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Multilingual Semantics: Understanding Meaning Across Languages
Unit 1 Basics of Semantics
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EduBurma Essay Course Level 1
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EduBurma Essay Course Level 2
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Language Booster Course: Elementary level
Learning English
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Language Booster Course : Pre-intermediate – Intermediate
Learning
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Academic Writing Skills
Module 1: Foundations of Writing
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Academic English – Upper Intermediate
Unit 3: Communication
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Academic Vocabulary in Use – A Cambridge Approach
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Course Menu

📘 Be: Present Simple (1)

🔹 1. What is the verb be in the Present Simple?

The verb “be” changes its form depending on the subject. It has three forms in the present:

  • am – used with I
  • is – used with he, she, it, singular nouns
  • are – used with you, we, they, plural nouns

Examples:

  • I am a teacher.
  • She is a doctor.
  • They are in the park.
  • You are late.
  • The dog is hungry.
  • My friends are happy.

🔹 2. Forms of “be”

🔸 POSITIVE SENTENCES

Subject Full Form Short Form
I I am I’m
You You are You’re
He / She / It He is / She is / It is He’s / She’s / It’s
We / You / They We are / You are / They are We’re / You’re / They’re

🔸 NEGATIVE SENTENCES

Subject Full Form Short Form
I I am not I’m not
You You are not You aren’t
He / She / It He is not / She is not / It is not He isn’t / She isn’t / It isn’t
We / You / They We are not / You are not / They are not We aren’t / You aren’t / They aren’t

🔹 3. Where and How Do We Use “be”?

💬 a. To say who we are:

  • I’m Kevin and this is my friend Anna.
  • She’s a nurse. He’s a student.
  • We’re from Japan. They’re from Canada.

🌡️ b. To talk about the weather:

  • It’s cold today.
  • It isn’t very sunny this morning.
  • It’s a beautiful day!

🕘 c. To tell the time:

  • It’s three o’clock.
  • It’s half past six.
  • You’re late!

📍 d. To talk about places:

  • The students are at school.
  • My phone is on the table.
  • Milan is in Italy.

👧 e. To talk about people’s age or description:

  • My sister is ten years old.
  • They’re very friendly.
  • He isn’t tall.

🔹 4. More Example Sentences by Type

🔸 Positive

  • I’m from Brazil.
  • She’s very smart.
  • We’re in the same class.

🔸 Negative

  • I’m not tired.
  • He isn’t my cousin.
  • They aren’t at home.

🔸 Questions

We usually invert the subject and the verb be in questions:

  • Are you hungry?
  • Is she your teacher?
  • Am I late?