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VerbsCEFR A1 - CEFR A2

Verb To Be (am / is / are)

The verb 'to be' is the most important verb in English. It is used to introduce yourself, describe people and things, and give information. At beginner level we use three forms: AM (with I), IS (with he/she/it), and ARE (with you/we/they).

Positive: I am a student. She is a teacher. They are friends.
Negative: I am not late. He isn't from Spain. We aren't students.
Question: Are you a student? Is she from Armenia? Am I late?
Short answers: Yes, I am. / No, I'm not. Yes, he is. / No, he isn't.

💡 Tips

  • Learn the contractions: I'm, You're, He's, She's, It's, We're, They're — native speakers always use them.
  • In questions, the verb comes FIRST: 'Are you…?' not 'You are…?'
  • Always use a subject — English does not drop the subject like Armenian or Russian.
  • Practice with your own name: 'My name is ___. I am from ___. I am ___ years old.'

Grammar Rules

✅

Positive form

I am (I'm) · You are (You're) · He/She/It is (He's/She's/It's) · We/You/They are (We're/They're) Examples: • I am Anna. • She is a teacher. • They are students.
❌

Negative form

Add NOT after the verb: am not · is not (isn't) · are not (aren't) Examples: • I am not a doctor. • He isn't from Spain. • We aren't late.
❓

Question form

Move the verb BEFORE the subject: Am I? · Is he/she/it? · Are you/we/they? Examples: • Are you a student? • Is she from Armenia? • Am I late?
📝

Short answers

Yes, I am. / No, I'm not. Yes, he is. / No, he isn't. Yes, they are. / No, they aren't.

Examples

A1
EN"I am a student."
positive — I + am
A1
EN"She is a teacher."
positive — she + is
A1
EN"They are from Armenia."
positive — they + are
A1
EN"I am not a doctor."
negative — am not
A1
EN"Are you a student?"
question — are + you
A1
EN"My name is Anna. I'm from Russia."
introduction — real use

⚠️ Common Mistakes

❌ Wrong:
She am a doctor.
✅ Correct:
She IS a doctor.
💡 Note:
Use IS with he/she/it — never AM.
❌ Wrong:
I is happy.
✅ Correct:
I AM happy.
💡 Note:
AM is only for I.
❌ Wrong:
He not is here.
✅ Correct:
He is NOT here. / He isn't here.
💡 Note:
NOT comes after the verb to be, not before.
❌ Wrong:
Are you student?
✅ Correct:
Are you A student?
💡 Note:
Don't forget the article A before a singular noun.

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🧠 Practice Quiz1 / 5

Choose the correct form of 'to be'.
I ____ a student.

Frequently asked questions

What is Verb To Be (am / is / are)?
This lesson explains Verb To Be (am / is / are) with rules and examples.
How do you form Verb To Be (am / is / are)?
Follow the steps in the lesson to form Verb To Be (am / is / are).
When do you use Verb To Be (am / is / are)?
The lesson describes when to use Verb To Be (am / is / are), with examples.
What are examples of Verb To Be (am / is / are)?
Example: I am a student.
What is the difference between Verb To Be (am / is / are) and Irregular Verbs?
Compare Verb To Be (am / is / are) with Irregular Verbs to notice subtle usage differences.

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Irregular Verbs→

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