• VERB “BE”

USES

‘Be’ is a very particular English verb. It has its own forms for present and

past. It is a very useful verb as it is mainly used for:

� introductions: I am Sam

� greetings: Hello. How are you?

� apologies: I am sorry so much

� professions: She is a doctor and he is a carpenter

� nationalities: We are Spanish and they are from Scotland

� age, size, appearance, personality…: Mary is ten years. She is dark, tall and funny

� feelings and states: I am OK but my sister is ill and sad

� the weather: It is hot and sunny today in Seville

� the time: What time is it? It is half past seven

FORM

Present Simple affirmative Present Simple negative* Present Simple interrogative*

I am (I’m) I am not (I’m not) Am I?

You are (You’re) You are not (aren’t) Are you?

He / She / It is (He’s) He / She / it is not (isn’t) Is he / she / it?

We are (We’re) We are not (aren’t) Are we?

You are (You’re) You are not (aren’t) Are you?

They are (They’re) They are not (aren’t) Are they?

Past Simple affirmative Past Simple negative* Past Simple interrogative*

I was I was not (wasn’t) Was I?

You were You were not (weren’t) Were you?

He / She / It was He / She / it was not (wasn’t) Was he / she / it?

We were We were not (weren’t) Were we?

You were You were not (weren’t) Were you?

They were They were not (weren’t) Were they?

*VERY IMPORTANT:

Never use ‘don’t’ – ‘didn’t’ in negative sentences

or ‘do’ – ‘does’ – ‘did’ in interrogative sentences, like other verbs do

I don’t am English Do you are 11 years old? She didn’t is Mary Did they are here? am not Are you was not Were they

� ACTIVITIES

1.- Complete with ‘am’, ‘is’ or ‘are’

I _____ not very well. I think I _____ ill _____ she dark? No, she _____ blonde

Where _____ you from? I _____ English ______ they here? Yes, they _____

How old ___ you? I ___ 9 and she ___ 8 ____ you OK? No, I think I _____ ill

What time ____ it? It ____ five o’clock Hello, How ____ you? Fine, thanks

2.- Use ‘was’ or ‘were’ to complete these sentences

Tim _____ not at home yesterday Where _____ they? They _____ here

The weather ____ cloudy and wet I _____ very happy when I _____ a child

____ that your friend? No, she ____ not I think he ______ French

3.- Make sentences by using ‘Be’ in Past Simple Example: it – sunny? Was it sunny?

You – here? ____________________ That – your brother? _______________

It – half past nine? _______________ They – policemen? _________________

She – angry? ___________________ You – with him? ___________________

4.- Change these sentences into negative

It is one o’clock __________________________________________

She was in Madrid ________________________________________

Lulu and Mike were at school _________________________________________

I am in bed ______________________________________________

We were in the park with her _________________________________________

5.- Read the text, underline the verbs and rewrite them in Past Simple

I don’t know his name. I only know that he is British. He wakes up at seven o’clock and he goes cycling until half past eight, then he has breakfast and buys the newspaper.

At nine o’clock, he takes the bus and goes to work. In the evening, he visits some friends and comes back home at half past seven. He watches TV until ten o’clock and finally he goes to bed

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