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Grammar (/grammar) > A1-A2 grammar (/grammar/a1-a2-grammar) > Present simple – 'to be'
Do you know how to use the verb to be in the present simple? Test what you know
with interactive exercises and read the explanation to help you.
I'm a student.
My mum's a doctor.
They aren't very busy.
Is he a teacher?
Grammar test 1
Grammar explanation
We can use the present simple of the verb to be to talk about situations and states in
the present.
I am I am not Am I?
https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/a1-a2-grammar/present-simple-be 1/8
3/20/23, 5:51 PM Present simple – 'to be' | LearnEnglish
Contractions
We can contract the verb, especially when we're speaking.
Negatives
For negatives, use not after the verb. We can contract the verb or not.
Questions
For questions, change the order of am, is or are and the person.
Short answers
https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/a1-a2-grammar/present-simple-be 2/8
3/20/23, 5:51 PM Present simple – 'to be' | LearnEnglish
Yes, you are. No, you are not. No, you're not. No, you aren't.
Yes, we are. No, we are not. No, we're not. No, we aren't.
Yes, they are. No, they are not. No, they're not. No, they aren't.
Yes, she is. No, she is not. No, she's not. No, she isn't.
Note that with short answers, we only use contractions with no answers.
Grammar test 2
https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/a1-a2-grammar/present-simple-be 3/8