El verbo “to be” en presente simple se conjuga como “am”, “is”, y “are”.
Se usa para describir situaciones
presentes y características de personas.
Formas de conjugación
“Am” se usa con el pronombre “I”. Por ejemplo, “I am a student”
“Is” se usa con los pronombres “he”, “she”, e “it”. Por ejemplo, “He is a doctor”
“Are” se usa con los pronombres “we”, “you”, y “they”. Por ejemplo, “We are happy”
Estructura de oraciones
En oraciones afirmativas, la estructura es: pronombre + “to be” + complemento.
En oraciones negativas, la estructura es: pronombre + “to be” + “not” + complemento.
En oraciones interrogativas, la estructura es: “to be” + pronombre + complemento + “?”.
PRESENT SIMPLE
Look at these examples to see how we use to be in the present simple.
I'm a student.
My mum's a doctor.
They aren't very busy.
Is he a teacher?
We can use the present simple of the verb to be to talk about situations and
states in the present.
Affirmative Negative Question
I am I am not Am I?
You/we/they are You/we/they are not Are you/we/they?
He/she/it is He/she/it is not Is he/she/it?
We can contract the verb, especially when we're speaking.
I am a shop assistant. = I'm a shop assistant.
You are a good friend! = You're a good friend!
He is my wife's brother. = He's my wife's brother.
We are very busy at the moment. = We're very busy at the moment.
They are on holiday in Italy. = They're on holiday in Italy.
For negatives, use not after the verb. We can contract the verb or not.
I am not at work. = I'm not at work. Note: I amn't is not possible.
She is not a student. = She's not a student. = She isn't a student.
Money is not important. = Money's not important. = Money isn't important.
We are not hungry. = We're not hungry. = We aren't hungry.
They are not at home. = They're not at home. = They aren't at home.
For questions, change the order of am, is or are and the person.
Are you tired?
Is she Mexican?
Is this your phone?
Are we late?
Are they your children?
Affirmative Negative (Verb contracted) (not contracted)
Yes, I am. No, I am not. No, I'm not.
Yes, you are. No, you are not. No, you're not. No, you aren't.
Yes, we are. No, we are not. No, we're not. No, we aren't.
Yes, they are. No, they are not. No, they're not. No, they aren't.
Yes, he is. No, he is not. No, he's not. No, he isn't.
Yes, she is. No, she is not. No, she's not. No, she isn't.
Yes, it is. No, it is not. No, it's not. No, it isn't.
We can also make questions by using a question word
like where, when, who or what. We put the question word at the beginning.
Where are you from? I'm from Brazil.
When is the meeting? It's next Tuesday.
Who's she? She's my sister.
What time is it? It's six o'clock.
Activity 1: Choose the best option.
I __________ very happy to see you.
be
'm
Are
He __________ a good friend of mine.
are
's is
's
We __________ teachers.
're not
's not
no are
It __________ important.
no is
isn't
aren't
_________ in Egypt in this photo?
You are
Are you
Is you
Yes, __________.
we aren't
we're
we are
__________ your job interesting?
Am
Is
Are
No, it __________.
not
aren't
isn't
Where __________ from?
are they
they are
they're
Who __________?
she's
she's is
's she
Activity 2: Choose the best answer.
I can't talk now, I _____ busy!
's
'm
're
We _____ students.
aren't
no are
isn't
_____ at work today?
You are
You're are
Are you
Yes, I _____.
'm
am
do
_____ that a good book?
Is
Are
It's
No, it _____.
isn't
doesn't
not
Where _____ the toilets, please?
is
are
be
They _____ upstairs, on the left.
's
're are
're
When _____ ?
be the next train
the next train is
is the next train
_____ in ten minutes.
Is
It
It's