The Verb 'TO BE'

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 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.
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?