To Be - Present Tense in English

Overview

The verb "to be" is the most important and most frequently used verb in the English language. In the present tense, it has three forms: am, is, are. You use "to be" to talk about identity, descriptions, locations, age, time, feelings, and much more.

At the A1 (Beginner) level, mastering "to be" is absolutely essential because it appears in almost every conversation. It is also the first irregular verb you will learn -- unlike most English verbs, "to be" changes form completely depending on the subject.

English speakers almost always use contractions with "to be" in everyday speech: I'm, you're, he's, she's, it's, we're, they're. Learning both the full forms and contractions will help you understand spoken English much better.

How It Works

Affirmative forms

Subject	Full Form	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

Negative forms

Subject	Full Form	Contraction
I	am not	I'm not
you	are not	you aren't / you're not
he/she/it	is not	he isn't / he's not
we	are not	we aren't / we're not
they	are not	they aren't / they're not

Question forms

Invert the subject and verb: Are you tired? Is she a doctor? Am I late?

Common uses of "to be"

• Identity: I am a teacher.
• Descriptions: She is tall.
• Feelings: We are happy.
• Location: They are at home.
• Age: He is 25 years old.
• Time/weather: It is 3 o'clock. It is cold.
• Nationality: I am from Brazil.

Examples in Context

English	Note
I am a student.	Identity -- who you are
She is a doctor.	Identity -- profession
They**'re** tired.	Contraction common in speech
It**'s** hot today.	Weather -- impersonal "it"
We are in the park.	Location
He isn't ready.	Negative contraction
Are you from Spain?	Yes/no question
I**'m** not sure.	Negative with "I" -- note: no "amn't" form
The books are on the shelf.	Location of things
Is it expensive?	Question about a thing

Common Mistakes

Forgetting to include "to be"

• Wrong: She happy.
• Right: She is happy.
• Why: In English, you cannot use an adjective without a linking verb. Many languages allow this, but English requires "to be."

Confusing "it's" and "its"

• Wrong: The dog wagged it's tail.
• Right: The dog wagged its tail.
• Why: "It's" always means "it is" or "it has." The possessive form is "its" with no apostrophe.

Using "is" with plural subjects

• Wrong: The children is playing.
• Right: The children are playing.
• Why: Plural subjects require "are," not "is." Watch out for irregular plurals like "children," "people," and "men."

Using "am" with subjects other than "I"

• Wrong: He am a student.
• Right: He is a student.
• Why: "Am" is only used with "I." No other subject takes this form.

Saying "amn't"

• Wrong: I amn't ready.
• Right: I'm not ready.
• Why: There is no standard contraction "amn't" in English. Use "I'm not" instead.

Usage Notes

Contractions are the norm in spoken English and informal writing. Using the full form ("I am," "she is") in casual conversation can sound overly formal or emphatic. However, in formal writing, full forms are preferred.

When you want to emphasize something, use the full form with stress: "I AM telling the truth!"

There is no significant difference between British and American English for "to be" in the present tense. Both varieties use the same forms and contractions.

Practice Tips

• Describe what you see: Look around and make sentences. "The table is brown. The windows are open. I am in my room." This builds automatic "to be" usage.
• Practice contractions out loud: Say "I'm, you're, he's, she's, it's, we're, they're" quickly and repeatedly until they feel natural. Contractions are essential for sounding fluent.
• Ask and answer questions: Practice the question form by asking yourself simple questions and answering them. "Am I happy? Yes, I am. Is it cold? No, it isn't."

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Subject Pronouns -- you need to know the subject pronouns before conjugating "to be"
• Next steps: There is / There are -- a special structure built on "to be"
• Next steps: Present Continuous -- uses "to be" as a helper verb for actions happening now
• Next steps: Was / Were -- the past tense forms of "to be"