Grammar: The Verb 'to be'
A1 Lesson 10: Using "are"
The Grammar Rule 📖
We have learned "I am" and "He/She/It is". Today, we learn the final form: are. We use are when we talk to someone (you), or about a group of people (we, they).
How to Use "are"
For the person you talk to:
- You are a kind person.
- You are in Kampot province.
For a group that includes you:
- My friends and I are at the riverside. We are enjoying the view.
- We are from Cambodia.
For a group of other people/things:
- The fishermen are on the boats. They are working.
- My neighbors have a pepper farm. They are very busy.
Grammar Toolkit 🛠️
💡 Pro Tip: Use Contractions to Sound Natural
In everyday speaking, we use short forms, called contractions.
| Long Form | Short Form (Contraction) |
|---|---|
| You are | You're (You're a student.) |
| We are | We're (We're a family.) |
| They are | They're (They're my friends.) |
Summary: The Full Verb 'to be'
Congratulations! You have now learned the complete verb 'to be' in the present tense. This is a very important part of English grammar.
| Pronoun | Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I | am | I am happy. |
| You | are | You are tall. |
| He | is | He is a farmer. |
| She | is | She is a teacher. |
| It | is | It is a dog. |
| We | are | We are in Cambodia. |
| They | are | They are on vacation. |
Practice Your Grammar 🎯
Exercise: Choose the Correct Verb
Complete the sentences by choosing am, is, or are.
- She ___ my friend. (Answer: is)
- We ___ from Kampot. (Answer: are)
- The tourists ___ taking photos. (Answer: are)
- I ___ a student. (Answer: am)
- He ___ a tuk-tuk driver. (Answer: is)
Your Grammar Mission ⭐
Write Your Own Sentences
Write three sentences using what you learned today.
- One sentence with "You are...": ____________________
- One sentence with "We are...": _____________________
- One sentence with "They are...": ____________________
Key Vocabulary
- Riverside The area of land along the side of a river.
- Fisherman A person who catches fish for a job or for sport.
- Summary A short statement giving the main points of something.