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1. The Verb “To Be” in Present

Learning Outcomes

After completing Chapter 1, students will know how to:

  • use the functions of the verb “To Be”.
  • form the verb “To Be” in affirmative statements, negative statements and questions.
  • apply the verb “To Be” in various situations.

Functions of “To Be”

The verb “to be” is used for:

  1. showing the existence of something.
  2. describing the condition of a noun.

Let us discuss these points in detail.

The Existence of Something:

The existence of something can include nouns that are present.  Some examples are:

  • I am at home.
  • He is in the living room.
  • They are at school.
  • She isn’t at work today.
  • We aren’t there yet.
  • Are you here?
  • Is the dog in the kitchen?

The Condition of a Noun:

The condition of a noun describes something. This includes an adjective after the ‘be’ verb. Some examples are:

  • I am hungry.
  • He is angry.
  • She is beautiful.
  • They aren’t sorry.
  • It isn’t pleasant out.
  • Are you happy?
  • Is she shy?

Form of the Verb “To Be”

Affirmative Sentences: Subject + “be”
Subject + “be” + happy.
I am happy.
He is happy.
She is happy.
It is happy.
You are happy.
We are happy.
They are happy.
Negative Sentences: Subject + “be + not
Subject + “be”+ not
I am not happy.
He is not* happy.
She is not happy.
It is not happy.
You are not** happy.
We are not happy.

* is not = isn’t    **are not = aren’t

Yes/No Questions: “Be” + subject…?
“Be” + subject +            ? Short Answer
Am I happy? Yes, you are./No, you aren’t.
Is he happy? Yes, he is./No, he isn’t.
Are you happy? Yes, we are./No, we aren’t.
Information Questions: Wh- + “be” + subject?
Wh- + “be” + subject …?
Where am I?
Why is he angry?
When are they home?

Simple Present “To Be” Functions Practice

 

Simple Present “To Be” Functions Practice (Text Version)

Read the sentence and decide the function of ‘to be’.  Guess if the function is 1. the existence of something or 2. the condition of a noun.

  1.  Her dress is gorgeous.
  2. There are many books in the library.
  3. The marathon runner is exhausted.
  4. There is a long line at the restaurant.
  5. His daughter is a surgeon.
  6. He is on the phone.
  7. They are in a meeting.
  8. She isn’t in her office at the moment.
  9. The dog is very hungry.
  10. He is on vacation.

Check your Answers in footnote[1]

Activity source: “Function Practice Simple Present ‘To Be'”, by Sari Martin, licensed under CC BY-NC SA 4.0.

Present “To Be” Form Practice – Affirmative, Negative, Interrogative

Present “To Be” Practice – Affirmative

Present “To Be” Form Practice Affirmative (Text Version)

Fill in the blanks using the verb “to be” in present tense. Your sentence might be in affirmative, negative or interrogative. Use contractions whenever possible.

  1. He ________[Blank 1] at home, at the moment, sorry.  He ________[Blank 2] on vacation.
  2. ________[Blank 1] the cat hungry? I don’t think anyone fed her yet.
  3. The cat ________[Blank 1] hungry. I just fed her.
  4. Where ________[Blank 1] my glasses?  I can’t remember where I put them.
  5. Many of the children in the school ________[Blank 1] sick right now. They all have terrible colds.
  6. ________[Blank 1] they at the restaurant already?
  7. Even though they worked a long day, they ________[Blank 1] tired at all right now.
  8. I ________[Blank 1] not at work today.  I ________[Blank 2] at home instead.
  9. ________[Blank 1] you smart enough to get 100% on the exam?
  10. There ________[Blank 1] a great shoe sale at the shopping mall.
  11. She ________[Blank 1] very patient. She always loses her temper quickly.
  12. There ________[Blank 1] many songs to choose from on the list.

Check your Answers in footnote[2]

Present “To Be” Practice – Negative

The Verb “To Be” Negative (text version)

Match the words to the blanks to complete the sentences.

Words

  • aren’t
  • is
  • Is
  • Are
  • am
  • Am
  • isn’t
  • are
  • am not

Sentences

  1. Barrie ______[Blank A]  north of Toronto.
  2. The students ______[Blank A] quiet. They are all talking on their phones.
  3. I ______[Blank A] really tired today.
  4. I think I got lost. ______[Blank A] I in the B building?
  5. John ______[Blank A] happy when his students ______[Blank B] late.
  6. I ______[Blank A] at school today because I ______[Blank B] sick.
  7. ______[Blank A] Corinne in the office today?
  8. The students ______[Blank A] in the library.
  9. Georgian College ______[Blank A] very big compared to other colleges.
  10. ______[Blank A] you hungry?

Check your Answers in footnote[3]

Present “To Be” Practice – Interrogative

The verb “To Be” Interrogative (text version)

Complete the sentences by using the verb “To be” in present tense.

  1. We ____ happy today!
    1. am
    2. is
    3. are
  2. Natalie ___ our new lab technologist.
    1. am
    2. is
    3. are
  3. It ___ very warm today. I need a coat.
    1. am
    2. is
    3. isn’t
  4. The students __ in class today because it __ a holiday.
    1. are/is
    2. aren’t/isn’t
    3. aren’t/is
  5. I ___ available today because I ___ sick.
    1. am/am
    2. am not/am
    3. am not/am not
  6. Georgian College ___ closed during the Christmas break.
    1. am
    2. is
    3. are
  7. ___ you hungry?
    1. Am
    2. Is
    3. Are
  8. Where __ the classroom?
    1. am
    2. is
    3. are
  9. The teachers at Georgian College ___ fun to be around.
    1. am
    2. is
    3. are
  10. Why ___ Daniella tired?
    1. am not
    2. aren’t
    3. am
    4. isn’t

Check your Answers in footnote[4]

Activity source: “Present ‘To Be’ Form Practice Affirmative”, by Sari Martin. “To Be” Negative & “To Be” Interogative by Virginia McHardy, all licensed under CC BY-NC SA 4.0.

Communicative Activity – Describe a Friend” Presentation

  • Write 3–5 simple sentences about a friend or family member.

    • “She is tall.”

    • “He is not a teacher.”

    • “She is funny and kind.”

  • Then, they present to a partner or small group.

Variation: Turn it into a guessing game: “Guess who I’m talking about!”

 

Verb Tenses in Music

For a fun activity, search the web and find the following songs:

  • We are the Champions by Queen
  • You’re Beautiful by James Blunt

Can you hear the verb “to be” in the lyrics?

An old teacher asked her student, "If I say, 'I am beautiful,' which tense is that?" The student replied, "It is obviously past."
“The Verb “To Be’ Joke” by Virginia McHardy, licensed under CC BY 4.0.

Attribution & References

Except where otherwise noted, “The Verb “To Be” in Present” by Sari Martin & Virginia McHardy is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.

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    2. the existence of something
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License

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

Verb Tenses for English for Academic Purposes Copyright © 2019 by Sari Martin and Virginia McHardy is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/Effective English for Teachers

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