The Verb "To Be" - Present Tense

Let's start with a story: New Friends

Alex and Mia are at a new school. They meet each other for the first time.

"Hi, I am Alex. I am 15 years old, and I am from Chicago."
"Hello, Alex. I am Mia. My favorite subject is science. It is a great school!"
"That's cool! What about our other classmates? They are all new here, too. We are all a little nervous."
"Yes, we are. But I think we are going to have a good time here."

How it Works

The verb "to be" changes based on the **subject** (the person or thing doing the action).

  • Use AM with the subject I.
    Example: "I am a student."
  • Use IS with the subjects He, She, It.
    Example: "He is my friend."
  • Use ARE with the subjects You, We, They.
    Example: "We are classmates."

Practice Time!

Fill in the blanks with am, is, or are.

Quick Summary

Subject Verb
I am
You are
He, She, It is
We are
They are