Use:
Use be with:
| Names | Hello, I’m John. |
| Your 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 |
|
You / We / They |
are / ’re |
|
|
He / She / It |
is / ‘s |
Negative Sentences
I |
am not / ‘m not |
cold / hungry |
|
You / We / They |
are not / aren’t / ’re not |
|
|
He / She / It |
is not / isn’t / ‘s not |
Questions
Am |
I |
cold / hungry? |
|
Are |
you / we / they |
|
|
Is |
he / she / it |
Short answers
Yes, |
I am. |
No, |
I’m not. |
Contractions
The verb be has a full form and a contracted form.
I am = I’m
He is = He’s
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:
Yes, I am NOT Yes, I’m
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?