The verb "to be"

Verbs are words that describe an action or a state. For example: to go, to run, to be, to have.
The verb "to be" is the most important verb in the English language. These are the forms of the verb "to be":
Singular:
  • I am
  • You are
  • He, She, It is
Plural:
  • We are
  • You are
  • They are
 
Choose the correct form of "to be":
 
 
en
  1. We not hungry.
     
  2. They tired.
     
  3. He on the plane.
     
  4. you hungry?
     
  5. I thirsty.
     
Repeat exercise ?
 
 
 

The positive short forms of "to be"

You can shorten the forms of "to be":
Singular:
  • I am = I'm
  • You are = You're
  • He is = He's/ She is = She's/ It is = It's
Plural:
  • We are = We're
  • You are = You're
  • They are = They're
 
Write the short form of "to be". Don't forget the apostrophe '.
 
 
en
  1. We not hungry.
     
  2. I thirsty.
     
  3. He on the plane.
     
  4. They tired.
     
Repeat exercise ?
 
 
 
When you use the forms of "to be" is, am, are, you make a general statement. To negate that statement, you must add "not". It comes after the form of "to be:"
  • I am not
  • You are not
  • She is not
  • We are not
  • You are not
  • They are not
 
Practise the position of the word "not". Decide where it must go.
 
 
en
  1. They in a car.
     
  2. He a girl.
     
  3. We on a train.
     
  4. I a boy.
     
Repeat exercise ?
 
 
 

The negative short forms of "to be": is and are

  • are not = aren't
  • is not = isn't
Note: The form "I am not" cannot be shortened!
 
Practise the negative short forms of "to be". Write them into the gaps:
 
 
en
  1. We (are not) hungry.
     
  2. I (am not) hungry.
     
  3. She (is not) hungry.
     
  4. They (are not) thirsty.
     
Repeat exercise ?
 
 
 
That was a lot of new grammar! Well done!
Continue with pronunciation: the English alphabet
 

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