Grammar: The Verb 'to be'
A1 Lesson 9: Using "is" (He/She/It)
The Golden Rule for "is" 📖
In our last lesson, we learned "I am". Today, we learn the next form: is. We use is when we talk about one other person or one thing.
Use "is" with these subjects:
- He + is
- She + is
- It + is
"is" in Action: Examples
We use 'he is', 'she is', and 'it is' to give information.
-
He is... (for one man or boy)- He is a tour guide at Angkor Wat.
- My friend's name is Seyha. He is very friendly. -
She is... (for one woman or girl)- My mother is a seller at the Old Market. She is very busy.
- This is Lina. She is a great student. -
It is... (for one thing, animal, or place)- Look at that temple. It is very old.
- The weather in Siem Reap is hot. It is sunny today.
Grammar Toolkit 🛠️
💡 Pro Tip: Use Contractions to Sound Natural
In spoken English, we use short forms, called contractions, to speak faster.
| Long Form | Short Form (Contraction) |
|---|---|
| He is a driver. | He's a driver. |
| She is my sister. | She's my sister. |
| It is a hot day. | It's a hot day. |
Practice Your Grammar 🎯
Exercise: Complete and Contract
Complete the sentences with is. Then, change the full sentence to the short form.
Example: He ___ a teacher. → He is a teacher. → He's a teacher.
- She ___ my friend.
→ She's my friend. - It ___ a big temple.
→ It's a big temple. - He ___ very tall.
→ He's very tall.
Your Grammar Mission ⭐
Write About People and Things
Write three sentences. Use 'He is' or 'He's' in the first, 'She is' or 'She's' in the second, and 'It is' or 'It's' in the third. Write about people or things you know.
Example: My father is a farmer. He's strong. My bicycle is old. It's blue.
Key Vocabulary
- Tour guide A person who shows tourists around places like temples.
- Busy Having a lot to do.
- Old Having lived for a long time; not new.
- Weather The state of the atmosphere (e.g., hot, cold, rainy, sunny).