Grammar: To Be Verbs (Am, Is, Are)
1. What are Am, Is, Are?
The verbs am, is, and are are called "to be" verbs. They are used to show:
State (condition, identity, feeling, job, age, etc.)
Being (the existence or presence of a person, animal, or thing)
A. To Be Verbs Showing State
A state tells us what someone or something is like or what condition they are in.
Five Examples
1. I am happy.
2. She is a teacher.
3. He is tired.
4. They are ready.
5. We are friends.
B. To Be Verbs Showing Being
Being means that someone or something exists or is present in a place.
Five Examples
1. I am at home.
2. She is in the classroom.
3. The book is on the table.
4. They are in the park.
5. We are at school.
2. What is a Subject?
A subject is the person, animal, place, or thing that does the action or is being talked about in
a sentence.
Examples
1. Ali is a student.
o Subject: Ali
2. The cat is sleeping.
o Subject: The cat
3. My brother is happy.
o Subject: My brother
4. The school is big.
o Subject: The school
5. Sara is kind.
o Subject: Sara
3. Subject Pronouns
A subject pronoun is a word that replaces the subject in a sentence.
Subject Pronoun Example
I I am a student.
You You are kind.
He He is my friend.
She She is a doctor.
It It is a cat.
We We are classmates.
They They are happy.
4. Linking Subjects with Subject Pronouns
A subject pronoun replaces the subject so that we do not repeat the same noun again and again.
Subject Subject Pronoun Example
Ali He Ali is a student. He is hardworking.
Sara She Sara is kind. She is helpful.
The cat It The cat is sleeping. It is tired.
My friends They My friends are happy. They are playing.
Subject Subject Pronoun Example
My brother and I We My brother and I are classmates. We study together.
Ahmed and Bilal They Ahmed and Bilal are in the library. They are reading.
The books They The books are new. They are on the table.
You and I We You and I are teammates. We practice every day.
5. To Be Verbs (Am, Is, Are)
Subject To Be Verb
I am
You are
He is
She is
It is
We are
They are
6. Affirmative, Negative, and Question
Sentences
A. Using Am
Affirmative
I am a student.
Negative
I am not a student.
Question
Am I a student?
B. Using Is
Affirmative
He is a doctor.
She is happy.
It is cold.
Negative
He is not a doctor.
She is not happy.
It is not cold.
Question
Is he a doctor?
Is she happy?
Is it cold?
C. Using Are
Affirmative
You are my friend.
We are ready.
They are in the classroom.
Negative
You are not my friend.
We are not ready.
They are not in the classroom.
Question
Are you my friend?
Are we ready?
Are they in the classroom?
More Practice Sentences
Affirmative
1. I am happy.
2. You are honest.
3. He is strong.
4. She is kind.
5. It is beautiful.
6. We are students.
7. They are busy.
Negative
1. I am not sad.
2. You are not late.
3. He is not angry.
4. She is not tired.
5. It is not dirty.
6. We are not hungry.
7. They are not at home.
Questions
1. Am I correct?
2. Are you ready?
3. Is he your teacher?
4. Is she at school?
5. Is it raining?
6. Are we early?
7. Are they friends?
Summary
Am is used with I.
Is is used with he, she, it, and singular nouns.
Are is used with you, we, they, and plural nouns.
State tells us a condition, identity, feeling, or quality.
Being tells us that someone or something exists or is present in a place.
Every sentence has a subject, and a subject pronoun can replace that subject.
To-be verbs can be used in affirmative, negative, and question sentences.