4.1 FORMS OF THE VERB “TO BE” (AM, IS, ARE)

Objective:
To understand and correctly use the different forms of the verb “to be” in the present tense for all subject pronouns, as the foundation for basic English sentence construction.

🔤 WHAT IS THE VERB “TO BE”?
“To be” is one of the most important and irregular verbs in English. It is used to:
Identify people and things → She is a teacher.
Describe states or conditions → They are tired.
Talk about age, nationality, jobs, relationships, and location

🔹 PRESENT FORMS OF “TO BE”
Subject  Verb Form  Example
I     am     I am 30 years old.
You    are     You are my friend.
He / She / It is     She is from Argentina.
We     are     We are ready.
They    are     They are at school.
The verb changes completely depending on the subject.

🧱 SENTENCE STRUCTURE
Type      Structure           Example
Affirmative    Subject + am/is/are + complement   He is a doctor.
Negative     Subject + am/is/are + not + complement They are not busy.
Interrogative   Am/Is/Are + subject + complement?  Are you a student?

🔁 CONTRACTED FORMS (USED IN SPEECH AND INFORMAL WRITING)
Full Form      Contracted Form
I am          I’m
You are        You’re
He is / She is / It is   He’s / She’s / It’s
We are        We’re
They are       They’re
I’m happy. She’s in class. We’re late.

❗ COMMON ERRORS BY SPANISH SPEAKERS
Mistake       Correction        Why?
She are my sister.   She is my sister.     Wrong verb form for “she”
I am agree.      I agree.        “Agree” is not used with “am”
They is my friends.   They are my friends.   “They” takes “are”

🧠 WHEN NOT TO USE “TO BE”
Some expressions in Spanish use "ser/estar" but in English they don't:
Tengo hambre → I’m hungry ✅
Tengo frío → I’m cold ✅
Soy de España → I’m from Spain ✅
In English, these do use “to be”, even though Spanish uses “tener”.

💬 EXAMPLE DIALOG
Victor: Hi, I’m Victor, and this is my friend Sarah.
Host: Nice to meet you, Victor. Sarah, are you from around here?
Sarah: Yes, I am. I’m from the north of England.
Victor: I’m from Brazil originally, but now we’re both living in London.
Host: That’s great. Are you students?
Sarah: No, we’re engineers. He’s a software developer, and I’m in telecommunications.
Host: Impressive! Welcome to the team.

4.2 AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES WITH “TO BE”

Objective:
To form and use affirmative sentences with the verb “to be” in present tense correctly and fluently, across all subjects and common sentence patterns.

🔹 AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCE STRUCTURE
Subject + am / is / are + complement
Subject  Verb Form  Example
I     am     I am tired.
You    are     You are friendly.
He / She / It is     She is a nurse.
We     are     We are ready.
They    are     They are on holiday.
The verb agrees with the subject — it changes form based on who is being talked about.

🧱 COMMON SENTENCE TYPES

With adjectives (descriptions):
→ He is tall. / They are kind.

With nouns (identities, professions):
→ She is a teacher. / We are musicians.

With prepositional phrases (location):
→ I am at home. / They are in the office.

With time or age expressions:
→ It is 3 p.m. / She is 27 years old.

🔁 CONTRACTED FORMS (SPOKEN AND INFORMAL)
Full Form   Contracted Form
I am      I’m
You are     You’re
He is      He’s
She is     She’s
It is      It’s
We are     We’re
They are    They’re
You’re early today.
We’re from Mexico.

🔸 USING “TO BE” IN DESCRIPTIONS
Structure         Example
Subject + to be + adjective  The coffee is hot.
Subject + to be + noun   My brother is a chef.
Subject + to be + place   They are in the kitchen.
These are among the most common sentence types in English and form the base of everyday communication.

❗ COMMON ERRORS BY SPANISH SPEAKERS
Mistake       Correction         Why?
She am happy.    She is happy.       Wrong form: "am" only with “I”
We is from Chile.   We are from Chile.    “We” needs “are”
I am engineer.    I am an engineer.     Missing article before profession
Professions and singular countable nouns always need a/an:
He is a doctor. / She is an artist.

