be - present tense - negative
Level One
Lesson 1a — be
present tense: negative
To make the verb “be” negative, add “not” to the verb.
am, is, or are.
am not / is not / are not
(CEFR: A1)
- He is not here today.
- We are not thirsty.
- You are not at work.
The Verb “Be” – Present Tense – Negative
(be) + not
1a. be - present tense: negative
To make the verb “be” negative, just add “not” after the verb.
Singular
I am not.
You are not.
He is not.
She is not.
It is not.
Plural
We are not.
You are not.
They are not.
The sentences above are okay, but the word “not” is often followed by something else, a noun, an adjective, or an adverb.
Singular
I am not inside.
You are not here.
He is not a teacher.
She is not a teacher.
It is not easy.
Plural
We are not in the same room.
You are not here with me.
They are not at school.
1a. be - present tense: negative
- I am not inside. I’m outside.
- You are not here. You are there. You are somewhere else.
- It is not warm outside. It’s a little cool outside today.
- 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.
- They are not on the bus. They are on a big bike.
1a. be — present tense: negative
subject + verb + not
Singular
I am not a ______.
You are not a _______.
He is not a _______.
She is not a _______.
It is not a _______.
Plural
We are not ________.
You are not _________.
They are not __________.
Write
Fill in the blank _____ with a noun or an adjective.
- I am not_______________.
- You are not_____________.
- It is not________________.
- I am not ________________.
- There is not _______________.
- He is not________________.
- There are not ____________.
- They are not _____________.
- It is not__________________.
- The teacher is not _________.
In Lesson 1b, you learn how to make questions with the verb “be.”