The Verb Be: A1 Exercises

Every answer with the reason behind it. Read the explanation for the ones you got right as well — that is where you find out whether you were right for the right reason.

Multiple choice questions — answers

1. I ___ from Portugal. → am

I always takes am. It is the only subject that does, which is what makes it easy to remember.

2. She ___ a doctor at the city hospital. → is

She is a singular third-person subject, so it takes is. Note that the job also needs the article a.

3. My parents ___ at work right now. → are

Parents is plural, and every plural subject takes are.

4. ___ you ready to leave? → Are

You takes are, and be makes its own question by moving to the front. Do is never used with be.

5. The weather ___ very cold this morning. → is

Weather is a singular uncountable noun, so it takes is.

6. We ___ not late — the train is early. → are

We takes are, and the negative is simply are + not. No auxiliary is needed.

7. Which sentence about age is correct? → I am thirty years old.

English gives age with be, not with have. Years old is the standard phrase; have thirty years is a direct translation from French, Spanish or Turkish.

8. ___ your brother a student? → Is

Your brother is one person, so the question begins with Is.

9. The children ___ in the garden with their grandmother. → are

Children is an irregular plural, so it takes are — the missing -s does not make it singular.

10. It ___ half past eight already. → is

Times, dates and the weather all use it plus is.

11. "Are you tired?" — "Yes, I ___." → am

A short answer repeats be with the right subject, and I always takes am. Note that the positive short answer is never contracted — Yes, I'm is not possible.

12. She is not French. → She ___ French. → isn't

Is + not contracts to isn't. There is no amn't in standard English, and aren't belongs to plural subjects.

13. Which sentence about jobs is correct? → She is a teacher.

English needs both the verb be and an article before a job title. Dropping either one is the single most common A1 error with professions.

14. ___ I late for the meeting? → Am

The question form for I is Am I. It is the only question that has no possible contraction.

15. Those shoes ___ very expensive. → are

Shoes is plural, so it takes are — even though the price is a single amount.

16. "Is he your brother?" — "No, he ___." → isn't

The negative short answer contracts normally: he isn't. Unlike the positive, the negative short answer is almost always contracted.

17. Sara and I ___ good friends. → are

Sara and I means we, which is plural, so it takes are — not am, even though I appears in the subject.

18. Where ___ my glasses? I can't find them. → are

Glasses is a plural noun in English, so the question word is followed by are.

19. Which question form is correct? → Are you ready?

Be is already an auxiliary and makes the question by moving in front of the subject. Adding do gives the sentence two auxiliaries.

20. My office ___ near the station, so I walk to work. → is

Office is one singular thing, so it takes is. The second clause has a different verb, which is why be is needed only once.

Fill-in-the-blank questions — answers

1. My sister ___ a nurse in London. → is

One sister, so is. The contraction she's would also be correct if the pronoun were used instead of the noun.

2. I ___ very tired after the flight. → am

I takes am, always. Tired is an adjective, so a verb is required to join it to the subject.

3. They ___ my neighbours from the flat upstairs. → are

They is plural, so it takes are.

4. It ___ Monday today, so the museum is closed. → is

Days of the week use it plus is — the it does not refer to anything in particular.

5. You ___ right about the timetable. → are

You always takes are, whether it means one person or several.

6. We ___ not ready to order yet. → are

We takes are, and the negative simply adds not after it. Aren't would also be correct here.

7. ___ she your English teacher? → Is

She is singular, and the question is made by putting be at the front. No do is used.

8. My keys ___ on the kitchen table. → are

Keys is plural, so it takes are, even though they are together in one place.

9. He ___ from Brazil but he lives in Portugal now. → is

He is singular, so is. Note that lives is a different verb with its own third-person -s.

10. ___ you a student at this university? → Are

You takes are in questions exactly as it does in statements — only the position changes.

11. The shops ___ closed on Sunday afternoons. → are

Shops is plural. Closed here is an adjective describing their state, not a past-tense verb.

12. I ___ not hungry, thank you. → am

I am not is the only possible form — amn't does not exist in standard English.

13. This coffee ___ too hot to drink. → is

Coffee is a singular uncountable noun, so it takes is.

14. My brother and I ___ twins. → are

Two people together are we, and we takes are.

15. ___ I in the right room for the interview? → Am

The question form for I is Am I — the one question in English that cannot be contracted.

16. Her children ___ at primary school. → are

Children is plural, so it takes are.

17. That ___ a beautiful photograph of the harbour. → is

That points at one thing, so it takes is. These or those would need are.

18. The bus ___ late again this morning. → is

Bus is singular. Late is an adjective and needs be to attach it to the subject.

19. We ___ from the same town in the north. → are

We takes are. English states origin with be plus from, never with a verb meaning come.

20. It ___ very quiet in here tonight. → is

Descriptions of a place or atmosphere use it plus is.

Sentence structure: word ordering — answers

1. Say what you do for a living, starting with I. → I am a teacher.

Say what you do for a living, starting with I.

2. Say where a woman comes from. → She is from Poland.

Say where a woman comes from.

3. Make a negative sentence about a group including yourself. → We are not ready.

Make a negative sentence about a group including yourself.

4. Ask somebody whether they study. → Are you a student?

Ask somebody whether they study.

5. Give the age of a younger family member. → My brother is twelve years old.

Give the age of a younger family member.

6. Say where a group of children is right now. → The children are in the garden.

Say where a group of children is right now.

7. Ask about somebody's family relationship. → Is she your sister?

Ask about somebody's family relationship.

8. Describe a group of people you like. → They are very friendly people.

Describe a group of people you like.

9. Talk about the weather this morning. → It is cold today.

Talk about the weather this morning.

10. Refuse food politely by describing how you feel. → I am not hungry.

Refuse food politely by describing how you feel.

11. Ask whether you have arrived after the right time. → Am I late again?

Ask whether you have arrived after the right time.

12. Tell somebody where their keys are. → Your keys are on the table.

Tell somebody where their keys are.

13. Praise a man's ability in the kitchen. → He is a very good cook.

Praise a man's ability in the kitchen.

14. Say what you and your classmates do, and where. → We are students at this school.

Say what you and your classmates do, and where.

15. Explain why you cannot go shopping at the weekend. → The shops are closed on Sunday.

Explain why you cannot go shopping at the weekend.

16. Make a negative sentence about where two people are. → My parents are not at home.

Make a negative sentence about where two people are.

17. Ask about the distance to a place. → Is it far from here?

Ask about the distance to a place.

18. Say how long you have known somebody, using a named person. → Anna and I are old friends.

Say how long you have known somebody, using a named person.

19. Complain about a dish in front of you. → This soup is too salty.

Complain about a dish in front of you.

20. Ask where something you have lost is, using a question word. → Where are my glasses?

Ask where something you have lost is, using a question word.