1
The Present of Be:
Statements and
Yes/No Questions
Introductions
Focus on Grammar 2
Part I, Units 1 and 2
By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ Wells
Copyright 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
Conversation
Tom: Are you a new student here?
Lea: Yes, I am. My name is Lea.
Tom: My names Tom Sanchez.
Lea: Oh, I think I know your mother. Shes Marta
Sanchez, right?
Tom: Uh, Marta Sanchez isnt my mother. Shes my
sister.
Lea: Oh.
Form
Subject
Be
am
you
are
he
she
it
is
we
they
are
Use of the Verb Be 1
We use the verb be before. . . NOUNS.
I am a firefighter.
He is a photographer.
They are aliens.
??
?
Use of the Verb Be 2
We use the verb be before. . . ADJECTIVES.
I am busy.
He is afraid.
It is hungry.
Use of the Verb Be 3
We use the verb be before. . . PREPOSITIONAL
PHRASES.
She is in the shower.
She is from Japan.
He is under the bed.
Contractions
In a contraction, an apostrophe ()
replaces a letter.
Im
I m
am
a student.
a student.
Sams
isfrom
Sam
s
fromChina.
China.
They
Theyre
excited.
re
areexcited.
Talk with a partner about
these pictures. Use the verb
be and contractions.
Practice 1
in the air
upset
Example:
painters
shocked
1.
Hes shocked.
Shes upset.
3.
2.
Theyre painters.
Its in the air.
Negatives
Not
Subject + Be
+ Not
Contraction
Im not
arent
not
youre not
you arent
isnt
not
hes not
shes not
its not
he isnt
she isnt
it isnt
arent
not
were not
theyre not
we arent
they arent
Practice 2
Make negative
contractions for these
sentences.
Example:
He is happy.
1.
2.
Hes not happy.
He isnt happy.
Answer 1
Answer 2
They are
teachers.
Theyre not
teachers.
They arent
teachers.
I am from the
U.S.
Im not from
the U.S.
We are single.
Were not
single.
3.
We arent
single.
Questions
The verb be comes before the subject
in questions.
She
Is she
is at school?
.
They
Are they
are young?.
Practice 3
Change the statements
into questions.
Example: She is a teacher.
Is she a teacher?
1. Sam and Lisa are in class.
Are Sam and Lisa in class?
2. He is late.
Is he late?
3. I am busy.
Am I busy?
Be Careful!
Dont use contractions in affirmative
short answers.
Are
Are you
you
new
new here?
here?
Yes,
Yes,
Yes,
Im.
Yes,
Im.
I am.
Practice 4
Example: Is it broken?
Yes, it is.
2. Are they in love?
No, they arent.
Talk with a partner about
these pictures. Use the verb
be and contractions.
1. Am I at the right house?
No, you arent.
3. Is he late?
Yes, he is.
References
Copyright 2006 Pearson Education
and its licensors. All rights reserved.