Use
Use be with:
Names |
Hello, I’m John. |
Age |
How old are you?
I’m 17. |
Places |
London is in England.
The Pyramids are in Egypt.
The bank is one kilometre from here. |
Adjectives |
This hotel is nice.
I’m hungry. |
Jobs and family |
I’m a student.
My parents are doctors.
This is my sister.
Ann and Tom are my children. |
Other Nouns |
Jess is a dog.
‘Hamlet’ is a play. |
adjective + noun |
That’s a nice dress.
She’s a good actor. |
Form
Positive sentences
I |
am / ‘m |
cold / hungry
a student / a teacher
at home / in the kitchen
|
You / We / They
|
are / ’re
|
He / She / It
|
is / ‘s
|
Negative Sentences
I |
am not / ‘m not
|
cold / hungry
a student / a teacher
at home / in the kitchen
|
You / We / They
|
are not / aren’t / ’re not
|
He / She / It
|
is not / isn’t / ‘s not
|
Questions
Am |
I
|
cold / hungry?
a student / a teacher?
at home / in the kitchen?
|
Are
|
you / we / they
|
Is
|
he / she / it
|
Short answers
Yes, |
I am.
you are.
he / she / it is.
we are.
they are.
|
No,
|
I’m not.
you aren’t / you’re not.
he isn’t / he’s not.
we aren’t / we’re not.
they aren’t / they’re not.
|
Contractions
The verb be has a full form and a contracted form.
We normally use the contracted form (‘m / ‘s / ‘re) in speaking and informal writing.
We write the words in full in formal writing.
You can only use one contraction at a time:
- eg: He isn’t
- He’s not
- but NOT
He’sn’t
You can contract ‘be’ after pronouns (I, you, she etc) and names.
You can contract ‘is’ after question words.
- What is your name? => What’s your name?
- But do not contract ‘are’ after question words.
- Where are you from? =>
Where’re you from?
Do not contract short answers:
Common mistakes
1. In English, every sentence must have a verb. Some students write sentences with no verb.
I very hungry. => I’m very hungry
My brother in his bedroom. => My brother is in his bedroom.
2. Some students write questions incorrectly.
She is your sister? => Is she your sister?
Use
1) Use was and were to talk about situations in the past.
It was cold yesterday.
My mum was a teacher when she was younger.
The children were late for school yesterday.
2) You can use was and were before:
a) nouns My mum was a teacher.
b) adjectives We were late yesterday.
c) locations The book was in my bag!
She wasn’t there.
DON’T use was and were before an infinitive verb.
I was go to the park yesterday. → I went to the park yesterday.
Form
Positive
I |
was
|
at school.
late.
a doctor.
|
You
|
were
|
He / She / It
|
was
|
We / They
|
were
|
Negative
I |
wasn’t
|
at school.
late.
a doctor.
|
You
|
weren’t
|
He / She / It
|
wasn’t
|
We / They
|
weren’t
|
Question
Was |
I
|
at school?
late?
a doctor?
|
Were
|
you
|
Was
|
he / she / it
|
Were
|
we / they
|
Short answers
Yes, I / he / she / it |
was.
|
No, I / he / she / it
|
wasn’t.
|
Yes, you / we / they
|
were.
|
No, you / we / they
|
weren’t.
|
Common mistakes
1) Some students make questions incorrectly.
You were at the party? → Were you at the party?
2) Some students use the wrong verb.
We was very happy. → We were very happy.