In this lesson, we will look at the present tense, past tense and present perfect tense of the verb be.
Verb "Be" (present tense) – is, are, am
The words am, is and are form the present tense of the verb be.
We use am with the pronoun I, is with the pronouns he, she, it and are with the pronouns you, we and they.
Singular
Plural
I am
We are
You are
You are
He is
They are
She is
It is
Examples:
I am busy.
He is a good swimmer.
She is a teacher.
It is very fierce.
You are early.
You are all welcome.
We are home.
They are good friends.
The following tables give the affirmative forms and negative forms of am, is and are and their corresponding contractions or short forms. Contractions are usually used in spoken English and are not recommended for formal written English.
Affirmative Forms
Contraction (Short Form)
I am
I’m
You are
You’re
She is
She’s
He is
He’s
It is
It’s
We are
We’re
They are
They’re
Negative Forms
Contraction (Short Form)
I am not
I’m not
You are not
You’re not / You aren’t
She is not
She’s not / She isn’t
He is not
He’s not / He isn’t
It is not
It’s not / It isn’t
We are not
We’re not / We aren’t
They are not
They’re not / They aren’t
Verb "Be" (past tense) – was, were
The words was and were form the past tense of the verb be.
Affirmative Forms
Singular
Plural
I was
We were
You were
You were
She was
They were
He was
It was
Negative Forms
Contraction (Short Form)
I was not
I wasn’t
You were not
You weren’t
She was not
She wasn’t
He was not
He wasn’t
It was not
It wasn’t
We were not
We weren’t
They were not
They weren’t
Verb "Be" (present perfect tense) – has been, have been
The words has been and have been form the present perfect tense of the verb be.
Singular
Plural
I have been
We have been
You have been
You have been
She has been
They have been
He has been
It has been
Verb Be in the present tense. Affirmative and negative forms.
Be in the past tense. Affirmative and negative forms.