🧠 TIPS FOR MASTERY
Repeat common phrases aloud using different subjects.
Practice switching between full and contracted forms.
Use real examples from your daily life:
→ I’m a student. I’m 34. I’m from Cádiz. I’m in class now.

💬 EXAMPLE DIALOG
Emily: So, what’s your job exactly?
David: I’m a logistics coordinator for an export company. It’s challenging but interesting.
Emily: Sounds great. Are your colleagues friendly?
David: Yes, they’re amazing. Everyone is supportive and helpful.
Emily: And your office—is it far from here?
David: Not really. It’s about 20 minutes away. We’re right next to the central station.

4.3 NEGATIVE AND INTERROGATIVE FORMS

Objective:
To form negative and interrogative sentences using the verb “to be” in the present tense, for expressing denial, asking questions, and checking or clarifying information.

🔹 NEGATIVE FORMS WITH “TO BE”
Structure:
Subject + am/is/are + not + complement
Subject  Verb  Example
I     am not   I am not tired.
You    are not   You are not late.
He/She/It is not   She is not at home.
We    are not   We are not students.
They    are not   They are not ready.

❗ Use contractions in informal situations:
Full Form   Contracted Form
is not     isn’t
are not     aren’t
am not     no contraction → I’m not

🔹 INTERROGATIVE FORMS WITH “TO BE”
Structure:
Am/Is/Are + subject + complement?
Question    Answer
Are you Spanish?   Yes, I am. / No, I’m not.
Is she a lawyer?   Yes, she is. / No, she isn’t.
Are they at home?   Yes, they are. / No, they aren’t.
Am I late?      Yes, you are. / No, you’re not.

✅ The verb comes before the subject in questions — this is key to forming correct English questions.

🔁 SHORT ANSWERS
When replying to yes/no questions, English prefers short, clear answers using only the auxiliary verb:
Question    Positive Answer   Negative Answer
Are you hungry?  Yes, I am.     No, I’m not.
Is it cold outside? Yes, it is.     No, it isn’t.
Are they doctors?  Yes, they are.    No, they aren’t.

🧠 TYPICAL USES IN CONVERSATION
• Clarifying identity or status:
→ Is this your first visit here?
• Verifying conditions:
→ Are you available tomorrow?
• Expressing disagreement:
→ I’m not interested. / She’s not right.

❗ COMMON MISTAKES
Mistake        Correction          Why?
She no is here.     She is not here.       Wrong word order and literal translation
Are you teacher?    Are you a teacher?     Missing article before noun
He is not engineer.   He is not an engineer.    Use article "a/an" with professions
You are student?    Are you a student?      Question must invert subject and verb

💬 EXAMPLE DIALOG
Nina: Are you from Portugal?
Mateo: No, I’m not. I’m from Argentina, but I live in Lisbon now.
Nina: Oh, I see. Is Portuguese your first language then?
Mateo: Actually, no—it’s Spanish. But I’m learning Portuguese.
Nina: That’s impressive. Are you here on vacation?
Mateo: Not really. I’m here for work, but I’m staying a few extra days to explore the city.

4.4 CONTRACTIONS AND SHORT ANSWERS

Objective:
To understand how and when to use contractions and short answers with the verb “to be” in everyday communication, for clarity, fluency, and natural tone.

🔹 WHAT ARE CONTRACTIONS?
Contractions are shortened forms of words, often used in spoken English and informal writing. They make sentences sound more natural and less robotic.
Full Form      Contracted Form   Example
I am          I’m        I’m ready.
You are        You’re      You’re very kind.
He is / She is     He’s / She’s   She’s a doctor.
It is          It’s        It’s cold today.
We are        We’re      We’re on time.
They are       They’re      They’re my neighbors.

🔸 NEGATIVE CONTRACTIONS
Full Form    Contracted Form    Example
is not      isn’t         He isn’t here.
are not      aren’t        They aren’t students.
am not      I’m not        I’m not interested.

✅ Note: There’s no contraction for am not like “amn’t” in standard English.
We say: I’m not, not amn’t.

