Verb to be learning path · Step 2 of 8 · Level A1
The verb to be in the present: am, is and are
The verb to be in the present has three forms: am for I, is for he, she, it and singular subjects, and are for you, we, they and plurals. It describes who or what someone is and how or where they are: I am tired, She is a doctor.
One form for each subject
The rule in 20 seconds
In an affirmative sentence, the subject decides the form. Only I takes am; he, she and it take is; you, we and they take are. A singular noun behaves like he, she or it, and a plural subject like they.
subject + am / is / are + complement
This lesson is the gateway to the present: here you master the affirmative and get an overview of the negative and questions. For the complete picture of meanings, tenses and auxiliary uses, see the guide to the verb to be.
Connect each subject with am, is or are
Don't memorise seven isolated sentences. Group the subjects into three lanes and the agreement becomes predictable.
Only I
I is the only subject that goes with am.
Contraction: I'm
I am ready.
One person: me.
One person or thing
He, she, it and any singular noun go with is.
Contraction: he's / she's / it's
She is at home.
A single person, thing or animal.
You and plural subjects
You, we, they and groups of two or more go with are.
Contraction: you're / we're / they're
They are from Chile.
Two or more, and always you.
1–3–3: one exclusive form for I, three subjects with is and three with are.
Personal pronouns with the verb to be
In English the subject is compulsory, so keep the seven pronouns at hand with their form and contraction. Notice you, which covers one person or several, formal or informal.
| Pronoun | Refers to | Form | Contraction | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | the speaker | am | I'm | I'm Carlos.Introducing yourself. |
| you | one or more listeners | are | you're | You're my best friend.Talking to someone. |
| he | a man or boy | is | he's | He's from Lima.Origin. |
| she | a woman or girl | is | she's | She's a nurse.Profession. |
| it | things, animals, weather and time | is | it's | It's a big city.Description. |
| we | the speaker and others | are | we're | We're neighbours.A group including you. |
| they | other people or things | are | they're | They're at the park.Location. |
It has no exact equivalent in many languages: it is used for things and animals, and for the weather or the time, where other languages leave out the subject: It's cold, It's three o'clock.
When the subject is not a pronoun
Replace the noun with a pronoun in your head. That equivalence tells you the correct form.
| Subject | Stands for | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marta | she | is | Marta is a student.One person. |
| My brother | he | is | My brother is tired.One person. |
| The books | they | are | The books are on the table.Several things. |
| Leo and I | we | are | Leo and I are classmates.A group that includes me. |
What you can say after to be
The verb form does not change with the kind of information you add. These are the six uses you will need most.
Identity
I am Sara.
Who you are.
State
He is tired.
How someone feels.
Location
We are at home.
Where someone is.
Origin
They are from Chile.
Where someone is from.
Age
I am twenty.
How old someone is.
Weather and time
It is sunny.
What the weather is like.
Affirmative contractions to sound natural
In speech and informal writing, the full form is usually contracted. The apostrophe replaces the missing letter; never write I'am.
| Full form | Contraction |
|---|---|
| I am | I'm |
| he is | he's |
| she is | she's |
| it is | it's |
| you are | you're |
| we are | we're |
| they are | they're |
With names you also hear 's meaning is (My sister's a nurse). All the other contractions, including the negative ones, are in the lesson on contractions of to be.
The present of to be in the negative and in questions
The agreement you have just learnt does not change: you only add not or move the verb forward. This summary is a map; each form has its own lesson on the path.
| Subject | Affirmative | Negative | Question | Short answer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | I'm ready. | I'm not ready. | Am I ready? | Yes, I am.No, I'm not. |
| she | She's ready. | She isn't ready. | Is she ready? | Yes, she is.No, she isn't. |
| they | They're ready. | They aren't ready. | Are they ready? | Yes, they are.No, they aren't. |
Negative
Negative sentences with to be
Where not goes and why don't is not used.
Questions
Questions with to be
The change of word order and the short answers.
Past
To be in the past: was and were
Same logic, but with only two forms.
20 examples of the verb to be in the present
Everyday sentences grouped by situation.
Introducing yourself
- Hi, I'm Andrea.Name.
- I'm from Guadalajara.Origin.
- I'm a designer.Profession.
- My parents are teachers.Family.
- We're cousins.Relationship.
Describing
- You're very funny.Personality.
- The coffee is hot.A thing.
- Her eyes are green.Appearance.
- This exercise is easy.An opinion.
- I'm so happy today.A feeling.
Locating
- The keys are in the car.Things.
- She's at the gym.A person.
- We're on the train.A group.
- The station is near here.A place.
- My office is on the fifth floor.A building.
Age, time and weather
- My grandmother is eighty.Age.
- It's nine o'clock.Time.
- It's windy today.Weather.
- I'm hungry.A physical state.
- They're twenty-five.Age.
See how the form changes when the subject changes
The scene shows one person introducing herself, another person and a group. Each item in the list takes you to its part of the video.
Video with English captions.
Read the transcript
- First comes I: the correct link is am.
- Then comes Sara, who stands for she: the correct link is is.
- Finally a group appears, which stands for they: the correct link is are.
- The decision always starts with the subject.
A1 practice: choose the correct link
Solve each one with the pattern subject → pronoun → form first. Then check and read the reason behind every answer.
- Find the subject.
- Replace it in your head with I, he, she, it, you, we or they.
- Choose am, is or are.
- Add the information and check the agreement.
Want to make it stick? Practise the present of the verb to be with the exercises on the path.
Mistakes you can fix right away
Every mistake is solved by going back to the subject; you don't need to translate the whole sentence.
I is ready.
I am ready.
I requires am.
They is here.
They are here.
They requires are.
My parents is busy.
My parents are busy.
My parents is plural, so it requires are.
I'am happy.
I'm happy.
The correct contraction of I am is I'm.
Is late.
It's late.
In English the subject is compulsory: It's late.
I have 20 years.
I'm 20.
To say your age, English uses be: I'm 20.
Frequently asked questions about am, is and are
How do I know whether to use am, is or are?
Look at the subject first: I takes am; he, she, it and singular nouns take is; you, we, they and plural subjects take are.
Does the verb to be in the present describe identity or state?
Both. She is a teacher says who she is and She is tired says how she is. English also uses it where many languages use “have”: I'm 20 (my age), I'm hungry (my state).
Do contractions change the meaning?
No. I'm, he's, she's, it's, you're, we're and they're mean exactly the same as the full forms; they are normal in speech and in informal writing.
Which form do I use with a name or with several people?
Replace the name with a pronoun in your head: Marta stands for she and takes is; Marta and Leo stand for they and take are.
Why does English always need a subject?
Because the verb form alone does not tell you who does the action. Where other languages can say just “is late” or “is raining”, English needs a subject: It's late, It's raining.
How are the negative and questions formed in the present?
The agreement does not change. To make a negative you add not (She isn't here) and to ask a question you move the verb forward (Is she here?). Each case has its own lesson on the path.
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