Foundation grammar · Unit 1 · A1

am/is/are

Present

Use am, is and are to say who people are, where they are and how they are, in the positive and the negative.

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A Saying who you are

This is Owen. He is introducing himself to his new class at a night school in Swansea.

Every sentence he says uses am, is or are. The verb is short, but the sentences would fall apart without it.

  • My name's Owen.
  • I'm 34.
  • I'm Welsh. I'm from Swansea.
  • I'm a bus driver.
  • I'm not married.
  • My mum is a nurse and my dad is a postman.
  • My favourite food is fish and chips.
  • My favourite colours are green and red.
  • I'm interested in music.

B Positive and negative

positive negative
I am (I'm) am not (I'm not)
he / she / it is (he's, she's, it's) is not (he's not or he isn't, she's not or she isn't, it's not or it isn't)
we / you / they are (we're, you're, they're) are not (we're not or we aren't, you're not or you aren't, they're not or they aren't)

In speech we nearly always use the short forms. There is no short form amn't. With I the only short negative is I'm not.

  • I'm hot. Can you open the door, please?
  • I'm 19. My brother is 23.
  • My sister's very clever. She's a dentist.
  • Dan is afraid of spiders.
  • It's half past nine. You're late.
  • Priya and I are neighbours.
  • Your glasses are on the fridge.
  • I'm hungry but I'm not thirsty.
  • Gary isn't interested in football. He's interested in cars.
  • Mum isn't here at the moment. She's at the shops.
  • Those people aren't from Leeds. They're from Hull.
  • It's windy today but it isn't cold.

C that's, there's, here's

that's = that is

there's = there is

here's = here is

  • That's a nice coat.
  • Look! There's the bus.
  • "Here's your tea." "Thanks."

Exercises

1.1 Write the short form (she's, we aren't and so on).

  1. he is = he's

    he is, he's

  2. we are =

  3. she is not =

  4. here is =

  5. I am =

  6. they are not =

1.2 Put in am, is or are.

  1. The tea is too hot.

    The tea is too hot.

  2. I not hungry.

  3. This box very light.

  4. These boxes very light.

  5. Look! There Uncle Pete.

  6. My friend and I in the same class.

  7. Mr Shah at work. His sons at college.

  8. I a cook. My husband a plumber.

1.3 Write full sentences. Use is, isn't, are or aren't.

  1. (your hands very cold)

    Your hands are very cold.

    Your hands are very cold.

  2. (my sister a hairdresser)

  3. (this flat not very warm)

  4. (the banks not open on Sunday)

  5. (my phone in my coat)

  6. (Callum 16 years old)

  7. (you not very late)

1.4 Look at Owen's sentences in section A. Now write sentences about yourself.

  1. (name?) My ...

  2. (from?) I ...

  3. (age?) I ...

  4. (job?) I ...

  5. (married?) I ...

  6. (favourite colour or colours?) My ...

  7. (interested in ...?) I ...

1.5 Write a sentence for each scene. Use one of these words.

afraidangrycoldhothungrythirsty

  1. A boy has just finished a football match and is staring at a bottle of water.

    He's thirsty.

    He's thirsty.

  2. Two people are standing at a bus stop in the snow, shaking, with their arms round themselves.

    They .

  3. A man is lying on a beach in strong sun, red in the face and waving a newspaper at himself.

    He .

  4. A woman is standing on a kitchen chair because there is a mouse on the floor.

    She .

  5. Two children are looking at a plate of sandwiches, and their stomachs are making a noise.

    They .

  6. A man is shouting at a parking ticket on his car.

    He .

1.6 Write true sentences, positive or negative. Use am, am not, is, isn't, are or aren't.

  1. (I / interested in cooking)

    I'm interested in cooking.

    I'm interested in cooking.

  2. (I / tired)

  3. (it / sunny today)

  4. (I / afraid of the dark)

  5. (my feet / cold)

  6. (Wales / a very big country)

  7. (gold / cheap)

  8. (I / interested in art)

  9. (Paris / in Italy)

See also