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The verb be: am, is, are
A1 A1 grammar · lesson 1 of 24
Be is the most important verb in English. You use am, is and are to say who people are, how they feel and where things are.
Rule
The verb be has three forms in the present: am, is and are. The form changes with the subject.
| Subject | Full form | Short form |
|---|---|---|
| I | I am | I‘m |
| you | you are | you‘re |
| he / she / it | he is | he‘s |
| we | we are | we‘re |
| they | they are | they‘re |
We use the short form when we speak and in friendly writing, like messages to friends. We use the full form in formal writing, for example in a letter to a bank or a school.
When do we use be?
- Names and jobs: I am Anna. I am a teacher.
- Age: Tom is ten.
- Places and countries: We are from Spain.
- Feelings: They are happy.
- Describing things: The car is red.
I‘m Ali. I‘m a student.
Maria is a doctor.
It‘s cold today.
You are very kind.
Ken and Lucy are friends.
We‘re at home.
My bag is on the chair.
The books are new.
One person or many?
One person or thing takes is: The dog is big. Two or more take are: The dogs are big. I always takes am.
A sentence in English always needs a verb. If there is no other verb, we often need be: She is tired. The film is good.
Common mistakes
✗ I is a student.
✓ I am a student.
✗ She a nurse.
✓ She is a nurse.
✗ They is from Italy.
✓ They are from Italy.
✗ I have 25 years.
✓ I am 25.