Simple present tense of the verb to be. Worksheets for the verb to be. English grammar with exercises. Free eBook and printable PDF
Simple present tense of the verb to be
The Verb to Be
The verb be is used as an auxiliary verb and it can also be used as a main verb.
| Pronoun | To be |
| I | AM |
| YOU | ARE |
| SHE/HE/IT | IS |
| WE | ARE |
| YOU | ARE |
| THEY | ARE |
THE CONTRACTED FORM
The present simple tense forms of be are often contracted in normal speech.
Note that the contracted form of they are is spelled they’re, and not their which is the possessive form of they.
THE NEGATIVE FORM
Any form of be is made negative by adding not immediately after it. In speech, some forms of be also have contracted negative forms. Some of these forms emphasize the negative
| POSITIVE CONTRACTED FORM | EMPHASIZED NEGATIVE FORM | NEGATIVE CONTRACTED FORM |
| I’M | I’M NOT | I’M NOT |
| YOU’RE | YOU ARE NOT | YOU AREN’T |
| SHE/HE/IT’S | SHE IS NOT | SHE ISN’T |
| WE’RE | WE ARE NOT | WE AREN’T |
| YOU’RE | YOU ARE NOT | YOU AREN’T |
| THEY’RE | THEY ARE NOT | THEY AREN’T |
EXERCISES
THE VERB “(to) BE”
EXERCISE 1.
Fill the gaps with the suitable form of the verb “to be”.
e.g. She is my friend Helen.
1. Who…………he? He ………… my father.
2. Jimmy ………… a famous pop star.
3. Where ………… you from? We……… from Brazil.
4. My name ……… Catherine and yours?
5. ……… she Italian? No, she ……… French.
6. Miss Jenkins ……… a doctor.
7. I ……… Italian, but ,my mother ……… Spanish.
8. Bob and Jane ……… in Rome now: they ……… there on holiday.
9. In front of my house there ……… a huge park.
10. The Trinity College ……… in Dublin.
EXERCISE 2.
Re-write the following affirmative sentences in the negative form.
e.g. There is a bag on the table
There isn’t a bag on the table.
My mum is in hospital at the moment.
There is a big garden around my house.
I’m very sad.
It’s eleven o’clock.
My mother and father-in-law are always friendly with me.
Today is my birthday.
His name is Leo and he’s Japanese.
Mary’s brother is 36 years old.
Dickens’ Oliver Twist is famous all around the world.
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Worksheets for the verb to be: eBook and PDF
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