The verb to be — am, is, are · El verbo to be — am, is, are
"to be" — the most important verb
- The verb to be means "is / am / are".
- We use it to say what something is or where it is.
- I am Tom. She is happy. They are here.
I am a student. The cat is a teacher. The cat disagrees.
"to be" — el verbo más importante
- El verbo to be significa "ser / estar".
- Lo usamos para decir qué es algo o dónde está.
- I am Tom. She is happy. They are here. (Soy Tom. Ella está feliz. Ellos están aquí.)
I am a student. The cat is a teacher. The cat disagrees. (Soy estudiante. El gato es un profesor. El gato no está de acuerdo.)
Three forms
- I → am, he / she / it → is, you / we / they → are.
- I am a student. He is my friend. We are ready.
- Short forms: I'm, he's, she's, we're, they're.
Tres formas
- I → am, he / she / it → is, you / we / they → are.
- I am a student. He is my friend. We are ready. (Soy estudiante. Él es mi amigo. Nosotros estamos listos.)
- Formas abreviadas: I'm, he's, she's, we're, they're.
Match the subject to am / is / are · Une el sujeto con am / is / are
I → am; he / she / it → is; you / we / they → are.
Choose the correct word: She ___ happy. · Elige la palabra correcta: She ___ happy.
he / she / it → is: “She is happy.”
Complete: They ___ from China. · Completa: They ___ from China.
you / we / they → are: “They are from China.”
Translate into English: 我是一名学生。 · Traduce al inglés: 我是一名学生。
I → am, and use “a” before a singular noun: “I am a student.” · I → am, y se usa “a” antes de un sustantivo singular: “I am a student.”
Negatives
- Add not after the verb: I am not, he is not, they are not.
- Short forms: isn't, aren't (and I'm not).
- She isn't at home.
Negaciones
- Añade not después del verbo: I am not, he is not, they are not.
- Formas abreviadas: isn't, aren't (y I'm not).
- She isn't at home. (Ella no está en casa.)
Questions
- Put be before the subject: Are you ready? Is he a teacher?
- Short answers: Yes, I am. / No, he isn't.
Preguntas
- Coloca be antes del sujeto: Are you ready? Is he a teacher? (¿Estás listo? ¿Es él profesor?)
- Respuestas cortas: Yes, I am. / No, he isn't. (Sí, lo soy. / No, no lo es.)
Is this correct? “He are a teacher.” · ¿Es correcto esto? “He are a teacher.”
“he” takes “is”, not “are”: “He is a teacher.” · “he” toma “is”, no “are”: “He is a teacher.”
Common mistakes
- ❌ He busy. → ✓ He is busy. — every sentence needs a verb.
- ❌ I am go to school. → ✓ I go to school. — don't use be + another verb.
- ❌ I am agree. → ✓ I agree. — agree is already a verb.
- ❌ Yes, I'm. → ✓ Yes, I am. — short answers never end with a short form.
Errores comunes
- ❌ He busy. → ✓ He is busy. — toda oración necesita un verbo.
- ❌ I am go to school. → ✓ I go to school. — no uses be + otro verbo.
- ❌ I am agree. → ✓ I agree. — agree ya es un verbo.
- ❌ Yes, I'm. → ✓ Yes, I am. — las respuestas cortas nunca terminan con una forma abreviada.
Match each mistake to its correction. · Une cada error con su corrección.
Every sentence needs be (or another verb) — and a short answer ends with the full form. · Toda oración necesita be (u otro verbo) — y una respuesta corta termina con la forma completa.
Which sentence is correct? · ¿Cuál oración es correcta?
he / she / it → is: “He is busy today.” The others should be “I agree” and “They are”. · he / she / it → is: “He is busy today.” Los otros deberían ser “I agree” y “They are”.
- to be: I am, he / she / it is, you / we / they are.
- Negative: add not (isn't / aren't).
- Question: put be before the subject.
- to be: I am, he / she / it is, you / we / they are.
- Negativo: añade not (isn't / aren't).
- Pregunta: coloca be antes del sujeto.
Introduce yourself. Write one sentence using the verb “to be” (for example: your name, your age, or where you are from). · Preséntate. Escribe una oración usando el verbo “to be” (por ejemplo: tu nombre, tu edad o de dónde eres).
Example: “I am from Beijing.” or “I am twelve years old.” · Ejemplo: “I am from Beijing.” o “I am twelve years old.”