Basic Grammar 1.

1
TENSES BE (IS) Simple Present
FORMS
AFFIRMATIVE

QUESTION

NEGATIVE

He
She
It

He ?
Is She?
It ?

He
She
It

is

= Hes
= Shes
= Its

= He isnt
is not = She isnt
= It isnt

Affirmative Form: To make the affirmative, we use:

SUBJECT + IS + COMPLEMENT
Examples:
- This is a clock. It is new.
- Susan is a teacher. She is a good teacher.

Negative Form:

To make the negative, we put not after is.

SUBJECT + IS + NOT + COMPLEMENT
Examples:
- That isnt a house.
- George isnt American.

Question Form:

To make a question, we change the place of the subject and the verb.
IS + SUBJECT + COMPLEMENT
Examples:
This is a picture.
Is

this a picture?

Short Answers
Yes, it is.
No, it isnt.

Lucy is a student.
Is

Lucy a student?

Basic 1.1 Tenses Be (is) Simple Present

Yes, she is
No, she isnt

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Basic Grammar 1.1

Wh-Questions:

To make a Wh- question, we use the following formula.

WH-WORD + IS + SUBJECT + ?

Examples:

Question
Who is Paul?
Whats this?
Whos that?

Answer
Hes a doctor.
Its a pencil.
Thats Mr. Norton.

USE
We use is in the following cases:
1. Profession, trade, occupation:
Ex:

- Peter is a politician.
- Ms. Jones is the General Manager.

2. Nationality:
Ex:

- Claire is from Bogota.

- Shes Colombian.

3. Age:
Ex:

- Bobby is five years old.

- He is a kid.

4. Characteristics:
Ex:

- Nancy is intelligent.
- The table isnt big.

5. Condition:
Ex:

- John is happy.
- The chair is clean.

6. Place:
Ex:

- The book is here.

- Tom isnt in the classroom.

7. Color:
Ex:

- The door is green.

- That color isnt white.

Basic 1.1 Tenses Be (is) Simple Present

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Basic Grammar 1.1

PRACTICE: BE (Simple Present - IS)
I. Complete the sentences using is or isnt.
1. Miami ...is.... in the U.S.
2. Julia ........ Peruvian. Shes from Mexico.
3. Mary is 16 years old. She ............. old.
4. Vanilla ........... delicious. Its my favorite flavor.
5. The Sheraton a hotel.

II. Write negative sentences. Use isnt.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

(Today / Sunday)
Today isnt Sunday.
(New York / in France)....................................................................................
(Oliver / a lawyer)............................................................................................
(That / a bicycle)...............................................................................................
(Wilma / tired)..................................................................................................

III. Write questions with these words. Use is.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

(Clark a professional)
Is Clark a professional?
(Jenny at the movies).................................................................?
(this a notebook)........................................................................?
(that dog old) ............................................................?
(the house yellow) ....................................................................?

IV. Write the questions for these answers. Use the cues in parentheses)
1. Is Hank American? (Hank American)
No, he isnt. Hes German.
2. .......................................................................? (that man)
Hes Mr. Reynolds.
3. .......................................................................? (Katie a teacher)
Yes, she is. Shes a good teacher.
4. .......................................................................? (this)
Its a computer.
5. .......................................................................? (that a window)
No, it isnt. Its a door.

Basic 1.1 Tenses Be (is) Simple Present

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Basic Grammar 1.1

ANSWERS: Practice Basic 1.1
Exercise I:
1. is
2. isnt
3. isnt
4. is
5. is
Exercise II:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Today isnt Sunday.

New York isnt in France.
Oliver isnt a lawyer.
That isnt a bicycle.
Wilma isnt tired.

Exercise III:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Is Clark a professional?
Is Jenny at the movies?
Is this a notebook?
Is that dog old?
Is the house yellow?

Exercise IV:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Is Hank American?
Who is (Whos) that man?
Is Katie a teacher?
What is (Whats) this?
Is that a window?

Basic 1.1 Tenses Be (is) Simple Present

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