I Am, You Are, He Is
I can use be to say who people are, how old they are and where they are.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Choose a short recording.
Start with the contrast
Rosa is a new student. She is twenty. Her friends are outside. Rosa says, “I am ready.”
Read the situation transcript
Rosa is a new student. She is twenty. Her friends are outside. Rosa says, “I am ready.”
Why do we use is with Rosa but are with her friends?
Compare your idea
Rosa is one person: she is. Her friends are more than one person: they are.
How it works
Use am with I, is with he, she or it, and are with you, we or they. Be connects a person or thing to a name, description or place.
Put not after be to make a negative. In conversation, I am becomes I’m and she is becomes she’s. Say I am twenty, not I have twenty.
I am; you/we/they are; he/she/it is. Negative: subject + be + not.
Notice this
I am a student.
This gives my role.
Compare this
Rosa is twenty.
This gives Rosa’s age.
Hear the examples
I am a student.
This gives my role.
Rosa is twenty.
This gives Rosa’s age.
We are outside.
This gives our location.
He is not tired.
This gives a negative description.
One mistake worth avoiding
Instead of: I have twenty years.
Say: I am twenty.
English normally uses be, not have, for a person’s age.
You say
Hear the prompt, answer aloud, then deliberately reveal or hear one possible model. Check it and retry with a changed detail.
Your turn 1
Say your name and your role.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
I’m Sam. I’m a student.
Check yourself: Use I’m before a name or role; use a before student.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 2
Describe two people together.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
They’re my friends. They’re outside.
Check yourself: Use are for two people.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 3
Correct this information: You are at home. You are actually at a café.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
I’m not at home. I’m at a café.
Check yourself: Put not after am.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Two guided self-checks
Say or write your answer before opening a model.
Self-check 1
Complete: My sister ___ at home.
Compare a model and explanation
My sister is at home.
My sister means she.
Self-check 2
Make this negative: We are late.
Compare a model and explanation
We aren’t late.
Are not and aren’t are both correct.
Check your understanding
Choose one answer to each question, then check your answers. One of the ten questions is listening.
Automatic scoring needs JavaScript. Use the answer key after attempting all ten questions.
Answer key with explanations
-
I ___ ready.
am: With I, use am.
-
My brother ___ nineteen.
is: My brother means he, so use is.
-
Our bags ___ outside.
are: Bags is plural, so use are.
-
Which sentence gives an age?
I’m thirty.: Use be for age; have needs a different meaning here.
-
Choose the correct negative.
She isn’t tired.: Put not after is; isn’t means is not.
-
Two people say: “___ are new here.”
We: We refers to the speakers together and agrees with are.
-
Which full form matches “They’re at work”?
They are at work.: They’re is the present contraction of they are.
-
Where are the two people?
At the station: We’re at the station gives their current location.
-
Correct “You is my friend.”
You are my friend.: You takes are, even when talking to one person.
-
What changes in “I am ready” → “She ___ ready”?
am becomes is: The form of be changes with the subject.
Take it with you
I can use be to say who people are, how old they are and where they are.