Inter American University of Puerto Rico

Guayama Campus

Title V Cooperative Project

Verb To BE Present Tense Module
Prof. Marisol Piazza Aguirre

Pre-Test

(Affirmative Sentences)

Select the best answer.

__ 1. I am not from Mexico. I ____ from Puerto Rico.
(A) are
(B) am
(C) is
__ 2. Jennifer Lpez ____ a popular Latin actress and singer.
(A) are
(B) am
(C) is
__ 3. Ricky Bones and Carlos Beltrn ____ famous Puerto Rican
baseball players.
(A) are
(B) am
(C) is
__ 4. Ro de Janeiro ____ the capital of Brazil.
(A) are
(B) am
(C) is
__ 5. You and I ____ in Prof. Riveras English course, room A-10.
(A) are
(B) am
(C) is

Pre-Test

(Negative Sentences)

__ 6. Steven Spielberg ____ a painter. Hes a movie director.

(A) am not
(B) is not
(C) are not
__ 7. Today ____ my birthday. Its next Friday.
(A) am not
(B) is not
(C) are not
__ 8. The Dalmatians ____ dangerous dogs. They are obedient and playful.
(A) am not
(B) is not
(C) are not
__ 9. I ____ in the kitchen. I am in the laundry room.
(A) am not
(B) is not
(C) are not
__10. Ronnie and Jennifer ____ absent. They are in the library.
(A) am not
(B) is not
(C) are not

Pre-Test

(Yes/No Questions)

__ 11. ____ your dental appointment at 9:30 AM?

(A) Am
(B) Is
(C) Are
__ 12. ____ I a qualified candidate for the sales position?
(A) Am
(B) Is
(C) Are
__ 13. ____ the neighborhood a safe place to live?
(A) Am
(B) Is
(C) Are
__ 14. ____ you very busy right now?
(A) Am
(B) Is
(C) Are
__ 15. ____ the students in the language laboratory now?
(A) Am
(B) Is
(C) Are

Pre-Test

(Information Questions)

__ 16. What ____ your cell phone number?

(A) am
(B) is
(C) are
__ 17. Why ____ I so nervous? Maybe because of the oral report.
(A) am
(B) is
(C) are
__ 18. How ____ you and all your family?
(A) am
(B) is
(C) are
__ 19. Who ____ the manager of the store?
(A) am
(B) is
(C) are
__ 20. Why ____ they home so late?
(A) am
(B) is
(C) are

Pre-Test Answer Key

1. B
2. C
3. A
4. C
5. A
6. B
7. B
8. C
9. A
10. C

11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

B
A
B
C
C
B
A
C
B
C

Pre-Test Evaluation
Total Correct Answers:
20
19

Excellent: Go to the Post Test.

Very Good: Review the incorrect answer and go to the
Post Test.
18-12 Good: Review the incorrect answers, study the rules
presented in this module, do the practice exercises
and then go to the Post Test.
11 or You Need More Practice: Study the module, review the
less
rules carefully and do the practice exercises. When
you improve your score, you may go to the Post Test.

Verb BE Present Tense

The Verb To BE is used to express:

state of being
location
feelings
descriptions
health
conditions
weather
time
nationality
colors
sizes
dates
moods
prices
etc

( I am a student.)
( I am in the university.)
( I am happy.)
( He is tall.)
( He is sick.)
( The house is old.)
( It is sunny.)
( It is 5:30 PM.)
( She is Chinese.)
( The curtains are green.)
( The blouse is medium.)
( It is December 24th.)
( John is angry.)
( The brown leather coat is $75.00.)

Verb BE Present Tense

The Verb To BE has three forms in the
Present Tense:
am
is
are

Some Time Expressions

today
every day
every week
every weekend
always
usually
often
sometimes
seldom
occasionally
never

Verb BE Affirmative Statements

Singular
Subject

BE

am

a student.

You (usted)

are

intelligent.

He
She
It

in the library.
is
interesting.

Verb BE Affirmative Statements

Plural
Subject

BE

You (ustedes)
We
They

late today.
are

on a cruise.
from Costa Rica.

