'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?

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