1. 1. THE VERB TO BE
The verb TO BE in affirmative sentences.
The verb to be in present simple has three forms: am, are and is.
I ____ am
He/She/It ____ is
We/You/they ____ are
In informal English (colloquial and familiar), these forms appear in a contract form.
Examples:
Regular form Contracted form
I am a pupil I’m a pupil
You are a teacher You’re a teacher
We are here We’re here
SUBJECT + TO BE+ REST OF SENTENCE
The verb TO BE in negative sentences
Negative sentences are formed by adding not after the verb to be. The contract form
may be done in two ways:
a. contracting subject+ to be
b. contracting to be+ not
Examples
Regular form Contracted form
The cake is not ready The cake’s not
The cake isn’t ready
I am not sick I’m not sick.
2. SUBJECT + TO BE+ NOT+ REST OF THE SENTENCE
The verb TO BE in subject Wh-questions.
There are questions in which the interrogative particle (Wh-questions are sentences that
start with a question, for example: Who, What, etc.) is the subject of a sentence. Who is
used with people and what with things. In this kind of questions verb usually goes in
singular.
Examples:
John is at home ___ Who is at home?
The pencil is in the case ___ What is in the case?
WH-WORD+ TO BE+ REST OF THE SENTENCE
The verb TO BE in interrogative questions.
When we make sentences with the verb to be the structure of the sentence changes:
Subject and verb to be change their position.
Examples
She is happy __ Is she happy?
They are sad __ Are they sad?
TO BE+ SUBJECT+ REST OF THE SENTENCE
2.THE VERB HAVE GOT
The present simple of the verb have got in affirmative has two forms: have and has.
Examples
I have got a brother.
You have got a red shirt.
She has got a garden.
3. The verb have got in negative, is formed by adding the particle not after the verb have
or has. It normally appears in a contract form:
Examples
You haven’t got a dog.
Grandma hasn’t got a big house.
Andrew hasn’t got a car.
When we make interrogative sentences with the verb have got, the structure of the
sentence changes: First you put have or has, second you put the subject and third you
put not. Therefore is not possible to make the contract form.
Examples
Have we got food?
Has he got a car?
Has she got a cat?
If you want to answer with short answers in affirmative, use only the subject+ have or
has.
Examples
Yes, I have.
Yes, he has.
Yes, we have.
If you want to answer with short answers in negative, you must contract the verb
have/has in the negative form.
Examples
No, I haven’t.
No, she hasn’t.
No, They haven’t.
4. 3.THERE IS/THERE ARE.
There is, is translated into “hay”, but indicates that there is only one thing. Therefore it
is followed by countable nouns in singular (you can to place before an article or
numeral: The house, one apple…) or uncountable nouns ( you can’t place before any
article or numeral: She likes rice.)
Examples
There is a new student.
There is cereals for breakfast.
To form the negative form, you only have to add not to the verb. It ‘s more frequent to
write the contract form.
Here, with uncountable nouns you have to add any:
There isn’t any milk in the fridge.
In the interrogative form, the order is changed and you write first the verb is. If the
noun is uncountable you must put any:
Is there a candle on the table?
Is there any cold milk in the fridge?
There are, mean also “hay” but it is followed by plural nouns.
Example: There are apples and bananas in the fridge.
In the affirmative form, it is usually placed before some:
There are some books on the table.
The negative form is form adding not to the verb, as you have seen in there is.
Remember that you must always use any:
There aren’t any flowers in the forest.
In the interrogative form, the order is changed and you put first the verb are:
Are there any trees in this park?
