Verb “To Be” (Present Simple)

1. Forms of the Verb “To Be” in the Present Tense

In the present tense, the verb “to be” is used in three forms: am, is, and are. The choice depends on the subject:

A. Affirmative Form

Structure: Subject + am/is/are + complement

Examples:

• I am happy.
• You are early.
• He is cold.
• She is a teacher.
• It is sunny today.
• We are students.
• You are friends.
• They are at home.
• The dog is friendly.
• The room is clean.

B. Negative Form

Structure: Subject + am/is/are + not + complement

Examples:

• I am not sad.
• You are not late.
• He is not tired.
• She is not busy.
• It is not rainy.
• We are not bored.
• You are not unhappy.
• They are not here.
• The car is not red.
• The book is not interesting.

C. Interrogative Form

Structure: Am/Is/Are + subject + complement?

Examples:

• Am I ready?
• Are you happy?
• Is he cold?
• Is she a teacher?
• Is it sunny?
• Are we friends?
• Are you students?
• Are they at home?
• Is the dog friendly?
• Is the room clean?

2. Usages of the Verb “To Be” in the Present

The verb “to be” is versatile and is used in many different contexts. Below, we break down its various usages and provide 10 examples for each category.

A. Talking About Appearance

• She is beautiful.
• He is handsome.
• The building is modern.
• This car is sleek.
• The painting is vibrant.
• The model is attractive.
• Her hair is shiny.
• The dress is elegant.
• The sculpture is impressive.
• The garden is picturesque.

B. Talking About Personality

• He is kind.
• She is funny.
• They are friendly.
• My brother is generous.
• Her attitude is positive.
• The teacher is patient.
• He is honest.
• She is creative.
• My friend is thoughtful.
• The manager is reliable.

C. Talking About Feelings

• I am happy.
• You are excited.
• He is sad.
• She is nervous.
• It is depressing.
• We are joyful.
• They are surprised.
• My friend is anxious.
• The child is delighted.
• The team is confident.

D. Talking About Shape

• The table is round.
• The clock is square.
• The plate is oval.
• This box is rectangular.
• The ball is spherical.
• The window is circular.
• The sign is triangular.
• The mirror is diamond-shaped.
• The building is cylindrical.
• The sculpture is irregular in shape.

E. Talking About Size

• The house is large.
• The room is small.
• The car is huge.
• This pen is tiny.
• The park is enormous.
• The book is thick.
• Her bag is spacious.
• The apartment is compact.
• The chair is big.
• The computer is small.

F. Talking About Taste

• The soup is delicious.
• The cake is sweet.
• This lemon is sour.
• The coffee is bitter.
• The ice cream is creamy.
• The salad is fresh.
• The dish is spicy.
• The fruit is tangy.
• The chocolate is rich.
• The bread is bland.

G. Talking About Touch

• The blanket is soft.
• The wall is rough.
• The fabric is smooth.
• The ice is cold.
• The carpet is fluffy.
• The wood is hard.
• The pillow is comfy.
• The metal is slippery.
• The paper is thin.
• The sand is gritty.

H. Talking About Colour

• The sky is blue.
• The grass is green.
• The sun is yellow.
• The car is red.
• The walls are white.
• The book cover is black.
• The flower is purple.
• The dress is pink.
• The shirt is orange.
• The table is brown.

I. Talking About Nationalities

• I am American.
• You are British.
• He is Canadian.
• She is Australian.
• It is Japanese. (referring to an object from Japan)
• We are French.
• You are German.
• They are Italian.
• My friend is Spanish.
• The teacher is Indian.

J. Talking About Jobs

• I am a student.
• You are a teacher.
• He is a doctor.
• She is an engineer.
• It is a computer. (referring to its function)
• We are nurses.
• You are lawyers.
• They are musicians.
• My brother is a chef.
• The manager is in charge.

K. Talking About Age

• I am 10 years old.
• You are 8 years old.
• He is 30 years old.
• She is 25 years old.
• It is 5 years old. (referring to an object or pet)
• We are 12 years old. (siblings, children)
• You are 45 years old.
• They are 60 years old.
• My sister is 15 years old.
• The actor is 40 years old.

L. Talking About Location

• I am at home.
• You are in the classroom.
• He is at work.
• She is in the park.
• It is on the table.
• We are in the library.
• You are at the bus stop.
• They are in the kitchen.
• My cat is under the bed.
• The store is near the school.

M. Talking About Time, Dates, Weather, and Cost

• Today is Monday.
• It is 3 o’clock.
• The meeting is at 10 AM.
• The weather is sunny.
• The price is $20.
• The concert is on Friday.
• It is hot outside.
• The class is at 8 AM.
• Christmas is in December.
• The cost is affordable.

3. Common Mistakes and Tips

Although the verb “to be” is simple, learners sometimes make mistakes. Here are some common errors and tips to avoid them:

• Mistake: “I is happy.” → Correct: “I am happy.”
• Mistake: “She are early.” → Correct: “She is early.”
• Mistake: “They is here.” → Correct: “They are here.”
• Mistake: “You is my friend.” → Correct: “You are my friend.”
• Mistake: “He not happy.” → Correct: “He is not happy.”

Remember: use “am” with “I”; use “is” with singular third-person subjects (he, she, it); and use “are” with “you, we, they.”