The verb 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.
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.
Match the subject to am / is / are
I → am; he / she / it → is; you / we / they → are.
Choose the correct word: She ___ happy.
he / she / it → is: “She is happy.”
Complete: They ___ from China.
you / we / they → are: “They are from China.”
Translate into English: 我是一名学生。
I → am, and use “a” before a singular noun: “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.
Questions
- Put be before the subject: Are you ready? Is he a teacher?
- Short answers: Yes, I am. / No, he isn't.
Is this correct? “He are a teacher.”
“he” takes “is”, not “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.
Match each mistake to its correction.
Every sentence needs be (or another verb) — and a short answer ends with the full form.
Which sentence is correct?
he / she / it → is: “He is busy today.” The others should be “I agree” and “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.
Introduce yourself. Write one sentence using the verb “to be” (for example: your name, your age, or where you are from).
Example: “I am from Beijing.” or “I am twelve years old.”