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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.