The verb “to be” is one of the most important verbs in English. It is a stative verb, which means it describes a state, condition, or situation rather than an action.
We use “to be” to talk about who or what someone is, how they feel, and what is happening.
Forms of the Verb “To Be”
The verb “to be” changes depending on the subject pronoun.
Positive Forms of “To Be”
| Pronoun | Verb to Be |
|---|---|
| I | am |
| He | is |
| She | is |
| It | is |
| We | are |
| They | are |
| You | are |
👉 Note: When using “will,” the form changes (see future tense examples below).
Negative Forms of “To Be”
| Pronoun | Verb to Be (Negative) |
|---|---|
| I | am not |
| He | is not |
| She | is not |
| It | is not |
| We | are not |
| They | are not |
| You | are not |
👉 Note: In the future tense, we use “will not” (or the contraction “won’t”).
Interrogative Forms of “To Be” (Questions)
| Verb to Be | Pronoun |
|---|---|
| Am | I? |
| Is | he? |
| Is | she? |
| Is | it? |
| Are | we? |
| Are | they? |
| Are | you? |
Contractions of the Verb “To Be”
In spoken and casual English, we often use contractions (shortened forms).
| Pronoun | Positive Contraction | Negative Contraction | Interrogative Contraction |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | I’m | I’m not | – |
| He | He’s | He’s not / He isn’t | Isn’t he? |
| She | She’s | She’s not / She isn’t | Isn’t she? |
| It | It’s | It’s not / It isn’t | Isn’t it? |
| We | We’re | We’re not / We aren’t | Aren’t we? |
| They | They’re | They’re not / They aren’t | Aren’t they? |
| You | You’re | You’re not / You aren’t | Aren’t you? |
Examples of the Verb “To Be”
Positive Sentences
- I am going to study tonight.
- It‘s a pen.
- We are happy with the situation.
- He‘s dancing at the bar.
- She‘s playing tennis.
- Are you going to the swimming pool today?
👉 Future tense with “will”
- Will you be coming to my house today?
- Will they be performing?
- Will she be eating with us tonight?
Negative Sentences
- I‘m not talking to you because you broke my computer.
- Isn’t it a diary?
- She‘s not playing today.
- It‘s not fair.
- They‘re not going to the party tomorrow.
👉 Future tense with “won’t”
- Won’t he be playing?
- Won’t she be coming to the party?
- Won’t it be raining?
- Won’t you be busy that day?
Interrogative Sentences
- Am I allowed to go to the event?
- Are you happy?
- Is it a good day today?
- Are they crazy?
Key Grammar Rules for “To Be”
- The verb “to be” changes depending on the subject: am, is, are.
- Use “not” to form negatives (is not, are not, am not).
- Place the verb before the subject to form questions (Are you…? Is she…?).
- Contractions are common in spoken English (I’m, he’s, they’re).
- In the future tense, use will be or won’t be.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Verb “To Be”
1. What is the verb “to be” in English grammar?
The verb “to be” is a stative verb that describes a state, identity, feeling, or condition.
2. What are the forms of the verb “to be”?
The main forms are am, is, are (present tense), and was, were (past tense).
3. What is the difference between “is,” “am,” and “are”?
- Use am with “I.”
- Use is with singular third-person subjects (he, she, it).
- Use are with plural subjects (we, you, they).
4. How do you make the verb “to be” negative?
Add not after the verb: is not, are not, am not. In spoken English, use contractions like isn’t, aren’t.
5. Can the verb “to be” be used in the future tense?
Yes. Use will be for positive sentences (She will be here soon) and won’t be for negatives (They won’t be late).
✅ The verb “to be” is one of the first grammar rules English learners must master. It helps form simple sentences, questions, and descriptions.
👉 For more grammar lessons, visit our English Grammar Guide.
