Teach: Be Verb ① Basics of Affirmative Sentences

Be Verb ① Basics of Affirmative Sentences

English sentences always need a verb. The verb that expresses a state, as in “〜 is …,” is the be verb. We use the three forms am / is / are according to the subject.

Basic Rules

The form of the be verb changes according to the person and number of the subject. Use am with I, is with third-person singular subjects such as he / she / it, and are with you and plural subjects (we / they). The basic word order is “subject + be verb + complement (noun or adjective),” and the be verb functions like an “=” sign.

Important Points

Contractions are often used in conversation. The subject and be verb are joined with an apostrophe ('): I am → I'm, He is → He's, and They are → They're. Contractions occur frequently in spoken English, but they are also often used in writing. A noun (complement) or adjective follows the be verb. You can reduce mistakes by developing the habit of making sentences while checking the relationship “subject = the words that follow.”

Practice

1. Write “I am 13 years old” in English. (Hint: I am ___)
2. Write “He is a doctor” in English. (Hint: He ___ a doctor)
3. Write “You are best friends” in English. (Hint: You ___ best friends)