Grasp the Basics: Present Simple Forms of ‘To Be’ (am/is/are) in English Grammar

Are you ready to build a solid foundation in English grammar? Our dynamic English grammar courses are perfect for beginners and intermediate learners who want to develop strong speaking, writing, and comprehension skills. One of the essential components of English grammar is understanding the present simple forms of the verb « to be. » Mastering this will enable you to express yourself clearly and confidently in everyday conversations.

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Understanding the Present Simple Forms of ‘To Be’

Usage and Examples

The present simple forms of the verb « to be » – am, is, and are – are fundamental for describing current situations and states. Here are some examples:

• I am a student.
• My mother is a doctor.
• They are not very busy.
• Is he a teacher?

Grammar Explanation

Affirmative, Negative, and Question Forms

To use the present simple of « to be, » you need to know how to form affirmative, negative, and question sentences:

Affirmative:

• I am
• You/we/they are
• He/she/it is

Negative:

• I am not
• You/we/they are not
• He/she/it is not

Questions:

• Am I?
• Are you/we/they?
• Is he/she/it?

Contractions

Contractions are commonly used, especially in spoken English, to make sentences shorter and more fluent:

• 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.

Negative Contractions

For negative sentences, place « not » after the verb. Both the verb and « not » can be contracted:

• I am not at work. = I’m not at work.
• 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.

Questions

To form questions, switch the order of « am, » « is, » or « are » with the subject:

• Are you tired?
• Is she Mexican?
• Is this your phone?
• Are we late?
• Are they your children?

Short Answers

In short answers, we use contractions with negative responses but not with affirmative ones:

Affirmative:

• Yes, I am.
• Yes, you are.
• Yes, we are.
• Yes, they are.
• Yes, he is.
• Yes, she is.
• Yes, it is.

Negative:

• No, I am not. = No, I’m not.
• No, you are not. = No, you’re not. = No, you aren’t.
• No, we are not. = No, we’re not. = No, we aren’t.
• No, they are not. = No, they’re not. = No, they aren’t.
• No, he is not. = No, he’s not. = No, he isn’t.
• No, she is not. = No, she’s not. = No, she isn’t.
• No, it is not. = No, it’s not. = No, it isn’t.

Questions with Question Words

We can also form questions using question words like « where, » « when, » « who, » or « what » at the beginning:

• Where are you from? I’m from Italy.
• When is the meeting? It’s next Tuesday.
• Who is he? He’s my cousin.
• What time is it? It’s seven o’clock.

Practice Makes Perfect

Write three phrases using the verb « to be » in the present simple in the comments below, and we will correct them for you! Partner with us to help your team master the foundations of English and achieve all their language goals. We will be happy to enhance your employees’ English skills and boost your company’s communication capabilities.