese, not Chinese. She’s isn’t Chinese
7 He’s single, not married. He’s isn’t married
8 I’m twenty, not twenty-one. I’m isn’t twenty-one
9 She’s an artist, not a musician. She’s isn’t a musician
10 They’re from Brazil, not Peru. They’re isn’t Peru
11 We’re teachers, not students. We’re isn’t students
12 She’s twenty-eight, not twenty-nine. She’s isn’t twenty-nine

3 Correct the sentences. Use the words in the box.

Australia France India Peru the USA

1 2 3 4 5

1 The Taj Mahal is in Pakistan.

The Taj Mahal isn’t in Pakistan. It’s in India.
2 The Statue of Liberty is in Canada.
The statue of liberty isn’t in Canada, It’s in USA

3 Machu Picchu is in Mexico.

Machu Picchu isn’t in Mexico, It’s in Peru

4 The Eiffel Tower is in Italy.

The Eiffel Tower isn’t in Italy, It’s in France

5 The Sydney Opera House is in the UK.

The Sydney Opera House isn’t in the UK, It’s in the Australia