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The present simple tense is used in two ways:
- With the** verb to be**
- With other verbs.
In this opportunity, we are going to study the simple present tense using the verb to be.
The verb to be is very important and means to be. This verb takes three forms in the present simple tense:
In the conjugation of this verb you can check these three forms:
I am
You are
He is
She is
It is
You are
We are
They are
When the verb to be is used
The verb to be is used in the following occasions:
-
When you want to say characteristics of people, for example:
I am Peter.
You are from Venezuela.
He is 30 years old.
-
To say details about people, including emotions and characteristics, for example:
I am a man
You are an important person
He is happy
Use of the verb to be in affirmative sentences
Grammatical structure: Pronoun + to be + complement
I am happy / I' m happy.
You are happy / You're happy.
He is happy / He's happy.
She is happy / She's happy.
You are happy / You're happy.
We are happy / We're happy.
They are happy / They're happy.
Use of the verb to be in negative sentences.
Grammatical structure: Pronoun + to be + not + complement
I am not happy / I'm not happy.
You are not happy / You aren't happy.
He is not happy / He isn't happy.
She is not happy / She isn't happy.
You are not happy / You aren't happy.
We are not happy / We aren't happy.
They are not happy / They aren't happy.
Use of the verb to be in interrogative sentences
Grammatical structure: To be + pronoun + complement + ?
In interrogative sentences the order of the grammatical structure changes. First the verb to be is used and then the pronoun.
Am I happy?
Are you happy?
Is he happy?
Is she happy?
Are you happy?
Are we happy?
Are they happy?
Other examples using the verb to be
-
Is he an important person?
- Yes, he is.
- No, he isn't (Short form negation)
- No, he isn't an important person (Long form negation)
-
Am I a teacher?
- Yes, you are.
- No, you aren't (Short form negation)
- No, you aren't a teacher (Long form negation)
The pronoun IT is used to refer to animals, objects or things. For example:
A hamburger is delicious
- Affirmative form: It is delicious.
- Negative form: It isn't delicious.
- Interrogative form: Is it delicious?
Contribution created with contributions from: Avilio Muñoz Vilchez
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