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The verb to be — am, is, are
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Describe people and places with be
- This lesson practises the present forms of be: am, is, are. The verb has other forms too, such as was and been.
- 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.
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.
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he / she / it → is: “She is happy.”
Complete: They ___ from China.
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you / we / they → are: “They are from China.”
Translate into English: 我是一名学生。
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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.”
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“he” takes “is”, not “are”: “He is a teacher.”
Common mistakes
- ❌ He busy. → ✓ He is busy. — this full statement needs is before busy. A short reply such as Very busy! can work in conversation.
- ❌ I am go to school. → ✓ I go to school. — for this routine, use go. I am going to school is a different, grammatical pattern with -ing; am go is not that pattern.
- ❌ I am agree. → ✓ I agree. — agree is already a verb.
- ❌ Yes, I'm. → ✓ Yes, I am. — keep am full in this positive short answer. Negative answers can use isn’t or aren’t: No, he isn’t.
Match each mistake to its correction.
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These full statements need the matching verb form. I agree has no am; a positive short answer uses Yes, I am, while a negative answer may use No, I’m not or No, he isn’t.
Which sentence is correct?
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he / she / it → is: “He is busy today.” The others should be “I agree” and “They are”.
Say it about you
- Three true sentences about your life: I am …, My friend is …, We are ….
- Now change them: one negative (I am not tired.) and one question (Are you ready?).
- Read them aloud. Short forms such as I'm, she's, they're are common in conversation; full forms can also be appropriate. Compare Yes, I am with No, I'm not.
Introduce yourself. Write one sentence using the verb “to be” (for example: your name, your age, or where you are from).
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Example: “I am from Beijing.” or “I am twelve years old.”
New faces, same verb
- Look at any photo of people. Describe it: He is tall. They are at school. She is my sister. New people, same three forms — that is the skill working, not the memorised sentences.
- Tomorrow, before you reopen this page: introduce yourself in one sentence and ask one Are you …? question. If am / is / are still wobble, redo the "Three forms" step.
- Next lesson: pronouns and possessives. Found a word you like? Save it from Daily English and review it later.
- to be: I am, he / she / it is, you / we / they are.
- Negative: add not (isn't / aren't).
- Question in this pattern: put be before the subject. Positive short answer: Yes, I am; negative: No, I’m not.
- Usage reference checked 20 October 2026: British Council: present simple be. These are local teaching examples; independent language and learner review remain pending.