Life

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

So, Carmen, You’re

Now,
you’re No, I’m not. you’re married. No. I’m
No, I’m not.
Mexican. thirty-five. And not. I’m
I’m not I’m not thirty-
Mexican. I’m you’re a single.
five.
from nurse.
Argentina. 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-five. She isn’t married. She’s single.
She’s from Argentina. She’s thirty. She isn’t a nurse. She’s a doctor.

Presentation

Negative

I’m not TIP These negative forms are also possible:

I am not
he’s not, we’re not …
he He isn’tMexican.
Mexican.isfrom
not Mexico. thirty- She isn’tfrom Mexico.
she
five. married. You aren’tthirty-five. We
aren’tmarried.
you
are not They aren’t
we
they

a/an + occupation
I’m
Use a/an (indefinite article) with a person’s occupation. You’re a doctor.
• Use a before words that start with a consonant sound: He’s an artist.
a doctor, a teacher … She’s

• Use an before words that start with a vowel sound: We’re

an artist, an engineer … You’re doctors.
They’re artists.
• Don’t use a/an with plurals.
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 engineers. 9 You aren’t a teacher.
4 I’m a teacher. 10 He isn’t an engineer.
5 We’re doctors. 11 They aren’t 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 not a teacher
3 You’re an engineer, not an artist. You aren´t an artist
4 They’re Polish, not Russian.  They aren´t Russian
5 We’re musicians, not engineers.  They aren´t Russian
6 She’s Japanese, not Chinese. She isn´t Chinese
7 He’s single, not married. He isn´t married
8 I’m twenty, not twenty-one. I´m not twenty-one
9 She’s an artist, not a musician. She isn´t a musician
10 They’re from Brazil, not Peru. They aren´t Peru
11 We’re teachers, not students. We aren´t students
12 She’s twenty-eight, not twenty-nine. She 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 Pichu isn´t in Mexico. It´s in Perú
4 The Eiffel Tower is in Italy.
The Eiffel Tower isn´t in Italy. It´s in Paris
5 The Sydney Opera House is in the UK.
The Sidney Opera House isn´t in the UK. It´s in Australia

Practical Grammar 1 2 © National Geographic Learning