ESOL LEVEL 1: Verb to be

Front

What is the verb 'to be'?

Back

The verb 'to be' is an irregular verb used to indicate existence or a state of being. It has different forms: am, is, are, was, and were.

Front

What is the correct form of 'to be' for the pronoun 'I' in the present tense?

Back

The correct form is 'am'. For example, 'I am happy.'

Front

What is the correct form of 'to be' for the pronoun 'he' in the present tense?

Back

The correct form is 'is'. For example, 'He is a teacher.'

Front

What is the correct form of 'to be' for the pronoun 'they' in the present tense?

Back

The correct form is 'are'. For example, 'They are friends.'

Front

What is the past tense form of 'to be' for the pronoun 'I'?

Back

The past tense form is 'was'. For example, 'I was at the park yesterday.'

Front

What is the past tense form of 'to be' for the pronoun 'you'?

Back

The past tense form is 'were'. For example, 'You were late to class.'

Front

How do you use 'to be' in a question?

Back

To form a question with 'to be', invert the subject and the verb. For example, 'Are you ready?' or 'Is he coming?'

Front

What is the difference between 'was' and 'were'?

Back

'Was' is used with singular subjects (I, he, she, it), while 'were' is used with plural subjects (you, we, they).

Front

What is an example of using 'to be' to describe a state?

Back

An example is 'It is cold today.' This describes the current state of the weather.

Front

What is an example of using 'to be' to express identity?

Back

An example is 'She is a doctor.' This expresses the identity of the subject.