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The verb "to be"

Verbs are words that describe an action or a state. For example: to go, to run, to be, to have.
The verb "to be" is the most important verb in the English language. These are the forms of the verb "to be":
Singular:
  • I am
  • You are
  • He, She, It is
Plural:
  • We are
  • You are
  • They are
 
Choose the correct form of "to be":
 
 
  1. They
    tired.

     
  2. We
    not hungry.

     
  3. you hungry?

     
  4. I
    thirsty.

     
  5. He
    on the plane.

     
 

The positive short forms of "to be"

You can shorten the forms of "to be":
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
 
Write the short form of "to be". Don't forget the apostrophe '.
 
 
  1. They
    tired.

     
  2. I
    thirsty.

     
  3. We
    not hungry.

     
  4. He
    on the plane.

     
 
When you use the forms of "to be" is, am, are, you make a general statement. To negate that statement, you must add "not". It comes after the form of "to be:"
  • I am not
  • You are not
  • She is not
  • We are not
  • You are not
  • They are not
 
Practise the position of the word "not". Decide where it must go.
 
 
  1. I
    a boy.

     
  2. He
    a girl.

     
  3. They
    in a car.

     
  4. We
    on a train.

     
 

The negative short forms of "to be": is and are

  • are not = aren't
  • is not = isn't
Note: The form "I am" cannot be shortened!
 
Practise the negative short forms of "to be". Write them into the gaps:
 
 
  1. She
    (is not) hungry.

     
  2. They
    (are not) thirsty.

     
  3. I
    (am not) hungry.

     
  4. We
    (are not) hungry.

     
 
Fill in the gaps with the forms of "to be (am, is, are)".
 
 
  • Pedro


    on the plane. He says: "I


    thirsty. The stewardess gives him a can of Coke. Anna and Maria are also thirsty. Their drinks


    two glasses of water. They


    not hungry.
     
 
Source: http://www.learning-english-online.net/areas/grammar/tenses-and-verb-forms/special-verbs/the-verb-to-be/
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