The simple present of the verb to be

The verb to be is an auxiliary verb in English.

It is also an irregular verb.

In the simple present tense, to be is conjugated as follows:

Affirmative forms

Subject Pronouns	Full Form
I	am
You	are
He/she/it	is
We	are
You	are
They	are

Negative Forms:

Subject Pronouns	Full Form
I	am not
You	are not
He/she/it	is not
We	are not
You	are not
They	are not

Interrogative forms:

Am	I?
Are	you?
Is	he/she/it?
Are	we?
Are	you?
Are	they?

 

Examples:

• Is the teacher English?

• No, he isn't. He's Uruguayan.

• What about your best friend? Is he or she Uruguayan, too?

• Yes, he/she is. He/She is Uruguayan.

• Are your teacher and your best friend English?

• No, They aren't. They are Uruguayan.

 

Use of the simple present of to be

The main use of simple present is to refer to an action or event that takes place usually.

With the verb "to be" the simple present tense refers to a present state, habitual, temporary or permanent.

• I am fine.

• She is cool.

The verb to be in the simple present can be used to refer to something that is true right now.

• She is 13 years old.

• He is a teacher.

 

Don' t forget:

• I, you, he, she, it, you, they are subject pronouns o personal pronouns.

• am, are, is are forms of the verb to be in the simple present.

• 'm, 're, 's are short (contracted) forms of  am, are, is

• 'm not, aren't, isn't are short (contracted forms) of am not, are not, is not.