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Verb to be

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Verb to be

Lesson Reference Card

Affirmative

SubjectFull formContractionExample
IamI'mI am a student.
YouareYou'reYou are kind.
He / She / ItisHe's / She's / It'sShe is a nurse.
We / TheyareWe're / They'reThey are ready.

Negative

SubjectFull formContractionExample
Iam notI'm not (no other contraction)I'm not tired.
He / She / Itis notisn'tShe isn't late.
You / We / Theyare notaren'tWe aren't ready.

Questions & short answers

QuestionYesNo
Am I...?Yes, you are.No, you aren't.
Is she / he / it...?Yes, she is.No, she isn't.
Are you / we / they...?Yes, I am. / Yes, they are.No, I'm not. / No, they aren't.

Short answers use the full form: "Yes, I am." — NOT "Yes, I'm."

Word Play · Cambridge English A1→C2

Verb to be — Exercises

Choose the correct form

Circle the correct option for each sentence.

  1. She _____ a doctor. (am / is / are)
  2. We _____ at school. (is / am / are)
  3. I _____ happy today. (is / are / am)
  4. They _____ my friends. (is / am / are)
  5. It _____ a small cat. (am / are / is)

Negatives and contractions

Choose the correct negative form.

  1. I _____ tired. (full form negative) (am not / is not / are not)
  2. She _____ late. (contraction) (isn't / aren't / am not)
  3. They _____ here today. (contraction) (isn't / aren't / am not)
  4. My brother _____ ten. He is nine. (contraction) (isn't / aren't / is not)
  5. We _____ ready yet. (full form) (am not / is not / are not)

Questions

Choose the correct question word or short answer.

  1. _____ she French? (Is / Are / Am)
  2. _____ they your friends? (Is / Are / Am)
  3. "Are you from Spain?" — "Yes, _____ ." (I am / I'm not / he is)
  4. "Is she a nurse?" — "No, _____ ." (she isn't / she is / they aren't)

In context — fill one word

Read and complete. Write only the missing verb.

  1. Ana ___ from Brazil.  
  2. Mr Green ___ very kind.  
  3. The classmates ___ from different countries.  
  4. They ___ all happy.  

Verb to be — Answer Key

Choose the correct form

  1. is — "She" is he/she/it → always is.
  2. are — "We" is plural → always are.
  3. am — "I" always uses am — the only subject.
  4. are — "They" is plural → use are.
  5. is — "It" is third person singular → use is.

Negatives and contractions

  1. am not — "I" negative = am not. There is no "amn't".
  2. isn't — "She is not" → contraction = isn't.
  3. aren't — "They are not" → contraction = aren't.
  4. isn't — "He/she is not" → isn't.
  5. are not — "We are not" = are not (or aren't).

Questions

  1. Is — He/she/it questions start with Is.
  2. Are — They/we/you questions start with Are.
  3. I am — Short answer to "Are you...?" = Yes, I am. NOT "Yes, I'm."
  4. she isn't — Short negative = she isn't.

In context — fill one word

  1. is
  2. is
  3. are
  4. are