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English grammar

am, is, are

A0 · Starter Verbs and time Questions 10

The rule

be is the first verb you need, because almost everything you say about yourself uses it: your name, where you are from, how you feel, how old you are. It has three forms in the present: I am, he/she/it is, you/we/they are. Arabic and many other languages leave this verb out — English never does.

Pattern

I am · he/she/it is · you/we/they are | Are you…? · Is he…?

Examples

  1. I am from Morocco.

  2. She is a nurse.

  3. We are late.

  4. Are you Mr Brown?

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: I from Syria.

    Right: I am from Syria.

    English cannot drop be. Without am the sentence has no verb.

  • Wrong: He are my brother.

    Right: He is my brother.

    he, she and it take is. Only you, we and they take are.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    1. I am a student.
    2. I is a student.
    3. I are a student.
    4. I a student.
    Show answer

    Answer: A I am a student.

    I always takes am.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    1. She am my wife.
    2. She are my wife.
    3. She be my wife.
    4. She is my wife.
    Show answer

    Answer: D She is my wife.

    she → is.

  3. 3Choose the correct sentence.

    1. They my neighbours.
    2. They is my neighbours.
    3. They are my neighbours.
    4. They am my neighbours.
    Show answer

    Answer: C They are my neighbours.

    they → are.

  4. 4Choose the correct sentence.

    You want to ask if this person is the doctor.

    1. You are the doctor?
    2. Do you are the doctor?
    3. Are you the doctor?
    4. Is you the doctor?
    Show answer

    Answer: C Are you the doctor?

    In a yes/no question be comes before the subject.

  5. 5Fill in the gap.

    I _____ twenty-eight years old.

    1. are
    2. have
    3. am
    4. is
    Show answer

    Answer: C I am twenty-eight years old.

    Age is said with be in English, not with have.

  6. 6Fill in the gap.

    My son _____ ill today.

    1. am
    2. be
    3. is
    4. are
    Show answer

    Answer: C My son is ill today.

    One person who is not I or you → is.

  7. 7Fill in the gap.

    We _____ from Afghanistan.

    1. is
    2. am
    3. are
    4. be
    Show answer

    Answer: C We are from Afghanistan.

    we → are.

  8. 8Fill in the gap.

    _____ you the new neighbour?

    1. Are
    2. Do
    3. Is
    4. Am
    Show answer

    Answer: A Are you the new neighbour?

    The question starts with the verb.

  9. 9Fill in the gap.

    It _____ very cold in this room.

    1. has
    2. am
    3. is
    4. are
    Show answer

    Answer: C It is very cold in this room.

    it → is.

  10. 10Put the words in the right order.

    I am not from here

    Show answer

    Answer: I am not from here.

    not goes straight after am, is or are.

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