🔹 WHEN TO USE FULL VS. CONTRACTED FORMS
Context        Preferred Form
Formal writing     Full form → She is not…
Informal speech    Contracted → She isn’t…
Email to a friend    Contracted → We’re coming tonight.
Business letter     Full → They are currently unavailable.

🔁 SHORT ANSWERS WITH “TO BE”
Short answers are polite, clear, and avoid repeating the full sentence.
Question    Short Positive    Short Negative
Are you ready?   Yes, I am.     No, I’m not.
Is she your boss?  Yes, she is.     No, she isn’t.
Are they here?   Yes, they are.     No, they aren’t.
Am I late?     Yes, you are.     No, you’re not.
Always match the verb to the subject and use the correct form of “to be”.

🧠 FLUENCY TIP
Practice using contractions and short answers in your daily speech. They make your English sound confident, fluent, and friendly.
Don’t say: Yes, I am a student.
Say: Yes, I am. ✅
Don’t say: No, I am not a teacher.
Say: No, I’m not. ✅

💬 EXAMPLE DIALOG
Olivia: Are you the new project manager?
Hassan: Yes, I am. I’m starting this week.
Olivia: Great. I’m Olivia, by the way.
Hassan: Nice to meet you, Olivia. Are you on the same team?
Olivia: No, I’m not, but we collaborate often. Welcome aboard!
Hassan: Thanks! I’m really excited to be here.

4.5 TALKING ABOUT NATIONALITY, AGE, AND OCCUPATION

Objective:
To describe personal identity using the verb “to be” when talking about nationality, age, and profession, with correct sentence structure and vocabulary.

🔹 TALKING ABOUT NATIONALITY
Use the verb “to be” with adjectives of nationality or phrases with “from”:
Structure     Example
Subject + to be + nationality   She is Canadian.
Subject + to be + from + country  I am from Mexico.

Country   Nationality (Adj.)   Example
Spain    Spanish      I’m Spanish.
Argentina  Argentinian     He is Argentinian.
Germany   German      They are German.
Brazil    Brazilian      She is Brazilian.

⚠ Capitalize both countries and nationalities in English.

🔸 TALKING ABOUT AGE
In English, age is expressed with “to be”, not “to have” like in Spanish.
Structure      Example
Subject + to be + number + years old  I am 30 years old.
Question: How old are you?     I’m 25.

❗ Avoid: I have 25 years ❌
Correct: I am 25 years old ✅

🔹 TALKING ABOUT OCCUPATION
Use “to be” + a/an + job title.
Structure           Example
Subject + to be + a/an + job    She is a teacher. / He is an engineer.

Job Title      Example Sentence
student      I’m a student.
doctor       My father is a doctor.
architect      Are you an architect?
software developer  He’s a software developer.

Use “a” before consonant sounds: a doctor, a lawyer
Use “an” before vowel sounds: an artist, an engineer

❗ COMMON MISTAKES
Mistake       Correction        Explanation
I have 20 years    I am 20 years old     “Age” uses “to be”, not “to have”
He is engineer    He is an engineer     Article needed before profession
She is from England nationality She is English or from England Don't use “nationality” that way

💬 EXAMPLE DIALOG
Lucas: Hi, I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Lucas.
Aisha: Nice to meet you, Lucas. I’m Aisha. Where are you from?
Lucas: I’m from Chile, but I live in Berlin now. And you?
Aisha: I’m Canadian, from Toronto.
Lucas: Cool. What do you do?
Aisha: I’m a graphic designer. What about you?
Lucas: I’m a software engineer. Oh, and I’m 29.
Aisha: Same here! I just turned 29 last week.

4.6 DESCRIBING EMOTIONS AND CONDITIONS

Objective:
To express emotional and physical states using the verb “to be” with common adjectives, and to understand how to respond appropriately in social interactions.

🔹 USING “TO BE” WITH EMOTIONS AND STATES
In English, emotional and physical states are described using “to be” + adjective.

