header ads

THE SIMPLE PRESENT TENSE WITH “TO BE”



Definition: We use the present simple tense of “to be” to show the state which is true all the time. The verb “to be” is different from the other verbs in this tense. Let us look at “to be” first:
Here is the positive form (positive means a normal sentence, not a negative or a question. This is sometimes called “affirmative”)

FORM: SUB + TO BE (AM, IS, ARE) + COMPLEMENT

Positive and Positive Short Form
I am a boy.
-I'm a boy.
You are clever.
-You're clever.
He is at home.
-He's at home.
She is over there.
-She's over there.
It is hot.
-It's hot.
We are always late for work.
-We're always late for work.
They are in the garden.
-They're in the garden.
Next, here is the negative. It is very easy. You only add “not”.

FORM: SUB + TO BE (AM, IS, ARE) + NOT + COMPLEMENT

Negative and Negative short form
I am not a doctor.
-I'm not a doctor.
You are not a nurse.
-You aren't a nurse.
He is not a robber.
-He isn't a robber.
She is not at home.
-She isn't at home.
It is not my dog.
-It isn't my dog.
We are not at work.
-We aren't at work.
They are not happy.
-They aren't happy.
And finally let us talk about the question form of the present simple with “to be” .Firstly, here is the “yes / no” question form:

FORM: TO BE (AM, IS, ARE) + SUB + COMPLEMENT?

Yes / No Questions
Am I a police officer?—Yes, you are. / No, you aren’t.
Are you an English teacher?—Yes, I am. / No, I’m not.
Is he sad?—Yes, he is. / No, he isn’t.
Is she in her office?—Yes, she is. / No, she isn’t.
Is it your motorbike?—Yes, it is. / No, it isn’t.
Are we late for the meeting?—Yes, we are. / No, we aren’t.
Are they in the park?—Yes, they are. / No, they aren’t.
If you would like to make a “wh” question, you just put the question word at the front:

FORM: WH-WORD + TO BE (AM, IS, ARE) + SUB + COMPLEMENT?

Wh Questions
Where am I?
-You are at school.
What are you?
-I am a teacher of English.
Why is he here?
-Because he wants to study English.
Who is she?
-She is my sister.
When are we there?
-In about an hour.
How are they?
-They are fine, thank you.


Written By Saren Chem, MBA

Post a Comment

0 Comments