Глагол (the verb) Глагол “to be”

Present

Positive Form (утвердительная форма)	Negative Form (отрицательная форма)	General Question (общий вопрос)
I am (I’m) he (she, it) is (he’s, she’s, it’s) we (they, you) are (we’re, they’re, you’re)	I am not (I’m not) He (she, it) is not (isn’t) We (they, you) are not (aren’t)	Am I ? Is he (she, it)? Are we (they, you)?

Общий вопрос (General Question) требует краткого ответа:

• Is Nick a student? – Yes, he is/No, he isn’t.

• Are they from Italy? – Yes, they are.No, they aren’t.

• Are you a manager? – Yes, I am/No, am not.

Разделительный вопрос (Disjunctive Question):

• He is a student, isn’t he?

• He isn’t a student, is he?

Специальный вопрос (Special Question) начинается с вопросительного слова: what, who, when, where, why, which, whose, how, how long, how much, how many, how often.

• What is he?

• Who is he?

• He is at home now. – Where is he now?

Past

Positive Form	Negative Form	General Question
I (he, she, it) was We (they, you) were	I (he, she, it) was not (wasn’t) We (they, you) were not (weren’t)	Was I (he she, it)? Were we (they, you)?

Общий вопрос (General Question) требует краткого ответа:

• Was Helen at home 2 days ago? – Yes, she was./No, she wasn’t.

• Were your friends late yesterday? – Yes, they were./No, they weren’t.

Разделительный вопрос (Disjunctive Question):

• He was a student, wasn’t he?

• He wasn’t a student, was he?

Специальный вопрос (Special Question):

• What was he?

• He was at home yesterday. – Where was he yesterday?

Future

Positive Form	Negative Form	General Question
I (he, she, it, we, they, you) will be	I (he, she, it, we, they, you) will not be (won’t be)	Will I (he, she, it, we, they, you) be?

Общий вопрос (General Question) требует краткого ответа:

• Will Mr Grag be at the office tomorrow? – Yes, he will/No, he won’t.

Разделительный вопрос (Disjunctive Question):

• He will be a student, won’t he?

• He won’t be a student, will he?

Специальный вопрос (Special Question):

• What will he be?

• He will be at home tomorrow. – Where will he be tomorrow?

Exercises

Ex. 1. Put in am, is, are

1. The sky … very blue today. 2. I … not tired. 3. This shelf … very heavy. 4. These shelves … very heavy. 5. I … cold. Can you shut the window, please? 6. The castle … one thousand years old. 7. My brother and I … good tennis players. 8. Jane … at home but her parents … in church. 9. My niece … archeologist. 10. They … deeply attached to each other.

Ex. 2. Write full sentences. Use am, is, are each time.

Example: (my grandparents very old) – My grandparents are very old.

1. (my desk very comfortable) – … . 2. (your spectacles in your bag) – … . 3. (this house very expensive) – … . 4. (the shops not open today) – … . 5. (Mr Wren’s grandson six years old) – … . 6. (the houses in this street very big) – … . 7. (the exam not difficult) – … . 8. (those flowers very beautiful) – … .

Ex. 3. Write positive or negative sentences. Use am, am not, is, isn’t, are, aren’t. Make up disjunctive questions.

1. I … interested in hockey. 2. I … angry. 3. It … cold. 4. The Hague … in Switzerland. 5. I … afraid of dogs. 6. My hands … dirty. 7. Moscow … a very big city. 8. Diamonds … cheap. 9. Squirrels … big animals.

Ex. 4. Write questions with What, Who, How, Where, Why …? Use am, is, are.

Example: (What colour your house) – What colour is your house?

1. (Where my key?) – … . 2. (Where my trousers?) – … . 3. (How old your grandmother?) – … . 4. (What colour his hair?) – … . 5. (How much these shoes?) – … . 6. (Who your favourite actor?) – … . 7. (Why you always late?) – … .

Ex. 5. Ask questions. (Read the answers to the questions first.)

1. (his name) … 2. (single or married) … 3. (British) … 4. (where, from) … 5. (how old) … 6. (a student) … 7. (your mother a teacher) … 8. (where, from) … 9. (her name) … 10. (how old) …

Robert. I’m single. No, I’m not. He is from Australia. I’m 18. No, I’m a secretary. No, she is a lawyer. She’s Italian. Rachel. She’s 40.

Ex. 6. Write positive and negative short answers.

1. Are you married? 2. Is your father tall? 3. Is it cold today? 4. Are you an engineer? 5. Are you hungry? 6. Is it light now? 7. Is your mother a manager? 8. Are you thirsty? 9. Is it sunny? 10. Is your grandfather a pensioner? 11. Is Madonna your favourite singer? 12. Is Agatha Christie from Great Britain?

Ex. 7. Put in am, is, are, was, were. Some sentences are present and some are past.

1. Last year their son … 26, so he … 27 now. 2. Today the weather … nice, but yesterday it … cold. 3. I … cold. Can I have something to drink? 4. I … hungry last night, so I had something to eat. 5. Where … you at 10 o’clock last Sunday morning? 6. Don’t buy those shoes. They … too expensive. 7. Why … you so tired today? 8. We must go now. It … very late. 9. This time last year I … in England. 10. We … tired when we arrived home, so we went to bed. 11. “Where … the dogs?” “I don’t know. They … in the garden ten minutes ago. 12. Helen got married when she … 21 years old. 13. I called yesterday evening but you … not at home. Where … you? 14. My friends … at the office at 5 o’clock yesterday.

Ex. 8. Put the following sentences into negative and interrogative forms.

1. My friend was a good solicitor. 2. They are policemen. 3. The judge is in the court now. 4. This barrister will be very busy. 5. My parents are pensioners. 6. We are students. 7. Mike will be a militiaman. 8. My mother is at home now. 9. They were very busy yesterday. 10. She will be glad to see you.

Ex. 9. Learn the following word combinations with the verb “to be”.

To be present – присутствовать, to be back – вернуться, to be absent/to be away – отсутствовать, to be good at – иметь способности к чему –либо, to be ready (for) – быть готовым, to be up – закончиться, to be well – быть здоровым, to be ill – быть больным, to be busy – быть занятым, to be free – быть свободным, to b glad – быть довольным, to be married – быть замужем (женатым), to be fond of – увлекаться, to be going to – собираться, to be interested in – интересоваться, to sorry (for smb., about smth.) – сожалеть о ком-то (о чём-то), to be late – опаздывать, to be in time – быть вовремя, to be right – быть правым, to be wrong – быть неправым, to be mistaken – ошибаться, to be on pension – быть на пенсии, to be tired – быть усталым, to be afraid of- бояться, to be over – окончиться, to be sure – быть уверенным, to be worth doing smth. – стоит делать что-либо.