The verb “to be” is one of the most important verbs in English. It is used to describe people, places, things, feelings, and conditions. Unlike most verbs in English, “to be” changes depending on the subject of the sentence. Here’s everything you need to know about the verb to be in the present simple.
Forms of “To Be” in the Present Simple
The present simple of “to be” has three forms: am, are, and is.
| Subject | Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | am | am not | Am I? |
| You | are | are not (aren’t) | Are you? |
| He/She/It | is | is not (isn’t) | Is he/she/it? |
| We | are | are not (aren’t) | Are we? |
| They | are | are not (aren’t) | Are they? |
How to Use “To Be” in Sentences
-
To describe people and things
-
She is a teacher.
-
This book is interesting.
-
They are my friends.
-
-
To talk about age
-
I am 25 years old.
-
My brother is 12.
-
-
To talk about nationality or origin
-
He is from Brazil.
-
We are Canadian.
-
-
To describe feelings or conditions
-
I am tired.
-
They are happy.
-
She is sick today.
-
-
To talk about locations
-
The book is on the table.
-
We are at home.
-
Contractions
In spoken and informal English, contractions are often used:
-
I am = I’m → I’m happy.
-
You are = You’re → You’re my best friend.
-
He is = He’s → He’s at work.
-
She is = She’s → She’s my sister.
-
It is = It’s → It’s cold today.
-
We are = We’re → We’re in class.
-
They are = They’re → They’re late.
Negative Sentences
To make a negative sentence, add not after the verb:
-
I am not a student.
-
She is not (isn’t) at home.
-
They are not (aren’t) from Spain.
Questions with “To Be”
To ask questions, switch the order of the subject and the verb:
-
Am I late?
-
Is he your friend?
-
Are they at school?
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
❌ Incorrect: I be happy.
✅ Correct: I am happy.
❌ Incorrect: She are my friend.
✅ Correct: She is my friend.
❌ Incorrect: You is tired.
✅ Correct: You are tired.
Summary: Verb to be in the present simple
The verb “to be” is essential in English and has three forms in the present simple: am, is, and are. It is used for descriptions, age, nationality, feelings, locations, and more. Remember to use contractions in informal speech and to invert the subject and verb for questions.
