Verb Be

To be is a linking verb and an auxiliary verb that is essential in grammar.

When expressed in its affirmative form, the verb confirms something about the subject. 

Conjugation:

 I am---> I’m

You are---> You’re

He is---> He’s

She is---> She’s

It is---> It’s

We are---> We’re

You are---> You’re

They are---> They’re

We use to be as a linking verb between other classes of words, it gives us more details about the condition of the subject.

To be is used with:

Nouns; Adjectives; Prepositional phrases (or complements).

To be, in its affirmative form, confirms characteristics of the subject, for example: age, behaviour, colour, jobs, nationality, personality, place, price, qualities, size, time…

Nouns: I am a student. He is a lawyer. We are doctors.

Adjectives: I am tall. He is polite. Many people are happy.

Prepositional phrases (or complements):

My book is on the bed. Harry Potter is on the TV. The eggs are in the box.

To be is an irregular verb and, in the negative form, it has this structure:

Subject + to be + not + …

Long form Short Form

 I am not ---> I’m not

You are not---> You’re not/You aren’t

He is not---> He’s not/He isn’t

She is not---> She’s not/She isn’t

It is not--> It’s not/It isn’t

We are not--> We’re not/We aren’t

You are not---> You’re not / You aren’t

They are not---> They’re not/They aren’t

Examples:

Nouns: I am not a student. He is not a lawyer. We are not doctors.

Adjectives: I am not tall. He is not polite. Many people are not happy.

Prepositional phrase: (or complements)

My book is not on the bed. Harry Potter is not on the TV. The eggs are not in the box.

To be is an irregular verb and, in the interrogative form (possible because of inversion), it has this structure:

To be + subject + …?

Am I…?

Are you…?

Is he…?

Is she…?

Is it…?

Are we…?

Are you...?

Are they..?

Examples:

Nouns:  Am I a student? Is he a lawyer? Are we doctors?

Adjectives: Am I tall? Is he polite? Are many people happy?

Prepositional phrases (or complements):

Is my book on the bed? Is Harry Potter on the TV? Are the eggs in the box?