BASICS OF ENGLISH GRAMMAR 

LESSON 1

Verb “To Be” in the Simple Present  
Theme: school life and daily routines

In the simple present, we use:

- am

- is

- are

We use to be to talk about:

- who we are

- what something is

- where people are

- how people feel

Examples:

- I am a student.

- She is in the classroom.

- We are ready for school.

- My books are on the desk.

1. Forms of the verb “to be”

Full forms

- I am

- You are

- He is

- She is

- It is

- We are

- They are

Examples:

- I am ten years old.

- You are my friend.

- He is in Class 5.

- She is happy today.

- It is my school bag.

- We are late.

- They are in the library.

2. Short forms

We often use short forms in speaking and writing.

- I am → I’m

- You are → You’re

- He is → He’s

- She is → She’s

- It is → It’s

- We are → We’re

- They are → They’re

Examples:

- I’m ready for school.

- She’s my best friend.

- We’re in the computer room.

- They’re tired after PE.

3. When do we use “to be”?

a) To talk about people and things

- I am a student.

- Mr. Lee is our teacher.

- These are my notebooks.

b) To talk about age

- I am eleven years old.

- Sam is twelve.

- They are ten.

c) To talk about feelings

- I am sleepy in the morning.

- She is excited about the school trip.

- We are happy today.

d) To talk about places

- My pencil case is in my bag.

- The students are in the classroom.

- The teacher is at school.

e) To talk about time and days

- It is 8:00.

- Today is Monday.

- It is break time.

4. Positive sentences

Use:

- I am

- You/We/They are

- He/She/It is

Examples:

- I am in Year 6.

- You are early.

- We are in the music room.

- They are my classmates.

- He is good at math.

- She is my partner.

- It is my lunch box.

More school examples:

- I am at school now.

- My friends are in the playground.

- The principal is in the office.

- Our classroom is clean.

- We are ready for the lesson.

5. Negative sentences

To make negative sentences, add not.

- I am not

- You are not

- He is not

- She is not

- It is not

- We are not

- They are not

Short negative forms

- I’m not

- You aren’t / You’re not

- He isn’t / He’s not

- She isn’t / She’s not

- It isn’t / It’s not

- We aren’t / We’re not

- They aren’t / They’re not

Examples:

- I am not late.

- I’m not tired today.

- She is not in the library.

- She isn’t in the library.

- We are not noisy.

- We aren’t noisy.

- They are not at home.

- They aren’t at home.

More examples:

- He isn’t absent today.

- The books aren’t on the table.

- It isn’t my pencil.

- We’re not in the gym.

6. Questions with “to be”

To make questions, put the verb before the subject.

- Am I ...?

- Are you ...?

- Is he ...?

- Is she ...?

- Is it ...?

- Are we ...?

- Are they ...?

Examples:

- Am I in the right classroom?

- Are you ready?

- Is he your class teacher?

- Is she at school today?

- Is it your ruler?

- Are we late?

- Are they in the canteen?

7. Short answers

Examples:

- Are you a student?  

  Yes, I am. / No, I’m not.

- Is she your friend?  

  Yes, she is. / No, she isn’t.

- Are they in the classroom?  

  Yes, they are. / No, they aren’t.

- Is it Monday today?  

  Yes, it is. / No, it isn’t.

8. Question words with “to be”

We often use to be with question words.

What

- What is your favorite subject?

- What are your school rules?

Where

- Where is my pencil case?

- Where are the students?

Who

- Who is your English teacher?

- Who are they?

How

- How are you today?

- How is your sister?

How old

- How old are you?

- How old is your brother?

9. School life examples

Read these sentences:

- I am a student at Green Park School.

- My name is Lily.

- I am eleven years old.

- My best friend is Sara.

- We are in the same class.

- Our classroom is big and bright.

- The desks are clean.

- The teacher is kind.

- Today is Tuesday.

- We are excited because art class is today.

10. Be careful!

a) Use am only with I

Wrong:

- I is happy.

- I are ready.

Right:

- I am happy.

- I am ready.

b) Use is with he / she / it

Wrong:

- She are in class.

Right:

- She is in class.

c) Use are with you / we / they

Wrong:

- They is in the playground.

Right:

- They are in the playground.

d) Don’t forget the verb

Wrong:

- My teacher very kind.

Right:

- My teacher is very kind.

11. Quick summary

Positive

- I am

- You are

- He is

- She is

- It is

- We are

- They are

Negative

- I am not

- You are not / aren’t

- He is not / isn’t

- She is not / isn’t

- It is not / isn’t

- We are not / aren’t

- They are not / aren’t

Questions

- Am I ...?

- Are you ...?

- Is he ...?

- Is she ...?

- Is it ...?

- Are we ...?

- Are they ...?

12. Mini chart

| Subject | Verb “to be” | Example |

| I | am | I am at school. |

| You | are | You are my friend. |

| He | is | He is in the library. |

| She | is | She is happy. |

| It | is | It is my bag. |

| We | are | We are in class. |

| They | are | They are tired. |

Exercises

Exercise 1: Choose the correct form

Choose am, is, or are.

