ESL Inventory

Verb To Be: Conjugation, Uses, Exercises

The verb to be is one of the most important verbs in English. We use it to give information, not actions. For example, we can say who we are, how we feel, and where things are.

Structure of “to be”

Subject + verb to be + information

Examples:

  • I am happy.
  • She is a doctor.
  • They are at home.
  • He was tired.

We use “to be” to describe, identify, or give information.

Present Simple: Verb to be

Verb “to be” present simple conjugation chart for ESL learners showing affirmative, negative, and interrogative forms with am, is, are, including examples like “I am at home”, “She isn’t at home”, and “Are you at home?”.
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Past Simple: Verb to be

Verb “to be” past simple conjugation chart for ESL learners showing affirmative, negative, and interrogative forms with was and were, including examples like “I was at home”, “They weren’t at home”, and “Were you at home?”.
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Uses of verb to be

We use “to be” to give information, not actions.

Verb “to be” uses infographic for ESL beginners showing five functions: basic information, feelings and states, description, location, and time, date and weather, with example sentences like “I am a teacher”, “She is tired”, and “They are at home”.
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Common Mistakes

Wrong:
I have 20 years.
I am go to school.
He are happy.
They was at home.

Right:
I am 20 years old.
I go to school.
He is happy.
They were at home.

Tip: Use “to be” for information, not for actions.

Verb To Be Exercises

EXERCISE: Verb To Be – Is it correct?

Decide if the sentences are correct or incorrect considering the conjugations of Verb To Be.

1 / 10

Decide if the sentence is correct:

They is not in the office.

2 / 10

Decide if the sentence is correct:

He is not from Spain.

3 / 10

Decide if the sentence is correct:

Is you at home?

4 / 10

Decide if the sentence is correct:

I am not cold.

5 / 10

Decide if the sentence is correct:

She are tired.

6 / 10

Decide if the sentence is correct:

We is happy today.

7 / 10

Decide if the sentence is correct:

They are at home.

8 / 10

Decide if the sentence is correct:

I am a teacher.

9 / 10

Decide if the sentence is correct:

It are sunny today.

10 / 10

Decide if the sentence is correct:

Is she your sister?

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EXERCISE: Verb To Be – Complete the sentence

Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb To Be.

1 / 10

I ___ happy today.

2 / 10

He ___ not tired.

3 / 10

She ___ a doctor.

4 / 10

___ you from France?

5 / 10

They ___ at home now.

6 / 10

She ___ not at home tonight.

7 / 10

We ___ in the office today.

8 / 10

I ___ very tired yesterday.

9 / 10

It ___ not cold yesterday.

10 / 10

___ they at the party yesterday?

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Verb To Be – Present Simple

Affirmative form: PerfectEnglish | UsingEnglish | AgendaWeb1 | AgendaWeb2 | AgendaWeb3 | AgendaWeb4 | AgendaWeb5 | AgendaWeb6 | AgendaWeb7 | AgendaWeb8 | AgendaWeb9 | AgendaWeb10 | AgendaWeb11 | English4u1 | English4u2 | English4u3 | EnglischHilfen1 | EnglischHilfen2 | EnglischHilfen3 | EnglishRoom1 | EnglishRoom2 | EnglishRoom3 | MontseMorales

Negative form: PerfectEnglish | AgendaWeb1 | AgendaWeb2 | AgendaWeb3 | AgendaWeb4

Interrogative form: EnglischHilfen1 | EnglischHilfen2 AgendaWeb1 | AgendaWeb2 | AgendaWeb3 | AgendaWeb4 | AgendaWeb5 | AgendaWeb6 | AgendaWeb7 | PerfectEnglish1 | PerfectEnglish2

Mixed forms: English4u | PerfectEnglish1 | PerfectEnglish2 | LiveWorksheets1 | LiveWorksheets2 | Englishpedia1 | Englishpedia2 | Test-English | Eclectic English | MyEnglishPages | AgendaWeb1 | AgendaWeb2 | AgendaWeb3 | GrammalCl

Verb To Be – Past Simple

EnglishLearner | Englisch-Hilfen | UsingEnglish | PerfectEnglish1 | PerfectEnglish2 | PerfectEnglish3 | PerfectEnglish4 | LiveWorksheets

Verb to be in other tenses

The verb “to be” can be used in many tenses, not only present and past. Examples:

  • Future:
    → I will be at home tomorrow.
  • Present continuous:
    → I am being careful.
  • Present perfect:
    → She has been tired recently.

This means “to be” is a very important verb in English because we use it in many different situations and tenses.