Affirmative Statements
More Examples:
1. I am an accounting student.
2. My name is Alicia. It is a pleasure to meet you.
3. You (usted) are a responsible person.
4. Carol is in the cafeteria.
5. Pablo is absent today.
6. Wal-Mart is open every day.
7. The monkey is high up in the tree.
8. We are hungry and thirsty.
9. You (ustedes) are in the correct room.
10. Computers are complex machines.

Negative Statements
Singular
Subject

BE

NOT

am

not

a designer.

are

not

sincere.

is

not

in the library.

You (usted)
He
She
It

beautiful.

Negative Statements
Plural
Subject

BE

NOT

You
(ustedes)
We
They

late today.
are

not

on a cruise.
from Costa
Rica.

Negative Statements
More Examples:
1. I am not an accounting student.
2. My name is not Alicia. It is Aixa.
3. You (usted) are not a responsible person.
4. Carol is not in the cafeteria.
5. Pablo is not absent today.
6. Wal-Mart is not open every day.
7. The monkey is not high up in the tree.
8. We are not hungry and thirsty.
9. You (ustedes) are not in the correct room.
10. Computers are not complex machines.

Verb BE Contractions

Contractions: A contraction is the combination of two

words into one. In contractions, letters are replaced with
an apostrophe ().

Verb BE Contractions
Complete Form

(Affirmative)
Contraction

I am
You are

Im
Youre

He is
She is
It is
We are
You are
They are

Hes
Shes
Its
Were
Youre
Theyre

Verb BE Contractions in Affirmative

Statements
1.

I am Puerto Rican.

1.

Im Puerto Rican.

2.

You are a friendly person.

2.

Youre a friendly person.

3.

He is at the baseball game.

3.

Hes at the baseball game.

4.

She is eighteen years old.

4.

Shes eighteen years old.

5.

It is 12:00 oclock noon.

5.

Its 12:00 oclock noon.

6.

We are in the library.

6.

Were in the library.

7.

You are quiet today.

7.

Youre quiet today.

8.

They are fraternal twins.

8.

Theyre fraternal twins.

Verb BE Contractions (Negative)

Complete Form
I am not
You are not
He is not
She is not
It is not
We are not
You are not
They are not

Contraction
Im not
Youre not
Hes not
Shes not
Its not
Were not
Youre not
Theyre not

You arent
He isnt
She isnt
It isnt
We arent
You arent
They arent

Verb BE Contractions in Negative

Statements
1.

I am not French.

1.

Im not French.

2.

You are not a friendly person.

2.

Youre not (arent) a friendly person.

3.

He is not at the baseball game.

3.

Hes not (isnt) at the baseball

game.

4.

She is not eighteen years old.

4.

Shes not (isnt) eighteen years old.

5.

Its not (isnt) 12:00 oclock noon.

6.

Were not (arent) in the library.

7.

Youre not (arent) quiet today.

8.

Theyre not (arent) fraternal twins.

5.
6.
7.
8.

It is not 12:00 oclock noon.

We are not in the library.
You are not quiet today.
They are not fraternal twins.

Language Notes
We

can make a contraction with the subject

pronoun + am, is, or are.
Examples:
I am Im
he is hes
you are youre
she is shes
we are were
it is its
they are theyre

Language Notes

We can make a contraction with most

nouns + is.
Examples: My grandmothers energetic. (grandmother is)
Your dogs playful. (dog is)

We dont make a contraction with is if the noun ends

in letters: s, se, ce, ze, sh, ch, or x.
Examples:

A mouse is a small animal.

A fox is a relative of a dog.

Language Notes

We dont make a contraction with a noun and are.

Example: The children are ready.

We can make a contraction with there + is.

Example: There is a sandwich on the table.
Theres a sandwich on the table.

We dont make a contraction with there + are.

Example: There are many excellent recipe books.

Language Notes
The

negative contractions are: isnt and arent.

Examples:
She isnt home.
You arent patient.

There is no contraction for am not.

Yes/No Questions and Short Answers

Question Subject
BE
Am

Are

you (usted)

Is

he
she
It

Are

you (ustedes)
we
they

late ?

Yes/No Questions and Short Answers

Short Answers
Affirmative
Negative
Yes, you are.

No, youre not. / No, you arent.

Yes, I am.

No, Im not.

Yes, he is.
Yes, she is.
Yes, it is.

No, hes not. / No, he isnt.

No, shes not. / No, she isnt.
No, its not. / No, it isnt.