1. I ___ in Class 5.

2. She ___ my best friend.

3. We ___ in the classroom.

4. He ___ late for school.

5. They ___ in the playground.

6. It ___ my notebook.

7. You ___ very good at English.

8. Today ___ Friday.

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks

Write am, is, or are.

1. My teacher __________ kind.

2. I __________ eleven years old.

3. The students __________ ready for the lesson.

4. My school bag __________ under the desk.

5. We __________ happy today.

6. He __________ in the music room.

7. You __________ my partner.

8. The books __________ on the shelf.

Exercise 3: Make the sentences negative

Example:  

She is hungry. → She isn’t hungry.

1. I am late.

2. He is in the library.

3. They are noisy.

4. We are in the gym.

5. It is my ruler.

6. You are tired.

Exercise 4: Make questions

Example:  

She is your friend. → Is she your friend?

1. You are in Year 6.

2. He is at school today.

3. They are in the canteen.

4. It is your pencil.

5. We are ready for the test.

6. She is your classmate.

Exercise 5: Put the words in order

1. am / I / a student  

2. is / my teacher / kind  

3. are / we / in the computer room  

4. happy / they / are  

5. your / is / this / book  

6. Monday / it / is / today

Exercise 6: Correct the mistakes

1. I is ten years old.

2. She are in the classroom.

3. They is my friends.

4. We am ready.

5. It are my lunch box.

6. You is very quiet today.

Exercise 7: Choose the correct answer

1. My brother ___ at school now.  

   (am / is / are)

2. We ___ in the same class.  

   (am / is / are)

3. I ___ not sleepy today.  

   (am / is / are)

4. The ruler ___ on the desk.  

   (am / is / are)

5. You ___ early.  

   (am / is / are)

6. My parents ___ in the office.  

   (am / is / are)

Exercise 8: Write short answers

Example:  

Are you a student? → Yes, I am. / No, I’m not.

1. Are you at school now?  

2. Is your best friend in your class?  

3. Are your books in your school bag?  

4. Is your teacher kind?  

5. Are you tired after school?  

6. Is today Monday?

Exercise 9: Complete the questions

Use am, is, or are.

1. __________ you ready for class?

2. __________ she your sister?

3. __________ they in the library?

4. __________ I late?

5. __________ it your pen?

6. __________ we in the right room?

Exercise 10: Read and answer

Read the text:

“Hello! My name is Ben. I am eleven years old. I am a student. My school is near my house. My best friend is Adam. We are in the same class. Our teacher is Mr. Brown. He is nice. Today is Wednesday, and we are in the science room. The room is big, and the tables are clean. We are happy because science is fun.”

Answer the questions:

1. How old is Ben?

2. Is his school far from his house?

3. Who is his best friend?

4. Are Ben and Adam in the same class?

5. Who is their teacher?

6. Why are they happy?

Exercise 11: Choose is or are

1. The children ___ in the playground.

2. My pencil case ___ blue.

3. The desks ___ clean.

4. My friend ___ absent today.

5. These books ___ heavy.

6. The computer ___ new.

Exercise 12: Write about yourself

Write 6–8 sentences using the verb to be.

You can use these ideas:

- your name

- your age

- your class

- your school

- your friends

- your favorite day

- your feelings

Example:

- My name is Anna.

- I am eleven years old.

- I am a student.

- My school is big.

- My friends are nice.

- Today is Thursday.

- I am happy because we are in art class.

Challenge exercise

Write about your classroom using is and are.

Example:

- My classroom is big.

- The walls are white.

- The teacher’s desk is near the board.

- The students are quiet.

- Our books are on the desks.

Answer key

Exercise 1

1. am  

2. is  

3. are  

4. is  

5. are  

6. is  

7. are  

8. is

Exercise 2

1. is  

2. am  

3. are  

4. is  

5. are  

6. is  

7. are  

8. are

Exercise 3

1. I’m not late.  

2. He isn’t in the library.  

3. They aren’t noisy.  

4. We aren’t in the gym.  

5. It isn’t my ruler.  

6. You aren’t tired.

Exercise 4

1. Are you in Year 6?  

2. Is he at school today?  

3. Are they in the canteen?  

4. Is it your pencil?  

5. Are we ready for the test?  

6. Is she your classmate?

Exercise 5

1. I am a student.  

2. My teacher is kind.  

3. We are in the computer room.  

4. They are happy.  

5. Is this your book?  

6. It is Monday today.

Exercise 6

1. I am ten years old.  

2. She is in the classroom.  

3. They are my friends.  

4. We are ready.  

5. It is my lunch box.  

6. You are very quiet today.

Exercise 7

1. is  

2. are  

3. am  

4. is  

5. are  

6. are

Exercise 8

Answers may be different.

Exercise 9

1. Are  

2. Is  

3. Are  

4. Am  

5. Is  

6. Are

Exercise 10

1. He is eleven years old.  

2. No, it isn’t. / No, his school is near his house.  

3. His best friend is Adam.  

4. Yes, they are.  

5. Their teacher is Mr. Brown.  

6. They are happy because science is fun.

Exercise 11

1. are  

2. is  

3. are  

4. is  

5. are  

6. is