Verb

To Be The verb to be has three forms: am, is, are.

1st Person 2nd Person 3rd Person

Singular I am student. You are a student He is a student. She is a student. It is a book.

Plural We are students. You are students They are students. They are books.

Use am in a sentence about yourself. I am a doctor. I am hungry. I'm a student. I'm too hot. Hint: Always capitalize I.

Use is in sentences about a third person or thing. He is a doctor. He's tall. She is a teacher. She's intelligent. It is a book It's sunny today. Native speakers of English often use contractions Hint: with to be. I'm, You're, He's, She's, It's, We're, They're

Use are in sentences about a second person (you) singular and all plural subjects. You are a doctor. You are tall. You are doctors. You (plural) are tall. We are students. We are too cold. They are teachers. They are too hot. Reminder: The pronoun you can refer to a plural or

singular noun. It is sometimes difficult to know which it is.

The verb to be can be followed by • • •

an adjective an object here or there

Adjective I'm hot. You're very smart. He's handsome. We're exhausted. You're finished. They are blue.

Object I am a teacher You are a musician. She's a pilot. We're the leaders. You're taxi drivers. They are new cars.

here/there I am here. You're there. It's there. We're here. You're here. They're over there.

Pactice: The verb to be Circle the correct form of the verb to be in each sentence below.

1. I (am/is/are) a college student. 2. You (am/is/are) hungry. 3. You (am/is/are) a pilot. 4. My new car (am/is/are) very fast. 5. My new car (am/is/are) blue. 6. We (am/is/are) here. Answer Key

7. You (am/is/are) there. 8. The television (am/is/are) broken. 9. Your shirt (am/is/are) too small. 10. John (am/is/are) exhausted. 11. You (am/is/are) a doctor. 12. You (am/is/are) doctors.

Pactice: The verb to be Answer Key

Circle the correct form of the verb to be in each sentence below.

1. I (am/is/are) a college student. 2. You (am/is/are) hungry. 3. You (am/is/are) a pilot. 4. My new car (am/is/are) very fast. 5. My new car (am/is/are) blue. 6. We (am/is/are) here.

7. You (am/is/are) there. 8. The television (am/is/are) broken. 9. Your shirt (am/is/are) too small. 10. John (am/is/are) exhausted. 11. You (am/is/are) a doctor. 12. You (am/is/are) doctors.

Practice #2: the verb to be Change the verbs to contractions where possible.

---------------1. You are very angry. 2. She is a lawyer. 3. It is a Ford car. 4. We are here. 5. You are students. 6. I am a pilot.

contraction

--------------7. He is a mechanic. 8. It is hot. 9. They are hungry. 10. You are intelligent. 11. I am a musician. 12 She is here.

contraction

Practice #2: the verb to be Answer Key Change the verbs to contractions where possible.

---------------1. You are very angry. 2. She is a lawyer.

contraction --------------You're very angry. 7. He is a mechanic. She's a lawyer. 8. It is hot.

contraction He's a mechanic. It's hot.

3. It is a Ford car. 4. We are here. 5. You are students. 6. I am a pilot.

It's a Ford car. We're here. You're students. I'm a pilot.

9. They are hungry. 10. You are intelligent. 11. I am a musician. 12 She is here.

They're hungry. You're intelligent. I'm a musician. She's here.

Practice: the verb to be Circle the correct subject pronoun in each of the following sentences.

1. You/He is a firefighter. 2. You/He are very tired. 3. She/I am a pilot. 4. They/It are new cars. 5. We/I are very sad. 6. You/She is angry with the teacher.

7. I/You am ready for bed. 8. It/They are very hungry. 9. They/He is a good actor. 10. It/He is a large building. 11. We/I are teachers. 12. You/She is a new student.

Practice: the verb to be Circle the correct subject pronoun in each of the following sentences. Note: The correct answer is in red. 1. You/He is a firefighter. 2. You/He are very tired. 3. She/I am a pilot. 4. They/It are new cars. 5. We/I are very sad. 6. You/She is angry with the teacher.

To Be in Yes/No Questions

7. I/You am ready for bed. 8. It/They are very hungry. 9. They/He is a good actor. 10. It/He is a large building. 11. We/I are teachers. 12. You/She is a new student.

In a question that can be answered with yes or no, put the verb at the beginning of the sentence. Add a question mark.

statement question

I am a student

You are a student

He is a student

Am I a student?

Are you a student?

Is he a student>

Notice where the verb moves to: Statement: You are hungry. Subject/verb

Question: Are you hungry? Verb/subject

You can answer these questions with short answers. Are you hungry? Is he a doctor? Are they too hot?

Yes, I am Yes, he is. Yes, they are.

Negative short answers sometimes have two forms. Are you tired? Am I fat? Is he a teacher? Are home yet? Are they elephants?

No, I'm not. No, you aren't. No you're not. No, he isn't. No, he's not. No, we aren't. No, we're not. No, they aren't. No, they're not.

Note: there is only one short answer for in the first person--No, I'm not.

To Be in Yes/No Questions Make questions out of these statements.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Statement He is a dancer. She's too cold. You're a good student. Kamal is very smart. Betsy is a computer programmer. My car is a Ford. They are new teachers. I'm tired. Everett is dishonest. The man is overweight.

Question

To Be in Yes/No Questions

Answer Key Make questions out of these statements. Statement 1. He is a dancer. 2. She's too cold. 3. You're a good student. 4. Kamal is very smart. 5. Betsy is a computer programmer. 6. My car is a Ford. 7. They are new teachers. 8. I'm tired. 9. Everett is dishonest. 10. The man is overweight.

To Be in Yes/No Questions

Question Is he a dancer? Is she too cold? Are you a good student? Is Kamal very smart? Is Betsy a computer programmer? Is my new car a Ford? Are they new teachers? Am I tired? Is Evertt dishonest? Is the man overweight?

Fill in the correct verb in either the question or the short answer.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

Question Is Alice hungry? ____ he tired? Are they teachers? ____ it raining today? Is it two o'clock? ____ he a doctor? Is it cold outside? Is Alejandro a mechanic? Are they airline pilots? Is it cold out? Is it snowing? Is it late?

Short Answer Yes, she ____. Yes, he is. Yes, they ____. Yes, it is. Yes, it ____. No, he isn't. No, it ____. No, ____ not. No, they ____. No, ____ not. No, it ____. No, ____ not. It's only six o'clock.

To Be in Yes/No Questions

Answer Key Fill in the correct verb in either the question or the short answer.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11.

Question Is Alice hungry? Is____ he tired? Are they teachers? Is__ it raining today? Is it two o'clock? __Is__ he a doctor? Is it cold outside? Is Alejandro a mechanic? Are they airline pilots? Is it cold out? Is it snowing?

Short Answer Yes, she is____. Yes, he is. Yes, they are____. Yes, it is. Yes, it _is___. No, he isn't. No, it _isn't___. No, _he's___ not. No, they _aren't___. No, _it's___ not. No, it _isn't___.

12.

Is it late?

No, _it's___ not. It's only six o'clock.