Verb Be

Verb Be

Affirmative / Negative / Interrogative

Verb "To be" Affirmative

To be is a linking verb and an auxiliary verb that is essential in grammar.

When expressed in its affirmative form, the verb confirms something about the subject. 

Conjugation:

 I am---> I’m

You are---> You’re

He is---> He’s

She is---> She’s

It is---> It’s

We are---> We’re

You are---> You’re

They are---> They’re

Uses of verb "Be"

We use to be as a linking verb between other classes of words, it gives us more details about the condition of the subject.

To be is used with:

Nouns; Adjectives; Prepositional phrases (or complements).

Uses of verb "Be"

To be, in its affirmative form, confirms characteristics of the subject, for example: age, behaviour, colour, jobs, nationality, personality, place, price, qualities, size, time…

Nouns: I am a student. He is a lawyer. We are doctors.

Adjectives: I am tall. He is polite. Many people are happy.

Prepositional phrases (or complements):

My book is on the bed. Harry Potter is on the TV. The eggs are in the box.

Multiple Choice

I ___ a college student.

• am

• are

• is

Multiple Choice

He ___ my best friend his name is John.

• am

• are

• is

Multiple Choice

The students ___ very respectful with their teacher.

• am

• is

• are

Verb "Be" Negative

To be is an irregular verb and, in the negative form, it has this structure:

Subject + to be + not + …

Long form Short Form

 I am not ---> I’m not

You are not---> You’re not/You aren’t

He is not---> He’s not/He isn’t

She is not---> She’s not/She isn’t

It is not--> It’s not/It isn’t

We are not--> We’re not/We aren’t

You are not---> You’re not / You aren’t

They are not---> They’re not/They aren’t

Verb "Be" negative

Examples:

Nouns: I am not a student. He is not a lawyer. We are not doctors.

Adjectives: I am not tall. He is not polite. Many people are not happy.

Prepositional phrase: (or complements)

My book is not on the bed. Harry Potter is not on the TV. The eggs are not in the box.

Multiple Choice

I ___ in my house. i'm in the hospital.

• am not

• is not

• are not

Multiple Select

We ___ good football players but we are good students.

• aren't

• are

• are not

• 're

Verb "Be" Interrogative

To be is an irregular verb and, in the interrogative form (possible because of inversion), it has this structure:

To be + subject + …?

Am I…?

Are you…?

Is he…?

Is she…?

Is it…?

Are we…?

Are you...?

Are they..?

Verb "Be" Interrogative

Examples:

Nouns:  Am I a student? Is he a lawyer? Are we doctors?

Adjectives: Am I tall? Is he polite? Are many people happy?

Prepositional phrases (or complements):

Is my book on the bed? Is Harry Potter on the TV? Are the eggs in the box?

Multiple Choice

___ you and your friends good workers?

• Are

• Is

• Am

Multiple Choice

___ Mary a doctor or a dentist?

• Are

• Am

• Is