Yes, we are.
Yes, you are.
Yes, they are.

No, were not. / No, we arent.

No, youre not. / No, you arent.
No, theyre not. / No, they arent.

Yes/No Questions and Short Answers

More Examples:
1. (Q) Are you (usted) from Puerto Rico?
(A) Yes, I am. / No, I am not. / No, Im not.
2. (Q) Am I on the English 1101 official course list?
(A) Yes, you are. / No, youre not. / No, you arent.
3. (Q) Is your father a business man?
(A) Yes, he is. / No, hes not. / No, he isnt.
4. (Q) Is Jennifer at the supermarket?
(A) Yes, she is. / No, shes not. / No, she isnt.

Yes/No Questions and Short Answers

5. (Q) Is the Toyota Camry a safe car?
(A) Yes, it is. / No, its not. / No, it isnt.
6. (Q) Are you (ustedes) comfortable?
(A) Yes, we are. / No, were not. / No, we arent.
7. (Q) Are we on time for the concert?
(A) Yes, you are. / No, youre not. / No, you arent.
8. (Q) Are Miguel and Carlos certified electricians?
(A) Yes, they are. / No, theyre not. / No, they arent.

Wh-Questions (Information Questions)

Question Word Questions

Answers

Who (person)

Who is Vanessa Williams?

She is a famous tennis

player.

What (thing)

What is your nationality?

My nationality is Puerto
Rican.

When (time)

When are the Income Tax

Forms due?

They are due on April 15th.

Why (reason)

Why are you (ustedes)

late?

We are late because traffic

is terrible.

Where (place)

Where am I?

You are in the hospital.

How (description,
health)

How is your new job?

It is fun and interesting.

Whose (possession)

Whose MP3 is this?

It is Anas MP3.

Wh-Questions and Answers

More Examples:
1. (Q) Who are Isabel Allende and Ana Lydia Vega?
(A) They are famous Latin novel writers.
2. (Q) What is your computer password?
(A) It is a secret.
3. (Q) When is Labor Day?
(A) It is on September 4th.
4. (Q) Where are the car keys?
(A) They are on the kitchen counter.

Wh-Questions and Answers

5. (Q) Why is Juan trembling?
(A) He is trembling because he is cold.
6. (Q) How much is the English book?
(A) It is $29.95.
7. (Q) Whose calculator is this?
(A) It is Andreas calculator.

Practice Exercises

(Affirmative Sentences)

Select the best answer.

__ 1. Marilyn had a baby. It ____ a gorgeous boy.
(A) am
(B) is
(C) are
__ 2. Its raining. Get the umbrella. ____ near the door.
(A) Im
(B) Hes
(C) Its
__ 3. ____ cold. Please turn off the air conditioner.
(A) Im
(B) Is
(C) Ire
__ 4. There ____ an extra towel in the closet. Use it.
(A) am
(B) is
(C) are
__ 5. The Admissions and Financial Aid offices ____ on the first floor.
(A) am
(B) is
(C) are

Practice Exercises

(Negative Sentences)

__ 6. A college education ____ free. Its expensive.

(A) am not
(B) arent
(C) isnt
__ 7. The party ____ at 6:00 oclock. Its at 7:30 PM.
(A) isnt
(B) am not
(C) arent
__ 8. I ____ single. Im married.
(A) am not
(B) isnt

(C) arent

__ 9. Chicago and Orlando ____ states. Theyre cities.

(A) isnt
(B) am not
(C) arent
__10. David and I ____ at the post office. Were at the bank.
(A) arent
(B) isnt
(C) am not

Practice Exercises

(Yes/No Questions)

___ 11. ____ there a city map in the car?

(A) Am
(B) Is
(C) Are
___ 12. ____ the children at the park or at the zoo?
(A) Am
(B) Is
(C) Are
___ 13. ____ there good hotels and restaurants in this area?
(A) Am
(B) Is
(C) Are
___ 14. ____ I the leader of the group?
(A) Am
(B) Is
(C) Are
___ 15. ____ Toyotas economical and safe cars?
(A) Am
(B) Is
(C) Are

Practice Exercises

(Information Questions)

___ 16. Where ____ the Statue of Liberty? Its in New York.
(A) are
(B) am
(C) is
___ 17. Who ____ Antonio Banderas? Hes a handsome actor.
(A) are
(B) is
(C) am
___ 18. Why ____ I on the Deans Honor Students List? Because youre
intelligent.
(A) am
(B) are
(C) is
___ 19. What color ____ your new gym shoes? Theyre navy blue.
(A) are
(B) am
(C) is
___ 20. When ____ traffic very heavy? Its heavy at noon.
(A) is
(B) are
(C) am

Practice Exercise Answer Key

1.