Category     Example Adjectives       Example Sentences
Emotions     happy, sad, angry, excited, nervous   I’m nervous about the exam.
Physical State   tired, sick, hot, cold, hungry      She’s tired today. / We’re hungry.
Mood or Mindset  bored, confused, surprised, relaxed   He’s confused. / They’re relaxed.

🔸 COMMON EXPRESSIONS OF STATE
Expression      Meaning
I’m fine / I’m okay   Neutral or positive response
I’m not feeling well   A softer way to say “I’m sick”
She’s under the weather Idiom for being slightly ill
He’s in a good mood  Emotionally positive state

🔹 QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT EMOTIONS AND CONDITIONS
Question       Appropriate Context
How are you?     General greeting
Are you okay?     If someone looks upset
Are you tired?     After work or activity
Are you feeling better? After illness or stress
What’s wrong?     If someone seems sad or unwell

✅ Use empathetic tone and facial expressions to match polite concern.

🔸 RESPONSES USING “TO BE”
Question      Positive Response    Negative Response
Are you okay?    Yes, I’m fine.      No, I’m not feeling well.
Are you nervous?   A little, yes.      Not really.
Are they tired?    Yes, they’re exhausted.  No, they’re full of energy.

❗ COMMON MISTAKES
Mistake        Correction        Why?
I have cold.      I am cold.        Use “to be” for conditions
She is with stress.   She is stressed.     Wrong preposition and structure
He has boredom.    He is bored.       Emotional states use adjectives

✔ I’m hungry, not I have hunger
✔ They’re bored, not They have boredom

💬 EXAMPLE DIALOG
Daniel: You look a bit pale. Are you okay?
Isla: I think so. I’m just a little dizzy—I didn’t sleep well last night.
Daniel: That’s tough. Are you feeling sick?
Isla: Not exactly sick, just exhausted. I’ve been working late all week.
Daniel: I hear you. I’m pretty tired too. Hopefully the weekend helps.
Isla: Definitely. I’m planning to rest as much as I can.

4.7 SUBJECT PRONOUNS + TO BE IN CONTEXT

Objective:
To reinforce the correct use of subject pronouns together with the verb “to be” in natural, meaningful sentences, emphasizing clarity, accuracy, and fluency.

🔹 QUICK RECAP: SUBJECT PRONOUNS + VERB “TO BE”
Subject Pronoun  Verb Form    Example Sentence
I         am        I am a photographer.
You        are        You are very polite.
He / She / It    is         She is my colleague.
We        are        We are ready to start.
They        are        They are my parents.

✅ Each subject must match the correct form of “to be”.

🔸 WHY SUBJECT PRONOUNS MATTER IN ENGLISH
Unlike Spanish, English requires a subject in every sentence — even if it seems obvious.

Spanish     English
Es médico.    He is a doctor.
Está en casa.   She is at home.
Tengo 28 años.  I am 28 years old.

🔁 Subject omission is not allowed in English.

🧠 PRACTICE IN CONTEXTUAL SENTENCES

I’m from Ecuador. I’m 32 and I’m an architect.
He is very quiet, but he’s a great listener.
They’re on vacation this week.
We are students at a language school.
These sentences combine identity, description, and location, offering rich practice.

🔹 TALKING ABOUT OTHERS WITH PRONOUNS
Name(s)    Replace with    Example Sentence
Maria     she       She is a lawyer.
Peter     he        He is Italian.
My friends   they       They are musicians.
You and I   we        We are late.

❗ COMMON ERRORS BY SPANISH SPEAKERS
Mistake        Correction        Explanation
Is my friend.     He is my friend.      Missing subject
Are tired.      We are tired.        Need a clear subject
She are teacher.   She is a teacher.      Subject-verb agreement error

Always use the pronoun, and match it with the right form of “to be”.

💬 EXAMPLE DIALOG
Alma: Who are those people over there?
Jonas: They’re my cousins. That’s David, and she is Ana.
Alma: Oh, nice. Are they visiting?
Jonas: Yes, they’re from Colombia. They’re staying with us this week.
Alma: That’s great! And who’s that with them?
Jonas: That’s my uncle. He’s a doctor, and he’s here on business.

