Be is the smallest verb in English and the one you reach for most: who you are, where things are, what the weather is doing. Get am, is and are right and half of everyday English falls into place.
1. Are You New Here?
Ana: Are you new here?
Owen: I am, yes. It's my first week.
Ana: I'm Ana. My office is upstairs.
Owen: Nice to meet you. Is the canteen open now?
Ana: It is, but it's crowded at one.
Owen: Then I'm going at half past twelve.
2. That Isn't Mine
Dev: Is this your umbrella?
Rosa: It isn't mine. Mine's black.
Dev: This one's black.
Rosa: Then it's Nina's. Hers has a broken handle.
Dev: The handle isn't broken.
Rosa: Then we're both wrong.
3. Where Are the Keys?
Sofia: Where are the keys?
Milo: They're on the hook.
Sofia: The hook is empty.
Milo: Then they're in my jacket.
Sofia: Which jacket? Both are wet.
Milo: The gray one is dry. Try that.
4. There's a Cafe Downstairs
Kai: Is there anywhere to eat near here?
Lena: There's a cafe downstairs.
Kai: Are there any tables outside?
Lena: There are three, but they're always taken.
Kai: I'm happy inside.
Lena: Then there's no problem.
5. It's Quiet Today
Hugo: It's quiet today.
Iris: It's Monday. It's always slow on Mondays.
Hugo: It's ten past four already.
Iris: It isn't far to five o'clock.
Hugo: It's cold in here, too.
Iris: The window's open. That's why.
6. Yes, I Am
Tara: Are you ready?
Felix: Yes, I am. Are the others here?
Tara: They aren't, no. Is Sam coming?
Felix: He is. He's parking.
Tara: Am I early, then?
Felix: You are. Sit down.
7. How Old Is the Building?
Grace: How old is this building?
Omar: It's about a hundred years old.
Grace: The windows are new, though.
Omar: They're from last year. The frames are original.
Grace: Is it expensive to heat?
Omar: It is, in winter.
8. Ready or Not
Nadia: You're very quiet this morning.
Leo: I'm tired. The baby's awake all night now.
Nadia: Are you okay to drive?
Leo: I'm fine. The drive is short.
Nadia: We're not in a hurry. Take your time.
Leo: Thanks. I'm slow but I'm safe.
Words to know
| canteen | a place at work or school where you buy simple meals Is the canteen open now? |
| crowded | full of people, with little space left It is, but it's crowded at one. |
| handle | the part of a thing you hold on to Hers has a broken handle. |
| hook | a small curved bar for hanging things on They're on the hook. |
| downstairs | on a lower floor of the same building There's a cafe downstairs. |
| taken | already being used by somebody else There are three, but they're always taken. |
| original | the first one, not a later replacement They're from last year. The frames are original. |
| in a hurry | needing to do something quickly, with no time to spare We're not in a hurry. Take your time. |
Quick practice
Fill each gap with the right form of be, exactly as you heard it in the conversations above.
1. ____ you new here?
_______________________________________
2. It ____ mine. Mine's black.
_______________________________________
3. Where ____ the keys?
_______________________________________
4. ____ a cafe downstairs.
_______________________________________
5. Are you ready? — Yes, I ____.
_______________________________________
6. How old ____ this building?
_______________________________________
Show the answers
1. Are you new here? 2. It isn't mine. 3. Where are the keys? 4. There's a cafe downstairs. 5. Yes, I am. 6. How old is this building?
Common mistakes
Not: Is very cold in here.
Say: It's very cold in here.
An English sentence needs a subject, so weather, time and temperature all start with it.
Not: Are you ready? — Yes, I'm.
Say: Are you ready? — Yes, I am.
A short answer can't end in a contraction. Say the whole word: am, is or are.
Not: Where is the keys?
Say: Where are the keys?
Keys is plural, so the verb is are, even when the question begins with where.
Your turn
Say each answer out loud, with the full verb. Be is short, so people notice when it's missing.
- Say three true sentences about yourself starting with I'm.
- Look around you and describe what you can see with There's and There are.
- Answer these out loud in full: Are you tired? Is it cold today? Are you at home?
- Describe the room using it: It's quiet. It's warm. It's nearly six.
- Ask a friend five questions beginning with Is or Are, and give a short answer to each one yourself.
Quick review
Be has three present forms: I am, he, she and it is, and you, we and they are. Put not after the verb for a negative, and move the verb in front of the person for a question. Sentences about the weather, the time and the temperature start with it, and sentences about what exists start with there is or there are. Short answers keep the full verb: Yes, I am.