Level One

Lesson 1
be - present tense

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. 

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 ar

they are

1a. Examples ✍️

Teacher Paul / Paul Lawrence
  • I am your teacher. 
  • You are my student. 
  • It is cold outside. 
  • I am outside. 
  • There is snow on the ground. 
students, classroom, school-395568.jpg
  • 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

Write 

✍️

Fill in the blank _____ with a noun or an adjective. 

  • I am _______________. 
  • You are _____________.  
  • It is ________________.  
  • I am ________________.
  • There is _________________. . 
students, classroom, school-395568.jpg
  • He is ________________. .
  • There are ________________. . 
  • They are _________________. . 
  • It is ____________________. . 
  • The teacher is _____________.  

be – present tense

 

Part A – Directions: Underline the verb “be” in each sentence. Indicate if the verb (be) is singular or plural. 

 

  1. He is a student. (singular / plural) 

  2. The books are old.  (singular / plural) 

  3. My teacher’s name is Paul. (singular / plural) 

  4. Joe and Mary are students.  (singular / plural) 

  5. It is a dog. (singular / plural) 

  6. They are large. (singular / plural) 

  7. I am a student. (singular / plural) 

  8. You are a student. (singular / plural) 

  9. You are students. (singular / plural) 

  10. We are in the classroom  (singular / plural) 

 

Part B – Directions: Write the correct form of the verb “be” for each sentence. 

  1. I __________ a student. 

  2. The teacher __________ a man. 

  3. We __________ at school. 

  4. You __________ a student. 

  5. The coffee __________ hot. 

  6. Mary __________ on her phone. 

  7. The books __________ on the table. 

  8. It __________ a large building. 

  9. The family __________ at the table. 

  10.  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. Examples ✍️

  • 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.)
Young people sitting on a conference bike.
  • 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. Examples ✍️

to learn, school, language lessons-2001847.jpg
  • 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 click print the PDFs.) 

 If this is too easy, go to Lesson Two. 

In Lesson Two, you learn how to use the word “there.”