The Verb "To Be"

The verb to be.

The verb to be is very important in English. It is an auxiliary verb that we use a lot on its own as well as to make different verb forms. Please learn the forms of the verb to be and how to make questions and negatives. Here is some information to help you.

Statements: I am. You are. He is. She is. It is. We are. You are. They are.
Examples:
 I am Lynnea. You are Chinese. He is from France. She is here. It is nice to meet you. We are from Spain. You are both Swedish. They are at work.
Short forms of statements: I'm. You're. He's. She's. It's. We're. You're. They're.
Examples:
 I'm Lynnea. You're Chinese. He's from France. She's here. It's nice to meet you. We're from Spain. You're both Swedish. They're at work.
 
Negatives: I am not. You are not. He is not. She is not. It is not. We are not. You are not. They are not.
Examples:
 I am not a student. You are not German. He is not in the office. She is not from Japan. It is not here. We are not at work. You are not Tom and Harry. They are not in a meeting.
Short forms of negatives: I'm not. You're not. / You aren't. He's not. / He isn't. She's not. / She isn't. It's not. / It isn't. We're not. / We aren't. You're not./ You aren't. They're not. / They aren't.
Examples:
 I'm not a student. You're not German. / You aren't German. He's not in the office. / He isn't in the office. She's not from Japan. / She isn't from Japan. It's not here. / It isn't here. We're not at work. / We aren't at work. You're not Tom and Harry. / You aren't Tom and Harry. They're not in a meeting. / They aren't in a meeting.
 
Questions: Am I? Are you? Is he? Is she? Is it? Are we? Are you? Are they?
Examples:
 Am I ready? Are you on the phone? Is he from Africa? Is she at work? Is it your first name? Are we ready? Are you in a meeting? Are they here?
 
Short positive answers: Yes, I am. Yes, you are. Yes, he is. Yes, she is. Yes, it is. Yes, we are. Yes, you are. Yes, they are.
Short negative answers: No, I'm not. No, you aren't. No, he isn't. No, she isn't. No, it isn't. No, we aren't. No, you aren't. No, they aren't.