Verb to be
Learn am, is and are, their contractions, and practise using the verb to be in sentences.
Explanation
The verb "to be" is one of the most important and commonly used verbs in the English language. It is a linking verb that serves to connect the subject of a sentence with its complement, which can be a noun, pronoun, or adjective. The verb "to be" is used to express various aspects, including identity, existence, state of being, and possession.
In its simplest form, "to be" has three primary present tense forms: "am" (used with the pronoun "I"), "is" (used with the pronouns "he," "she," "it," or a singular noun), and "are" (used with the pronouns "you," "we," "they," or plural nouns).
Here is a breakdown of the forms of the verb "to be":
| Singular | Plural |
|---|---|
| I am | We are |
| You are | You are |
| He/She/It is | They are |
Examples:
- I am a student.
- You are tall.
- She is my sister.
- We are friends.
- They are from Canada.
It's important to note that the verb "to be" is often contracted in spoken and informal writing.
For example, "I am" is commonly contracted to "I'm", "you are" is contracted to "you're", "he is" is contracted to "he's" and "they are" is contracted to "they're".
Examples:
- I'm a dentist.
- They're friends.
- She's worried about her exams.
- You're a great basketball player.
Practice
Exercise 1
Choose the correct answer to complete the sentence.
1. I ______ a student.
2. She ______ a doctor.
3. They ______ students.
4. You ______ my best friend.
5. He ______ excited about the trip.
6. She ______ a talented musician.
7. The apples ______ delicious.
8. We ______ late for the meeting.
9. She ______ from Spain.
10. They ______ my siblings.
Exercise 2