THE VERB "TO BE (AM, IS AND ARE)

The words (am, is, are) are also verbs, but they are not action words. They are the simple present tense of the verb be. Use am with the pronoun I, and is with the pronouns he, she and it. Use are with the pronouns you, they and we. For example:

It is a donkey.

It is not a horse.

It is very hot today.

It is not very comfortable.

I am Peter. I am not Paul.

She is Miss Lee. She is a teacher.

He is my father. He is a doctor. He is not a lawyer.

You are a stranger. You are not my friend.

We are in the same class, but we are not on the same team.

They are good friends. They are not enemies.

Here’s a table to help you remember how to use am, is and are:

Singular Plural

First person: I am - we are

Second person: you are - you are

Third person: he is - they are

she is - they are

it is - they are

Learn these short forms called contractions:

I am = I’m

they are = they’re

you are = you’re

we are = we’re

he is = he’s

she is = she’s

it is = it’s

am not = aren’t (only in questions)

is not = isn’t

are not = aren’t

In questions, use aren’t as a contraction of am not. For example, you can say:

I’m taller than you, aren’t I?

But in a statement you say:

I’m not as old as you.

Use the verb is with singular nouns and are with plural nouns. For example:

The camel is a desert animal.

Lambs are baby sheep.

Vegetables and fruit are healthy foods.

Kenneth is a lawyer.

Rex is a clever dog.

A duck is a kind of bird.

The playground is full of people today.

My house is near the school.

These questions are too difficult.

The balloons are very colorful.

Those people are very busy.

Dad and Mom are in the kitchen.

The camel is a desert animal.

Use is and are with the word there to say what you can see and hear.

There is a castle on the hill.

There are some clouds in the sky.

There is a wasps’ nest in the tree.

There is a fence around the school.

There are a lot of books in the library.

There are two guards at the gate.

Is there any food in the fridge?

Are there any apples left on the tree?

How much rice is there?

There are a few sharks in the bay.

There are enough candies for everyone, aren’t there?

There are two pigeons on the roof.

Learn this contraction:

there is = there’s