The verb to be · Conjugation
Present Simple of be
The answer: am / is / are
A1
Habits, routines and facts that are always true.
Quick answer
The Present Simple of the verb to be is am / is / are.
Example: I am tired. She is happy. They are late.
Full conjugation in the Present Simple
| Pronoun | Form | Contraction |
|---|---|---|
| I | am | I'm |
| You | are | You're |
| He / She / It | is | He's / She's / It's |
| We | are | We're |
| You (pl.) | are | You're |
| They | are | They're |
Common mistakes to avoid
1. I have 15 years old ❌
In English, age goes with be: I am 15 (years old). I have 15 years is a very common mistake. Feelings like hunger, thirst, cold and heat also use be: I am hungry, I am cold.
2. He are happy ❌
With he, she and it (the third person singular), use is, never are. The correct sentence is He is happy.
3. Do you be ready? ❌
Be never takes do in questions and negatives. Say Are you ready?, not Do you be ready? Say She is not here, not She doesn't be here.
Practice quiz
Going further
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Frequently asked questions
How do you conjugate be in the present simple?+
Be is the only English verb with three forms in the Present Simple: am with I (I am), is with he, she and it (she is), and are with you, we and they (we are). No other verb is so irregular.
When do you use am, is or are?+
Use am only with I. Use is with he, she, it and all singular nouns: the cat is, my brother is. Use are with you, we, they and all plural nouns: the cats are, my parents are.
Is it I'm or I am?+
Both are correct, and they mean the same. I'm is the short form of I am. Use it when you speak and in informal writing: I'm ready. Use I am in formal writing or to make your answer stronger: Yes, I am! It is the same for she's (she is) and they're (they are).
How do you make the negative of be?+
Just add not after the verb, without do: I am not, she is not (isn't), they are not (aren't). Be careful: am not has no standard short form. Say I'm not, never I amn't.
How do you ask a question with be?+
Put the verb before the subject, without do: Are you tired? Is she here? Am I right? Be is the only main verb that never needs do or does for a question in the present.
Related pages: be Present Simple
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/be/present
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.
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More forms of the verb to be are coming soon.