Verb to be learning path · Step 8 of 8 · Levels A1-A2
Verb to be exercises (with answers)
Six blocks of verb to be exercises with instant correction: am, is and are; negatives; questions; contractions; was and were; and a final quiz. Each answer includes its explanation and a link to the lesson where it is explained.
How to get the most out of these exercises
Do the blocks in order: they go from the most basic to the most advanced. Each exercise is corrected on the spot and explains why, and under each block you have the link to the corresponding theory lesson.
- Solve the block without looking at the theory.
- Read the explanation of each mistake.
- If you get more than two wrong, review the linked lesson and press Try again.
Block 1 · Complete the dialogue with am, is or are
Choose am, is or are in each gap of the conversation and press Check dialogue. Incorrect gaps are marked in red.
AHi! I Lucía. Are you new here?
BYes, I . My name Tom.
ANice to meet you, Tom. Where you from?
BI'm from Canada, but my parents from Italy.
AThis café my favourite. The cakes amazing.
BAnd the coffee cheap!
Review the theory in Verb to be in the present.
Block 2 · Write the sentences in the negative
Rewrite each sentence in the negative. We accept the full form and all the correct contractions. Press Enter to check them one by one.
I am hungry.
For I am not the only possible short form is I'm not.
She is my sister.
Both isn't and 's not work: they mean the same.
We are late.
With we you contract aren't or 're not.
The shop is open.
With a noun as subject, isn't is the most natural.
They were at home.
In the past the negative of were is weren't.
It was cold.
The negative of was is wasn't.
Review the theory in Negative form of the verb to be.
Block 3 · Find the mistake in the questions
Each sentence has one incorrect word. Tap it to find out whether you spotted it and see the corrected version.
With to be you do not use do: just invert the order.
They requires are in the question too.
Affirmative short answers are not contracted.
She goes with is.
You always takes are.
The answer repeats the verb of the question: is → isn't.
Review the theory in Questions with the verb to be.
Block 4 · What does each 's mean?
What does each marked 's hide? Choose between is, has or possessive. Hint: look at the word that follows.
She's a nurse.
A noun follows: she is a nurse.
He's finished his homework.
A participle follows (finished): he has finished.
Maria's bag is red.
It joins Maria to bag: the possessive.
It's raining.
An -ing verb follows: it is raining.
She's got two brothers.
With got it is has: she has got.
My brother's car is new.
My brother's car is the possessive.
Tom's been to Japan.
Been is a participle: Tom has been to Japan.
Where's the station?
Where is the station?
Review the theory in Contractions in English.
Block 5 · Was or were: choose the correct sentence
In each pair only one sentence is correct. Choose A or B.
-
You always takes were.
-
Everyone is grammatically singular.
-
With there, the plural two cars decides.
-
News is singular even though it ends in -s.
-
Being born is expressed with to be born.
-
After wish you use were to express an unreal wish.
Review the theory in Verb to be in the past and in Was or were.
Final verb to be quiz
Ten questions that mix the whole path. At the end you will see your result and which lessons to review.
Question 1 of 10
My parents ___ teachers.
My parents stands for they.
___ your brother at home?
Your brother stands for he: Is he…?.
I ___ tired yesterday.
Yesterday appears, so we are talking about the past, and I takes was.
They ___ from Peru.
Negative sentence: they are not from Peru.
They + are not → aren't.
___ you at the party last night?
You takes were in questions too.
She ___ 25 years old.
Age is expressed with to be: She is 25.
Are you ready? Yes, ___
Affirmative short answer without contraction.
It ___ cold today.
The weather is expressed with it is.
We ___ at school on Monday.
Negative sentence in the past.
We + were not → weren't.
If I ___ you, I would study more.
Hypothesis: If I were you.
Want the complete overview before repeating it? See the guide to the Verb to be.
Answers to all the exercises
In case you prefer to correct on paper or review at a glance.
1 · Am, is or are
am, am, is, are, are, is, are, is
2 · Negatives
I'm not hungry · She isn't / She's not my sister · We aren't / We're not late · The shop isn't open · They weren't at home · It wasn't cold
3 · Questions
Are you tired? · Are they your parents? · Yes, I am. · Is she your teacher? · How old are you? · No, she isn't.
4 · Contractions
is · has · possessive · is · has · possessive · has · is
5 · Was and were
B · A · B · A · B · A
6 · Final quiz
are · Is · was · aren't · Were · is · I am. · is · weren't · were
Frequently asked questions about the verb to be exercises
How do I practise the verb to be?
Start with the present (am, is, are), continue with the negative, questions and contractions, and finish with the past. These six blocks follow that order and each one links to its lesson.
What level are these exercises?
Blocks 1 to 4 are level A1 and blocks 5 and 6 include A2 content, such as was, were and the special cases.
Where are the answers?
Each exercise is corrected instantly with its explanation. In addition, at the end of the page you have all the answers grouped by block.
What do I do if I get many questions wrong?
Read the explanation of each mistake and go to the lesson linked below the block. Then try again with the Try again button: the exercises store nothing outside your browser.
Verb to be learning path · Step 8 of 8
Your next step
You have reached the last step of the path.
Path completed
Take the level testHave you done the practice in this lesson? Check it before moving on.
- Previous stepWas or were
- Complete overviewVerb to be
From the exercise to the conversation
You have completed the verb to be learning path. Take the level test to find out where to continue and practise with real situations in the ABA English course.