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Grammar - Level 1

The Verb “To Be”

  • When we talk about location: in California, from Brazil, at home, in the park, etc.
  • When we talk about professions: she is a teacher. He is a doctor. They are police officers.
  • Nationalities: German, Russian, American, etc.
  • When we talk about the age: I am twenty years old. My wife is 39 years old.
  • To describe marital status: single, married, divorced, widow, widower.
  • We use the verb “to be” with adjectives to describe physical or emotional states: to be hungry, angry,
  • upset, happy, sad, afraid, etc.

A. Affirmative sentences:

 I am old.
 He
 She
 It		 is
 You< *
 We
 They		 are

* “You are” is used for both singular and plural.

B. Affirmative with contractions:

I’m old.
 He’s
 She’s
 It’s
 You’re
 We’re
 They’re

C. Negative Sentences:

 I am not old.
 He
 She
 It		 is
 You
 We
 They		 are

D. Negative sentences with contractions:

 I’m not old.
 He’s
 She’s
 It’s
 You’re
 We’re
 They’re

E. Negative sentences with the contracted form of the verb.

 I am not old.
 He
 She
 It		 isn’t
 You *
 We
 They		 aren’t

F. Questions:

 Am I old?
 Is he
 she
 it
 Are you *
 we
 they

 

  •  I am a pilot. 
  • I am in the classroom. 
  • She is happy. 
  • They are hungry. 
  • My brother is ten years old. 
  • My sister is single. 
  • It is cold. 
  • My dog is small. 
  • The sun is yellow. 
  • The moon is white. 
  • The water is cold. 
  • The field is green. 

If you want to make a question using the verb “to be” you just have to move Am – Is – Are at the beginning of the sentence.

Statement		He is a good teacher. 
Question:		Is he a good teacher? 
Affirmative Answer:		Yes, he is a good teacher. 
Negative Answer:		No, he is not a good teacher. 
Statement:		The dogs are in the park. 
Question:		Are the dogs in the park? 
Affirmative Answer:		Yes, the dogs are in the park. 
Negative Answer:		No, the dogs are not in the park. 
Statement:		I am a student. 
Question:		Am I a student? 
Affirmative Answer:		Yes, you are a student. 
Negative Answer:		No, you are not a student. 
Statement:		We are in the classroom. 
Question:		Are we in the classroom? 
Affirmative Answer:		Yes, you are in the classroom. 
Negative Answer:		No, you are not in the classroom.  
Statement:		She is a good student. 
 Question:		Is she a good student? 
Affirmative Answer:		Yes, she is a good student. 
 Negative Answer:		No, she is not a good student. 
Statement:		It is a good movie. 
Question:		Is it a good movie?
Affirmative Answer:		Yes, it is a good movie. 
Negative Answer:		No, it is not a good movie.