Verbs
the verb "be"
This is the most important verb to learn in English, and I think it should be the first verb you learn about.
examples for the verb "be"
I am a teacher.
You are a student.
It is a bike.
be
Present Tense - Affirmative
singular
I am
You are
He is
She is
It is
plural
We are
You are
They are
be
Present Tense - Negative
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
be
Present Tense
Affirmative Contractions
singular
I am = I'm
You are = You're
He is = He's
She is = She's
It is = It's
plural
We are = We're
You are = You're
They are = They're
be
Present Tense
Negative Contractions 1
singular
I am not = I'm not
You are not = You're not
He is not = He's not
She is not = She's not
It is not = It's not
plural
We are not = We're not
You are not = You're not
They are not = They're not
To make negative contractions with the verb “be,” combine the verb “be” and the word “not.”
For example:
are + not = aren’t
is + not + isn’t
Note: It’s not possible to combine “am” and “not” unless you want to use the word “ain’t.”
be
Present Tense
Negative Contractions 2
singular
I am not = I'm not
You are not = You aren't
He is not = He isn't
She is not = She isn't
It is not = It isn't
plural
We are not = We aren't
You are not = You aren't
They are not = They aren't
Practice
Directions: Put the verb “be” into each sentence. Write the answers in your notebook.
1. I __________ a student.
2. You _______ a teacher.
3. He ________ a cook.
4. She _______ a doctor.
5. It ________ a school.
6. We _______ students.
7. You _______ teachers.
8. They _______ people.
Directions: Change the verb “be” to the negative form for each sentence. Write the answers in your notebook.
1. I __________ a teacher.
2. You _______ a student.
3. He ________ a doctor.
4. She _______ a cook.
5. It ________ a store.
6. We _______ teachers.
7. You _______ students.
8. They _______ business people.
The four principal parts
be / was or were / been / being