Verb to “Be”

This verb is one of the most important verbs in the written and spoken language. By this I
mean to say that it is used frequently. Study the table below.-

Positive

Present Past

I am (was) (I`M) ( I was )

He he’s (he was)

She is (was) she’s (she was)
It it’s ( It was)

We we’re. (we were)

You are (were) you’re (you were)
They they’re (they were)

Negative

Present and past

I am not (was not) (I’m not)

He he’s not or he isn’t / he was not or he wasn’t

She is not (was not) she’s not or she isn’t / she was not or she wasn’t
It it’s not or it isn’t / it was not or it wasn’t

We we’re not or we aren’t / we were not or we weren’t

You are not (were not) you’re not or you aren’t / you were not or you weren’t
They they’re not or they aren’t / they were not or they weren’t

See the following examples.

Positive statements

1) I’m cold. Can you close the window please?

2) Last year Frank was 22, so he is 23 now.
3) I’m 32 years old. My sister is 28.
4) John is afraid of dogs.
5) We were hungry after the journey but we weren’t tired
6) Its ten o’clock. You’re late again.
7) Ann and I are good friends.

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 8) Those shoes were are nice were they expensive

Negative statements.

1) I’m tired but I’m not hungry.

2) Tomas isn’t at home at the moment. She’s at work.
3) Those people aren’t Mozambicans. They’re Malawians.
4) It’s sunny today, but it isn’t warm.

Questions

Present and past

Positive Question
I am / was Am / was I?

He He?
She is / was Is / was She?
It It?

We We?
You are / were are / were you?
They They?

See the following examples

1) I’m I late? No you’re on time.
2) Was the weather good when you were on holiday?
3) Is your mother at home? No she’s out.
4) Are your parents at home? No they’re out
5) Were you late? No, I wasn’t
6) Is it cold in your room? Yes, a little.
7) Was Ted at work yesterday?

Consolidation Tasks
Exercise i. Write the short form (she’s / we aren’t etc). See the example.

1) She is ……… she’s.

2) It is not ………isn’t….
3) I am not………I’m not….
4) They are ……They’re…..
5) That is …………That’s..
6) You are not……….You’re not

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Exercise ii. Put in am, is or are

1) The weather is nice today.

2) Look! There …is… Francisco.
3) I …am…..not tired.
4) My brother and I …are.. good tennis player.
5) This bag …is.. heavy.
6) These bags …are… heavy

Exercise iii. Write full sentences. Use is / isn’t / are / aren’t

1) (your shoes very dirty) Your shoes are very dirty.

2) (my brother a teacher)…my brother isn’t a teacher…………………………
3) (this house not very big.)…this house isn’t very big……………………..
4) (you not very tall)…you are not very tall…………………………….
5) (my keys in my bag)…my keys are in my bag………………………….
6) (Jenny 18 year old)……Jenny is 18 years old………………………….

Exercise iv. Find the right answer for the question

1) Where’s the camera? a) London

2) Is your car blue? b) No, I’m not.
3) Is Linda from London? c) Yes, you are.
4) Am I late? d) My sister
5) Where’s Ann from? e) Black
6) What colour is your bag f) No, its black.
7) Are you hungry? g) In your bag.
8) How is George? h) No, she’s American.
9) Who’s that woman? i) Very well.

1 g
2 f……………….……………..
3 h………………….………….
4 b…………….……………….
5 a…………………..…………
6 e……………,,,,,,,,,,,………..
7 b
8 i……………….…………….
9 d……………………..………
10 d………….……….

Exercise v. Put in was / were or wasn’t / weren’t

1) We weren’t happy with the hotel. Our room ….was... very small and
it...wasn’t very clean.

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 2) George …wasn’t…at work last week because he was… ill. He’s better
now.
3) Yesterday was…..a public holiday so the shops were… closed. They’re
open today
4) ‘…weren’t……Lurdes and Augusto at the party?’ ‘Lurdes …were…there
but Augusto…….’
5) ‘Where are my keys?’ ‘I don’t know. They …were…..on the table but
they’re not there now’.
6) You weren’t…….at home last night. Where …were… you?

Countable and uncountable

A noun can be countable or uncountable. See the following examples

Countable Uncountable
1) I eat a banana every day 1) I eat rice every day.
2) I like bananas 2) I like rice.

Banana is a countable noun Rice is uncountable noun

In brief , a countable noun can be singular Uncountable noun has only one form.
(banana) or plural (bananas) (rice)

We can use numbers with countable nouns. We cannot use numbers with
So we can say ‘one banana’, ‘two bananas’, uncountable nouns. We cannot say ‘one
and so on.. see more examples. rice’, ‘two rices’. See further examples.

• Bernardo was singing a song. • Ann was listening to (some)

• There’s a nice beach near here.
• It wasn’t your fault. It was an
accident.
• There are no batteries in the radio.
You can use a / an with singular countable
a beach a student an umbrella
You cannot use singular countable nouns
alone. (Without a / the / my etc….) see the
following examples.
• I want a banana (not I want
banana)
• There’s been an accident. (not there
music.
• There’s sand in my shoes.
• There’s no electricity in the
house..
• It wasn’t your fault, it was bud
luck
You cannot normally use a / an / with
uncountable nouns. We do not say, sand’,
‘a music’, ‘a rice’. But you can often use
a….of. for example
A bowl / a packet / a grain of rice.
You can use uncountable nouns alone.
(Without the / my / some etc). for example.
• I eat rice every day
• There’s blood on your shirt.
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 `s been accident) • Can you hear music?

You can use plural countable nouns alone.

See the examples.

• I like bananas
• Accidents can be prevented.

You can use some and any with plural

countable nouns. See the following
examples.

1) We sang some songs.

2) Did you buy any apples?

Consolidation tasks
Exercise i: some of these sentences need a/an. Correct the sentences where necessary.
1) Joe goes everywhere by bike. He hasn’t got car. He hasn’t got a car.
2) Helena was listening to music when I arrived……………………………………..
3) We went to a very nice restaurant last weekend……………………..
……………….
4) I clean my teeth with a toothpaste……………………………………..
……………..
5) I use a toothbrush to clean my teeth………………………………….
………………
6) Maria was wearing a beautiful
necklace…………………………………………….
7) I like volleyball. Its a good
game……………………………………………………

Exercise ii. Complete the sentences using the following words. Sometimes the word
needs to be plural ( -s) and sometimes you need to use a/an.
Air day friend language letter meat
Patience people photograph queue space umbrella

1) I had my camera, but I didn’t take any photographs.

2) There are seven …days…….. in a week.
3) A vegetarian is a person who doesn’t eat …meat………………………….
4) Outside the cinema there was ……a queue……….. of people waiting to see the
film.
5) I’m not very good at writing……letters…………………..
6) Last night I went out with some …friends….. of mine.
7) There were very few …people……. in town today. The streets were almost
empty.
8) I’m going out for a walk. I need some fresh …air………………………………

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9) Bernard always wants things quickly. He hasn’t got much …patience………….