Grammar
1. Present Simple Negatives - Verb "to be"
1. Present Simple Negatives - Verb "to be"
Present Simple negatives and questions using the verb "to be"are formed differently from other questions. To make negatives you simply insert "not" before the verb "to be".
- Statement: You are a doctor.
- Negative: You are not a doctor.
- Statement: They are cats.
- Negative: They are not cats.
- Statement: You are a doctor.
- Negative: You are not a doctor.
- Statement: They are cats.
- Negative: They are not cats.
Here is the negative form of the verb "to be" in the Simple Present:
Singular I am not You are not He is not She is not It is not | Plural We are not You are not They are not |
2. Present SimpTo make questions you simply invert the subject and the verb.
- Statement: You are a doctor.
- Question: Are you a doctor?
- Statement: They are cats.
- Question: Are they cats?
Simple Present Question verbs are as follows:
- Statement: You are a doctor.
- Question: Are you a doctor?
- Statement: They are cats.
- Question: Are they cats?
Simple Present Question verbs are as follows:
Singular Am I (a teacher) ? Are you ...? Is he ...? Is she ...? Is it ...? | Plural Are we ...? Are you ...? Are they ...? |
3. Short Answers
We can often answer these questions with a short answer using the verb "to be". For example:
- Are you a teacher?
- Yes, I am / No, I am not.
- Is he a student?
- Yes, he is. / No, he is not.
- Are you a teacher?
- Yes, I am / No, I am not.
- Is he a student?
- Yes, he is. / No, he is not.
Note that in spoken English we usually use contractions with the negative form. For example:
- No, I am not = No, I'm not.
These contractions will be studied in a later Unit.
- No, I am not = No, I'm not.
These contractions will be studied in a later Unit.
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