Englishclub: Verb to be

Verb to be

The verbs am, is, are, was, and were are all forms of the verb be. The verb be does not show action. It tells what someone or something is or is like.

The verbs 'am', 'is', and 'are' tell what someone or something is now.

I am a painter.
He is a painter.
You are a painter.

Was and were tell what someone or something was in the past.

She was an artist.
You were an artist.

They were all artists.
You were all artists.

Use am, is, and was with I, she, he and it.

I am
she is
he is

it is
I was
she was

he was
it was

AM - IS - ARE

Long form	Short form	Example	Negation	Question
I am	I'm	I am late.	I am not late.	Am I late?
You are	You're	You are clever.	You are not (aren't) clever.	Are you clever?
He is	He's	He is happy.	He is not (isn't) happy.	Is he happy?
She is	She's	She is hungry.	She is not (isn't) hungry.	Is she hungry?
It is	It's	It is cold.	It is not (isn't) cold.	Is it cold?

We are	We're	We are late.	We are not (aren't) late.	Are we late?
You are	You're	You are sleepy.	You are not (aren't) sleepy.	Are you sleepy?
They are	They're	They are great.	They are not (aren't) great	Are they great?