11.

2.

C
A
B
C
C
A
A
C
A

12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

C
C
A
C
C
B
A
A
A

3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Practice Exercise Evaluation

Total Correct Answers:
20
19
18-12
11 or
less

Excellent: Go to the Post Test.

Very Good: Review the incorrect answer and go to the
Post Test.
Good: Review the incorrect answers, consult the module
again and then go to the Post Test.
You Need More Practice: Study the module, review the
rules carefully and do the practice exercises again.
When you understand the rules and improve your
score, you may go to the Post Test.

Post Test

(Affirmative Sentences)

Select the best answer.

__ 1. I am not from Mexico. I ____ from Puerto Rico.
(A) are
(B) am
(C) is
__ 2. Jennifer Lpez ____ a popular Latin actress and singer.
(A) are
(B) am
(C) is
__ 3. Ricky Bones and Carlos Beltrn ____ famous Puerto Rican
baseball players.
(A) are
(B) am
(C) is
__ 4. Ro de Janeiro ____ the capital of Brazil.
(A) are
(B) am
(C) is
__ 5. You and I ____ in Prof. Riveras English course, room A-10.
(A) are
(B) am
(C) is

Post Test

(Negative Sentences)

__ 6. Steven Spielberg ____ a painter. Hes a movie director.

(A) am not
(B) is not
(C) are not
__ 7. Today ____ my birthday. Its next Friday.
(A) am not
(B) is not
(C) are not
__ 8. The Dalmatians ____ dangerous dogs. They are obedient and playful.
(A) am not
(B) is not
(C) are not
__ 9. I ____ in the kitchen. I am in the laundry room.
(A) am not
(B) is not
(C) are not
__10. Ronnie and Jennifer ____ absent. They are in the library.
(A) am not
(B) is not
(C) are not

Post Test

(Yes/No Questions)

__ 11. ____ your dental appointment at 9:30 AM?

(A) Am
(B) Is
(C) Are
__ 12. ____ I a qualified candidate for the sales position?
(A) Am
(B) Is
(C) Are
__ 13. ____ the neighborhood a safe place to live?
(A) Am
(B) Is
(C) Are
__ 14. ____ you very busy right now?
(A) Am
(B) Is
(C) Are
__ 15. ____ the students in the language laboratory now?
(A) Am
(B) Is
(C) Are

Post Test

(Information Questions)

__ 16. What ____ your cell phone number?

(A) am
(B) is
(C) are
__ 17. Why ____ I so nervous? Maybe because of the oral report.
(A) am
(B) is
(C) are
__ 18. How ____ you and all your family?
(A) am
(B) is
(C) are
__ 19. Who ____ the manager of the store?
(A) am
(B) is
(C) are
__ 20. Why ____ they home so late?
(A) am
(B) is
(C) are

Post Test Answer Key

1. B
2. C
3. A
4. C
5. A
6. B
7. B
8. C
9. A
10. C

11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

B
A
B
C
C
B
A
C
B
C

Post Test Evaluation

Total Correct Answers:
20

19
18-12
11 or
less

Excellent: Congratulations! You have successfully

completed this module. You may work with a different
module if necessary.
Very Good: Review the incorrect answer. You may work
with a different module if necessary.
Good: Review the incorrect answers, review the areas of
difficulty and take the Post Test again.
You Need More Practice: I recommend that you review
the complete module and take the Post Test again.

Letter to the Student

Congratulations ! You have completed the module
Verb BE in the Present Tense. If you really understand
all of the rules and examples presented, you can work
with a different module depending on your needs.
However, if you still have some questions concerning the
rules, I advise you to review this module again or visit the
Language Laboratory, Room B-6 and ask for help before
studying a different module.
Remember you learn by practicing, therefore use the
Verb BE in your daily conversations and written work.