The Verb To Be are irregular verbs with several forms. They indicate a state of being. They can be used either as a helping verb or the main verb in sentences. Verbs must match the number of the subject.
VERB TO BE: am, is, are
Verb To Be in Simple Present Form
The use of the simple present is to talk about an action or event that usually happens, but with Verb To Be, the simple present tense also refers to a current or general state, whether temporary, permanent, or habitual. They can also be used to refer to something that is true at the present moment.
Affirmative Forms
Verb To Be must match the number of the subject. Use is when the subject is a singular noun or a third-person singular pronoun. Moreover, are is used when the subject is a plural noun or a plural pronoun. Lastly, am is used when the subject is the first person pronoun I.
Negative Forms
Any form of verb to be is made negative by adding not immediately after it.
| Subject Pronoun | Full Form | Example | Contracted Form | Example |
| He/She/It (Singular) | is not | He is not a boy. She is not a teacher. It is not cold. | isn’t | He isn’t a boy. She isn’t a teacher. It isn’t cold. |
| I | am not | I am not a student. | ‘m not | I‘m not a student. |
| You/We/They (Plural) | are not | You are not late. We are not friends. They are not doctors. | aren’t | You aren’t late. We aren’t friends. They are not doctors. |
Interrogative Forms
Verb to be can be used to make questions in English in two different ways: at the beginning of the interrogative sentence and in WH-Questions.
1. Beginning
First, when they come at the beginning of the interrogative sentence.
Affirmative Question Forms
| Full Form | Subject Pronoun | Example |
| Is | he/she/it (Singular) | Is he a doctor? Is she a nun? Is it cold? |
| Am | I | Am I a student? |
| Are | you/we/they (Plural) | Are you good? Are we friends? Are they doctors? |
Negative Question Forms
There are two ways in forming negative questions. In full form, the pattern is Verb To Be + Subject + not. However, in contracted form, it is written as Contracted Form of Verb To Be + Subject. The Verb To be “am” can’t be contracted in negative question form.
| Full Form | Subject Pronoun | Negation | Example | Contracted Form | Example | ||
| Is | he/she/it (Singular) | not | Is he not a doctor? Is she not a nun? Is it not cold? | Isn’t | Isn’t he a doctor? Isn’t she a nun? Isn’t it cold? | ||
| Am | I | not | Am I not a student? | – | – | ||
| Are | you/we/they (Plural) | not | Are you not American? Are we not friends? Are they not doctors? | Aren’t | Aren’t you American? Aren’t we friends? Aren’t they doctors? |
2. WH-Questions
Additionally, the Verb To Be can be used in Wh-questions too.
| WH-Question | Verb To Be | Example |
| What/Where/When/Why/Who/Which/How | is | What is this thing? Where is the library? When is the party? Why is it cold? Who is she? Which is your car? How is he? |
| am | What am I? Where am I? When am I late? Why am I here? Who am I? Which am I, yin or yang? How am I? | |
| are | What are these books? Where are the hotels? When are the bank holidays? Why are we friends? Who are you? Which sign are you? How are you? |
Verb To Be Exercise
Answer this exercise on Verb To Be.
1. She ____ in Italy. She’s in France.
a. isn’t
b. aren’t
c. am not
2. ____ on the list?
a. Am I not
b. Am not I
c. I’m not
3. These shoes ____ made of leather.
a. is
b. am
c. are
4. They ____ in the library.
a. ‘s
b. ‘m
c. ‘re
5. ______ our car in the garage?
a. Is
b. Are
c. Am not
6. His gadgets ____ expensive.
a. is
b. am
c. are
7. My sister and her team ____ well-prepared for the presentation. They don’t know what to do.
a. isn’t
b. aren’t
c. are
8. When ____ the bank holidays?
a. is
b. isn’t
c. are
9. It ____ cold.
a. aren’t
b. are
c. isn’t
10. _____ they our neighbors?
a. Are
b. Isn’t
c. Is
Find the answers to this exercise here.
See also: Transitive / Intransitive Verbs + Objects, Present Continuous (I), and Passive Voice
For additional information on this topic, check out this British Council Lesson.
For other English grammar lessons, go to this page.