In this blog post, we will be looking at some basic grammar, namely how to conjugate the verb to be in the Present Simple in English. The Present Simple, also referred to as Simple Present, is probably the most commonly used tense in the English language.
If you are learning or teaching English, you can also find downloadable educational resources with some exercises on this topic at up2dateSKILLS online stores: up2 and TPT.
Present Simple Verb To Be
When to use?
Use the verb “to be”:
• to introduce more information about the subject (name, nationality, job, etc.):
e.g.
Lisa is a student and she’s British.
• to talk about age:
e.g.
I am 16 years old.
• to talk about permanent or temporary qualities:
e.g.
She is rich and very beautiful.
• to talk about feelings and states:
e.g.
She is happy now.
• to talk about time and dates:
e.g.
The next English lesson is on Monday at 10 o’clock.
• to say where places and things are situated:
e.g.
My school is in Oxford Street.
• to talk relationships and how people are related:
e.g.
They are my cousins and they are also my best friends.
Form
- In the affirmative, the verb “to be” has three forms: am, is and are.
- In the negative, we add “not”: am not, is not and are not; it is often used in the short form ’m not, isn’t and aren’t.
- In the interrogative, the verb “to be” (am, is or are) always comes before the subject.
Printable worksheet for grammar practice
Content:
- help box explaining when to use the verb to be with example sentences
- tables to conjugate the verb
- multiple exercises to practice positive, negative and interrogative sentences
Included resources:
- Worksheet (PDF + Word)
- Answer key (PowerPoint)
Some final words
Dear fellow teachers and students, I would love to hear your thoughts on the topic. You can just share an example sentence in the comment section at the bottom of this page.
