'Be' Verbs
A verb shows action or a state of being.
I
go home. Home is my place to rest. I
like the smell of my house. I
feel totally relaxed. Home
refreshes me. At home, I
get ready for a new day.
"Be" verbs indicate a state of being.
Verbs must match subjects.
- I am a doctor.
- He is sleepy.
- We are here.
Negative sentences need ‘not' after the verb.
- I am not a doctor.
- He is not sleepy.
- We are not there.
The verb comes first in interrogative sentences.
- Am I a doctor?
- Is he sleepy?
- Are we there?
"Are not" (is not) can be shortened to "aren't" (isn't).
- He isn't sleepy.
- We aren't there.
Remember the variations of "be" verbs:
| Present |
Negative |
Interrogative |
| I am |
I am not |
Am I? |
| You are |
You are not (aren't) |
Are you? |
| He is |
He is not (isn't) |
Is he? |
| She is |
She is not (isn't) |
Is she? |
| It is |
It is not (isn't) |
Isn't it? |
| We are |
We are not (aren't) |
Are we? |
| You are |
You are not (aren't) |
Are you? |
| They are |
They are not (aren't) |
Are they? |
[Quiz 5.1]
Which of the following sentences are written correctly?
1) I am thirsty.
2) You are kind.
3) He am not sad.
4) She are not tall.
5) It is not moving.
6) We aren't tired.
7) Is they running?
8) Are you ready?
View Answers
