Be' Verbs

A verb shows action or a state of being.

I go home. Home is my place to rest. I like the smell of my house. I feel totally relaxed. Home refreshes me. At home, I get ready for a new day.

"Be" verbs indicate a state of being.

Verbs must match subjects.

• I am a doctor.
• He is sleepy.
• We are here.

Negative sentences need ‘not' after the verb.

• I am not a doctor.
• He is not sleepy.
• We are not there.

The verb comes first in interrogative sentences.

• Am I a doctor?
• Is he sleepy?
• Are we there?

"Are not" (is not) can be shortened to "aren't" (isn't).

• He isn't sleepy.
• We aren't there.

Remember the variations of "be" verbs:

Present	Negative	Interrogative
I am	I am not	Am I?
You are	You are not (aren't)	Are you?
He is	He is not (isn't)	Is he?
She is	She is not (isn't)	Is she?
It was	It was not (wasn't)	Was it?
We are	We are not (aren't)	Are we?
You are	You are not (aren't)	Are you?
They were	They were not (weren't)	Were they?

[Quiz 5.1]

Which of the following sentences are written correctly?

1) I am thirsty.
2) You are kind.
3) He am not sad.
4) She are not tall.
5) It is not moving.
6) We aren't tired.
7) Is they running?
8) Are you ready?

View Answers

1, 2, 5, 6, and 8