4.8 COMMON MISTAKES WITH “TO BE”

Objective:
To identify and correct typical errors learners make when using the verb “to be”, especially those influenced by Spanish grammar and sentence structure.

🔹 1. OMITTING THE SUBJECT
In Spanish, the subject is often implied. In English, it is always required.
Incorrect    Correct
Is a good idea.  It is a good idea.
Am ready.    I am ready.
Is late.     He/She is late.

✅ Always include I, you, he, she, it, we, they.

🔹 2. WRONG VERB FORM FOR THE SUBJECT
Each subject has only one correct form of “to be” in the present.
Incorrect    Correct
You is nice.   You are nice.
She am tired.  She is tired.
They is students. They are students.

✅ Learn the verb chart and use it consistently.

🔹 3. USING “TO BE” WHERE IT’S NOT NEEDED
Some Spanish expressions use “ser” or “estar”, but English uses a different structure.

Spanish      Incorrect English     Correct English
Tengo 25 años   I am have 25 years ❌   I am 25 years old ✅
Tengo hambre   I am have hunger ❌   I am hungry ✅
Estoy de acuerdo  I am agree ❌      I agree ✅

❗ "To be" is not universal — some verbs like have or agree are used directly.

🔹 4. FORGETTING THE ARTICLE WITH JOBS
Professions require “a” or “an” in English.
Incorrect    Correct
She is teacher.  She is a teacher.
He is engineer.  He is an engineer.
They are students. ✅ (Correct — plural, no article)

✅ Use “a” before consonant sounds, “an” before vowel sounds.

🔹 5. INCORRECT NEGATION
Negatives with “to be” must use not — and often a contraction.
Incorrect      Correct
She no is here.    She is not here.
I not am ready.    I am not ready.
We are no hungry.   We are not hungry.

✅ Contracted forms are more natural: She isn’t here., I’m not ready.

💬 EXAMPLE DIALOG
Leila: You are doctor?
James: Not quite. I’m a medical student—I’m not a doctor yet.
Leila: Ah, okay. Sorry! I’m still learning English.
James: No worries! You’re doing great. Just remember to say “Are you a doctor?”
Leila: Right. “Are you a doctor?” Got it.
James: Perfect. And remember: always use “a” before jobs.

4.9 UNIT 4 REVIEW

Objective:
To consolidate all the key concepts from Unit 4 about the verb “to be” in the present tense, with an emphasis on identity, personal information, and accurate sentence structure.

📘 WHAT YOU LEARNED IN THIS UNIT

✅ FORMS OF THE VERB “TO BE”
am, is, are — each matched to its subject
Used for: names, jobs, nationality, age, condition, location

✅ AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES
I’m from Spain.
She is a doctor.
They are tired.

✅ NEGATIVE AND INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES
I’m not busy today.
Are you a student?
Is he from Brazil?

✅ CONTRACTED FORMS
I’m, you’re, he’s, we’re, they’re
isn’t, aren’t, I’m not

✅ DESCRIBING IDENTITY
Nationality: I’m Colombian.
Age: He is 24 years old.
Occupation: She is an engineer.

✅ DESCRIBING CONDITIONS AND FEELINGS
We’re excited about the event.
He’s not feeling well.
Are you cold?

✅ USING SUBJECT PRONOUNS IN FULL SENTENCES
No omission allowed: always use I, you, he, she, it, we, they

✅ AVOIDING TYPICAL MISTAKES
He is teacher → He is a teacher
I have 30 years → I am 30 years old
She no is here → She isn’t here

💬 EXAMPLE DIALOG
Nadia: Hi, I’m Nadia. I’m from Morocco, and I’m a graphic designer.
Chris: Nice to meet you, Nadia. I’m Chris. I’m from Ireland, but I live in Madrid now.
Nadia: Cool! Are you a student or working?
Chris: I’m working part-time and studying part-time. What about you?
Nadia: I’m working full-time, but I’m not too busy this week.
Chris: That’s good. I’m a little tired, honestly—lots of deadlines!
Nadia: I hear you. I’m not stressed yet… but give it a day or two!