Unit 1.1
To Be: use
Verbs
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Use
We use to be to talk about the characteristics of the subject (for example: age, behaviour, colour, jobs, nationality, personality, place, price, qualities, size, time…)
We use it in its three forms:
- in the affirmative, to confirm;
- in the negative, to deny;
- in the interrogative, to ask.
Example
To be is used with:
- Nouns
- I am a student.
I am not a student.
Am I a student? - He is a lawyer.
He is not a lawyer.
Is he a lawyer? - We are doctors.
We are not doctors.
Are we doctors?
- I am a student.
- Adjectives
- I am tall.
I am not tall.
Am I tall? - He is polite.
He is not polite.
Is he polite? - Many people are happy.
Many people are not happy.
Are many people happy?
- I am tall.
- Prepositional phrases (or complements)
- My book is on the bed.
My book is not on the bed.
Is my book on the bed? - Harry Potter is on the TV.
Harry Potter is not on the TV.
Is Harry Potter on the TV? - The eggs are in the box.
The eggs are not in the box.
Are the eggs in the box?
- My book is on the bed.
To be can also be used in short forms:
- I’m 12 years old.
You aren’t 12 years old. - This coat’s $100.
This coat isn’t $100. - They’re my best friends.
Standard double beds aren’t 5 feet wide.
