be - present tense
Level One
Lesson 1 - be
The best place to begin learning English is with the verb “be.”
In the present tense, the verb “be” takes three forms: am, is, or are.
When you complete this lesson, you can take Quiz #1.
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It’s important to know that the verb “be” in the present tense looks very different from the verb “be” in the simple form. This short video shows the four principal parts of the verb “be.”
After you watch the video, finish the rest of the lesson.
simple form
be
present tense
am / is / are
When you see the ✍🏾, write in your notebook.
1a. be - present tense ✍️
subject + verb
Singular
I am
you are
he is
she is
it is
Plural
we are
you are
they are
be = am, is, are
The verb “be” matches the subject.
The subject is singular or plural.
The verb is singular or plural.
1a. ✍️ Write
- I am your teacher.
- You are my student.
- It is cold outside.
- I am outside.
- There is snow on the ground.
- He is a student.
- There are other students.
- They are all in a classroom.
- It is warm in the classroom.
- The teacher is somewhere in the classroom.
1b. be - present tense
subject + verb ✍️
Singular
I am a ______.
You are a _______.
He is a _______.
She is a _______.
It is a _______.
Plural
We are ________.
You are _________.
They are __________.
1b. ✍️ Write
Fill in the blank _____ with a noun or an adjective.
- I am _______________.
- You are _____________.
- It is ________________.
- I am ________________.
- There is _________________. .
- He is ________________. .
- There are ________________. .
- They are _________________. .
- It is ____________________. .
- The teacher is _____________.
be – present tense (PDF)
be – present tense
Part A – Directions: Underline the verb “be” in each sentence. Indicate if the verb (be) is singular or plural.
He is a student. (singular / plural)
The books are old. (singular / plural)
My teacher’s name is Paul. (singular / plural)
Joe and Mary are students. (singular / plural)
It is a dog. (singular / plural)
They are large. (singular / plural)
I am a student. (singular / plural)
You are a student. (singular / plural)
You are students. (singular / plural)
We are in the classroom (singular / plural)
Part B – Directions: Write the correct form of the verb “be” for each sentence.
I __________ a student.
The teacher __________ a man.
We __________ at school.
You __________ a student.
The coffee __________ hot.
Mary __________ on her phone.
The books __________ on the table.
It __________ a large building.
The family __________ at the table.
Breakfast _________ my favorite meal.
1c. be - present tense negative ✍🏾
To make the verb “be” negative, just add “not” after the verb.
Singular
I am not inside.
You are not here.
He is not a teacher.
She is not a teacher.
It is not a car.
Plural
We are not in the same room.
You are not here with me.
They are not at school.
1c. ✍️ Write
- I am not outside. I’m inside.
- You are not here. You are there. You are somewhere else.
- It is not cold inside. It’s warm inside.
- Are you inside or outside right now? (This is a question.)
- They are not inside. They’re outside.
- They are not at home.
- They are not in a classroom.
- It is not cold outside. It’s warm.
1d. be - present tense questions ✍🏾
To form a question, put the verb “be” in front of the subject.
Singular
Am I a teacher?
Are you a student?
Is he a student?
Is she a student?
Is it a book?
Plural
Are we in the same room?
Are you all in a classroom?
Are they at school right now?
1d. ✍️ Write
- Is she a student?
- Is she in school?
- Are you in school?
- Am I your teacher?
- Are you my student?
- Are you online?
- Am I online?
- Are we online?
be – present tense – negatives and questions (You may print the PDFs.)
If this is too easy, go to Lesson Two.
In Lesson Two, you learn how to use the word “there.”