We use it

To show the status or characteristics of something or someone.

content

We will explain its different forms and uses. Take into account that The Infinitive form of the verb is To Be.

Conjugated in Simple Past, "Was - Were".

Conjugated in Participle, "Been".

Translation available

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Affirmative

In the Indicative form, this verb has 3 forms...

Am – Is – Are.

Each form belongs to different Pronouns.

PRONOUN

TO BE

CONTRACTION

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

That is to say that, when the Personal Pronoun "I" appears in a sentence, we must use "Am".

When the Pronoun is

He - She - It

we use "Is".

When the Pronoun is

You - We - They

we use "Are".

The short form (or contraction) is often used in conversations or informal texts.

  • Examples

    I am interested.

    She is tall and pretty.

    They are students.

    Emily is my sister.

    ("Emily" equals the personal pronoun "She", so we write "Emily Is").

    Tom and Emily are friends.

    ("Tom and Emily" equals the personal pronoun "They", so we write "Tom and Emily Are").

    I'm 23 years old.

    Manny is 3 years old.

Negative

To negate the verb "To Be" we do not need an auxiliary.

PRONOUN

TO BE

CONTRACTION

I

Am not

I'm not

You

Are not

You aren't

He

Is not

He isn't

She

Is not

She isn't

It

Is not

It isn't

We

Are not

We aren't

They

Are not

They aren't

That is to say that, to write the negative form of the verb "To Be", we add "Not" after the verb (or the short form or contraction).

INTERROGATIVE

In the Interrogative form, the verb "To Be" is written before the Pronoun or Subject of the sentence and it can't be contracted.

TO BE

PRONOUN

Am

I

Are

You

Is

He

Is

She

Is

It

Are

We

Are

They

Affirmative

Conjugated in the Simple Past, the form of the verb changes.

PRONOUN

TO BE

I

Was

You

Were

He

Was

She

Was

It

Was

We

Were

They

Were

Negative

In the Simple Past, the Negative form of the verb "To Be" can be contracted.

PRONOUN

TO BE

CONTRACTION

I

Was not

Wasn't

You

Were not

Weren't

He

Was not

Wasn't

She

Was not

Wasn't

It

Was not

Wasn't

We

Were not

Weren't

They

Were not

Weren't

INTERROGATIVE

Like in the Present, the verb "To Be" is written before the Pronoun or Subject of the sentence.

TO BE

PRONOUN

Was

I

Were

You

Was

He

Was

She

Was

It

Were

We

Were

They

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Answer

Correct Answer

The verb To Be hasn't got a negative form.

True

Try again

False

Great!

Bob _ _ _ _ _ my doctor.

is not

Good!

aren't

Keep trying

doesn't is

Try again

_ _ _ _ _ she at work yesterday?

Did

Wrong answer

Was

You did it!

Were

Keep trying

My grandparents _ _ _ _ _ driving home.

is

Try again

be

Wrong answer

weren't

Great!

I _ _ _ _ _ going with you.

are

Keep trying

am not

Cool!

is

Try again

The Verb To be has 3 forms in the Present Tense.

True

You did it!

False

Wrong answer

The Past form of the Verb To be is only WAS.

True

Try again

False

That´s it!

The Past Participle of the Verb To be is BEEN.

True

Correct answer!

False

Try again

She _ _ _ _ _ so pretty!

is

Well done!

are

Keep trying

am

Try again

They _ _ _ _ _ my parents.

isnt's

Keep trying

aren't

Cool!

am

Try again

I _ _ _ _ _ as tall as you.

'm

Great!

is

Try again

ar

Wrong answer

Emily _ _ _ _ _ studying yesterday.

were

Keep trying

am

Try again

was

Cool!

Tom and Peter _ _ _ _ _ friends.

was

Wrong answer

were

You did it!

been

Keep trying

My mom _ _ _ _ _ at work.

wasn't

That´s it!

weren't

Try again

were

Wrong answer

_ _ _ _ _ she your sister?

Be

Keep trying

Is

Correct answer!

Am

Try again

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