1

The Present of Be:

Statements and
Yes/No Questions
Introductions

Conversation
Tom: Are you a new student here?
Lea: Yes, I am. My name is Lea.
Tom: My names Tom Sanchez.
Lea: Oh, I think I know your mother. Shes Marta
Sanchez, right?
Tom: Uh, Marta Sanchez isnt my mother. Shes my
sister.
Lea: Oh.

Form
Subject

Be

am

you

are

he
she
it

is

we
they

are

Use of the Verb Be 1

We use the verb be before. . . NOUNS.

I am a firefighter.

He is a photographer.

They are aliens.

??
?

Use of the Verb Be 2

We use the verb be before. . . ADJECTIVES.

I am busy.
He is afraid.

It is hungry.

Use of the Verb Be 3

We use the verb be before. . . PREPOSITIONAL
PHRASES.

She is in the shower.

She is from Japan.

He is under the bed.

Contractions
In a contraction, an apostrophe ()
replaces a letter.

Im
I m
am
a student.
a student.
Sams
isfrom
Sam
s
fromChina.
China.
They
Theyre
excited.
re
areexcited.

am a doctor
Im a doctor
He is tall
Hes tall

Talk with a partner about

these pictures. Use the verb
be and contractions.

Practice 1
in the air

upset

Example:

painters

shocked

1.

Hes shocked.

Shes upset.
3.

2.

Theyre painters.

Its in the air.

Negatives Not
Subject + Be
+ Not

Contraction

Im not

arent
not

youre not

you arent

isnt
not

hes not
shes not
its not

he isnt
she isnt
it isnt

arent
not

were not
theyre not

we arent
they arent

 She

is not my friend
Shes not my friend(p,p
&BE)
She isnt my friend(BE&not)

Practice 2

Make negative
contractions for these
sentences.

Example:
He is happy.

Hes not happy.

He isnt happy.

Answer 1

Answer 2

1.

They are
teachers.

Theyre not
teachers.

They arent
teachers.

2.

I am from the
U.S.

Im not from
the U.S.

We are single.

Were not
single.

3.

We arent
single.

(A) Pers.Pron+BE+Complement
He is handsome
(N)P.P+BE+not+complement
He is not handsome
Hes not handsome- He isnt handsome
(?) BE+P.P+complement+?
Is he handsome?
Yes he is
No. he is not
No, hes not- No. he isnt

Questions
The verb be comes before the subject
in questions.

She
Is she
is at school?
.

They
Are they
are young?.

Practice 3

Change the statements

into questions.

Example: She is a teacher.

Is she a teacher?
1. Sam and Lisa are in class.
Are Sam and Lisa in class?
2. He is late.
Is he late?
3. I am busy.
Am I busy?

Be Careful!
Dont use contractions in affirmative
short answers.
Are
Are you
you
new
new here?
here?

Yes,
Yes,
Yes,
Im.
Yes,
Im.
I am.

Practice 4
Example:

Is it broken?

Yes, it is.
2. Are they in love?

No, they arent.

Talk with a partner about

these pictures. Use the verb
be and contractions.
1. Am I at the right house?

No, you arent.

3. Is he late?

Yes, he is.