The verb “be” is one of the most important and commonly used verbs in English. We use it to describe people, places, jobs, the weather, and more. In this blog, we’ll explore the present simple forms of “be” with examples and practical usage.
1. Examples of "Be" in the Present Simple
This is my sister. She ‘s twelve years old.
I ‘m twenty and a teacher; these are my notebooks.
My friends are n’t in the park; they ‘re at school.
2. Present Simple Forms of "Be"
| POSITIVE | Full form | Short form |
|---|---|---|
| Singular |
I am You are he/she/it is |
I'm you're he/she/it's |
| Plural |
we are you are they are |
we're you're they're |
| NEGATIVE | Full form | Short form |
|---|---|---|
| Singular |
I am not You are not he/she/it is not |
I'm not you're not or you aren't he/she/it's not or he/she/it isn't |
| Plural |
we are not you are not they are not |
we're not or we aren't you're not or you aren't they're not or they aren't |
3. When Do We Use "Be" in Present Simple?
The verb “be” is used in everyday conversations to describe family, jobs, identity, age, location, and the weather.
English Grammar in action
1. We use be when we introduce ourselves and our families:
These are my siblings, and this is my brother.
I’m Steve; this is my partner, Ruth.
She’s 30 years old, but I’m younger than her.
2 .We use be when we talk about our jobs:
I am a doctor, and they are nurses.
3. We use be when we say where we’re from:
I’m from Canada; my grandmother is Italian.
I’m not from Japan; I’m from South Korea.
4 We use be when we talk about the weather:
It’s a sunny day, but it’s chilly.
It’s not too hot today, and it’s very cloudy.
5 We use be when we talk about location:
Sydney is in Australia, but it isn’t near Melbourne.
Final Thoughts of 'be'
Mastering the verb “be” is essential for everyday conversations. Practice using it in different situations, and soon, it will feel natural!
Would you like to see more grammar tips like this? Let me know in the comments!
Looking to improve your English grammar?
Join thousands of learners at Aksent who are building their fluency with our practical, easy-to-follow beginner online English course. Start learning today!
Find out more
Nice Blog