be - present tense -
questions and answers
Level One
Lesson 5: be - present tense questions and answers
Some questions in English use the verb “be” as the main verb in the present tense. The answer also uses the verb “be.”
In this lesson, you will learn how to ask questions using the verb “be” in the present tense, and then provide a “yes-no” answer. (CEFR: A1)
A: Are you here on Monday? (question)
B: Yes, I am. (answer)
A: Is she the teacher? (question)
B: Yes, she is. (answer)
be – questions and answers – present tense
5. verb + subject
First, let’s review how questions are made for a yes or no response:
- Are you a student?
- Is he a student?
- Are they students?
The verb “be” in the present tense is am, is, or are. To form a question, “be” goes before the subject.
- Are (Be) they men? Be = Are
- Is (Be) it good? Be = Is
- Am (Be) I a teacher? Be = Am
5. verb + subject
After the verb and the subject comes an adjective or a noun.
Questions:
- Is it breakfast? (noun)
- Is it delicious? (adjective)
- Is it a delicious breakfast? (adjective + noun)
Answers:
- Yes, it is. (Yes, it is breakfast.)
- No, it isn’t. (No, it is not delicious.)
- No, it’s not. (No, it is not a delicious breakfast.)
5. (be) + subject + adjective
Singular
Am I cold?
Are you cold?
Is he hot?
Is she hot?
Is it hot?
Plural
Are we together?
Are you interested?
Are they tired?
Short Answers:
It’s always necessary to think carefully about the subject and the verb when giving short answers to questions:
A: Are you cold?
B: Yes, I am. (I am cold)
A: Is he busy?
B: Yes, he is.
A: Are they available? (they = books)
B: No, they aren’t.
Do you see the verb “be” in the question and the answer?
5. (be) + subject + adjective
- Student: Are you outside?
- Teacher: Yes, I am.
- A: Is he outside?
- B: Yes, he is.
- Teacher: Are you busy?
- Student: Yes, I am.
- A: Is she busy?
- B: Yes, she is.
Note: In these examples, the subject complement comes after the subject. The subject complement is either an adjective or a noun. What is a subject complement? You will learn about subject complements in Lesson Six. (That’s the next lesson, but wait! Don’t go there yet.)
5. be + subject + noun
Singular
Am I a teacher?
Are you a student?
Is he a cashier?
Is she a driver?
Is it an apartment?
Plural
Are we students?
Are you students?
Are they students?
Short Answers:
Notice the use of pronouns in the answers.
A: Is it Tuesday?
B: No, it isn’t.
A: Are you a student?
B: No, I’m not.
A: Is it a good idea?
B: No, it isn’t.
5. be + subject + noun
- A: Is he a teacher?
- B: Yes, he is.
- A: Is this his website for English?
- B: Yes, it is.
- A: Is that a river?
- B: No, it isn’t. It’s a creek.
- A: Are you a student?
- B: Yes, I am.
- A: Is that your computer?
- B: Yes, it is.
- A: Is it a desktop computer?
- B: No, it isn’t. It’s a laptop.
This next video explains how short answers are formed for questions that include the verb “be” in the present tense.
Part A: Directions: Write “yes-no” questions with the verb “be” in the present tense.
________ she here today?
________ the students on the bus?
________ I late for school?
________ the book in his backpack?
________ there a car in the garage?
________ milk on sale at the grocery store today?
________ my bike ready?
________ the police on the corner?
________ the seeds in the ground?
________ it warm outside?
Part B: Directions: Write “yes-no” answers to the questions with the verb “be” in the present tense.
________ she here today? Yes, _______________________.
________ the students on the bus? No, __________________.
________ I late for school? No, ________________________.
________ the book in his backpack? Yes, ________________.
________ there a car in the garage? No, _________________.
________ milk on sale at the grocery store today? Yes, _______.
________ my bike ready? Yes, __________________________.
________ the police on the corner? No, ___________________.
________ the seeds in the ground? No, ____________________,
________ it warm outside? Yes, __________________________,
After you finish the lesson, you can take this quiz: