subject + am/is/are + complementUse be as the main verb in the present to connect the subject to identity, age, state, or location.
Be as a Main Verb
A1Use be as the main verb for identity, age, state, location, and description. Choose am/is/are now and was/were for the past.
What you'll learn
- Choose am, is, or are with the right subject.
- Choose was or were with the right subject.
- Build negatives with be + not.
- Ask questions by putting be before the subject.
- Use be for identity, age, state, location, and description.
Structure
subject + was/were + complementUse was or were as the main verb in the past.
subject + be + not + complementMake the negative by adding not after be. Do not use do or does.
Be + subject + complement + ?Move be before the subject to make a yes/no question.
Yes, subject + be. / No, subject + be + not.Repeat the same form of be from the question in the short answer.
Build a sentence
Subject
Complement
Sheisready
She is ready.
With she, use is.
When to use
Identity and job
Use be to say who someone is or what their job is. Maria is a doctor. Tom is my neighbor.
Age
Use be to talk about age. Lisa is 30. The boys were 10 last year.
State and feeling
Use be with adjectives for condition or feeling. Anna is tired. We were ready at noon.
Location
Use be to say where someone or something is. Dmitri is at home. The keys were on the table.
Markers
amisarewaswerenot
Common mistakes
Wrong
They is late.
Correct
They are late.
Use are with they and other plural subjects.
Wrong
Anna happy today.
Correct
Anna is happy today.
English needs be before an adjective in a full sentence.
Wrong
She doesn't ready.
Correct
She isn't ready.
With main verb be, make the negative with be + not, not do/does.
Wrong
Do they are busy?
Correct
Are they busy?
Questions with main verb be start with be, not do.
Wrong
She is tired?
Correct
Is she tired?
Move be before the subject to form the question.
Common misconceptions
❝ All English negatives and questions need do or does. ❞
Main verb be makes negatives and questions by itself: She isn't here. Is she here?
❝ I can drop be if the meaning is clear. ❞
In standard English, be is required in sentences like She is happy and They are at work.
Skills in this rule (6)
PICK_AM_IS_AREw5Choose am, is, or are in the present
Use am with I, is with he/she/it and singular nouns, and are with you/we/they and plural nouns.
PICK_WAS_WEREw4Choose was or were in the past
Use was with I/he/she/it and singular nouns. Use were with you/we/they and plural nouns.
NEGATIVE_WITH_BEw5Make negatives with be + not
Put not after am, is, are, was, or were. Do not add do or does with main verb be.
QUESTION_WITH_BEw5Ask questions by moving be before the subject
Start the question with am, is, are, was, or were. Do not use do or does when be is the main verb.
USE_FOR_IDENTITY_STATE_LOCATIONw4Use be for identity, age, state, location, and description
Use be to say who someone is, how old they are, where they are, and what they are like.
SHORT_ANSWERS_WITH_BEw3Give short answers with be
Answer with the same form of be from the question: Yes, she is. No, they weren't.