To Be
1 Here are some examples of be in the Present Simple:
This is my brother. He’s ten years old.
I’m a student. These are my books.
They aren’t at home. They’re at the theatre.
2 We form the Present Simple of be like this:
positive
FULL FORM SHORT FORM
Singular
I am / I’m
you are / you’re
he/she/it is he’s/she’s/it ’s
Plural
we are / we’re
you are / you’re
they are / they’re
negative
FULL FORM SHORT FORM
Singular
I am not / I’m not
you are not / you aren’t
he/she/it is not he/she/it isn’t
Plural
we are not / we aren’t
you are not / you aren’t
they are not / they aren’t
3 In speech, we usually use the short forms:
She’s my sister. He’s my brother.
I’m from Italy. They’re German.
4 We use be:
– to say who we are:
I’m Steve and this is my friend Bill.We’re from Scotland.
I’m Janet and these are my sisters. This is Sandra and this is Patricia. Sandra and Patricia are doctors.
– to talk about the weather:
It’s cold today.
It’s a beautiful day.
It’s usually hot here
It isn’t very warm today.
– to talk about the time:
It’s ten o’clock.
It’s half past four.
You’re late!
– to talk about places:
Milan is in the north of Italy.
John and Mary are in Yorkshire.
– to talk about people’s ages:
My sister is six years old.
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