Am, is, are

  • A1 · Beginner
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min
  • be

am, is and are, positive and negative, long and short: I'm 29. Spanish isn't easy. They aren't quiet. The student reads four profiles on a language-exchange app, fixes mistakes with be, and makes a video profile of their own.

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I'mshe'swe're

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2In this lesson
  3. 3Reading: language partnersReading comprehension
  4. 4What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  5. 5Find the negativesGrammar exercise
  6. 6am, is, areGrammar rule
  7. 7Choose the right formGrammar exercise
  8. 8A message from LivGrammar exercise
  9. 9Find the mistakeGrammar exercise
  10. 10Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  11. 11My video profileSpeaking practice
  12. 12About youGrammar exercise
  13. 13Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: a message from GarethGrammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: which sentence is right?Grammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: make sentencesGrammar exercise
  4. 4Homework: my profileDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

  1. What is your first language?
  2. Is English easy or difficult for you?
  3. Who is a good English speaker in your family?

Grammar rule

am, is, are

Positive and negative

PositiveNegativeExample
II am = I'mI am not = I'm notI'm 40. I'm not a pilot.
he / she / itshe is = she'sshe is not = she isn'tShe's from Peru. She isn't from Chile.
you / we / theywe are = we'rewe are not = we aren'tThey're at work. They aren't at home.

One person or thing → is: My dad is a pilot. The test is hard. Two or more → are: My dad and I are in Texas. you is for one person and for more than one, and it always takes are.

We use be for…

  • names and ages: I'm Adaeze. I'm 20.
  • jobs: He's a pilot.
  • countries and cities: They're from Lima.
  • how something or someone is: The movie is long. We're tired.

Watch out

  • Every sentence needs be: He's a pilot. (not He a pilot) It isn't far. (not It not far)
  • Age: I'm 40. (not I have 40)
  • For I, the short negative is I'm not. (not I amn't)
In speaking, the short forms are normal. You also hear he's not, she's not, we're not, they're not: they mean the same as he isn't, she isn't, we aren't, they aren't.

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