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On this page, we will look at common uses of the present simple with the verb to be.
Just read and listen. Try to notice how English uses the present simple with to be.
Don't worry about rules yet, just notice the examples.
This is Celia
Who Is this?
This Is Celia. This is not Thelma.
What's her job?
She's a detective. She's not a pilot.
Where's she from?
She's from England. She's not from France.
This is Jake
Who's this?
This is Jake. He is not Sammy.
What's his job?
He's a pilot. He's not a photographer.
Where's he from?
He's from France. He isn't from Sweden.
This is Sammy
Who's this?
This is Sammy. He is not Jake.
What's his job?
He's a photographer. He's not a detective.
Where's he from?
He's from Sweden. He isn't from England.
This is Piper
Who's this?
This is Piper. She's not Fido.
What breed of dog is she?
She's a Labrador. She isn't a poodle.
Present Simple - to be
The present simple has two versions. The version presented on this page uses the verb 'to be'. It is used to express facts that are currently true.
In formal writing, the subject and the verb are often written out in full form. However, in spoken English, the subject and the verb are usually contracted. Using the full form in spoken English expresses emphasis.
Structure for Positive Forms
Singular
I am
you are
he is
she is
it is
Singular Contraction
I'm
you're
he's
she's
it's
Plural
we are
you are
they are
Plural Contraction
we're
you're
they're
Structures for Negative Forms
Below you will find the contractions for negative statements. In the first set, the contraction is formed in the same way as the positive contractions above. The verb 'to be' is contracted with the pronouns.
In the second set of negative contractions, the word 'not' is contracted to the verb, ex. is + not = isn't.
Singular
I am not
you are not
he is not
she is not
it is not
Singular Contraction
I'm not
you're not
he's not
she's not
it's not
Plural
we are not
you are not
they are not
Plural Contraction
we're not
you're not
they're not
** The pronoun 'I' has only one contracted form in standard English: I'm not.
**I'm not
you aren't
he isn't
she isn't
it isn't
Same as above
Plural
we are not
you are not
they are not
we aren't
you aren't
they aren't
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