Present simple: ‘to be’
I’m a student.
My mum’s a doctor.
They aren’t very busy.
Is he a teacher?
Gramática
Podemos utilizar el presente simple del verbo to be para hablar de situaciones y estados en el presente.
| Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|
| I am | I am not | Am I? |
| You/we/they are | You/we/they are not | Are you/we/they? |
| He/she/it is | He/she/it is not | Is he/she/it? |
Contracciones
Podemos contraer el verbo, sobre todo cuando hablamos.
I am a shop assistant. = I’m a shop assistant.
You are a good friend! = You’re a good friend!
He is my wife’s brother. = He’s my wife’s brother.
We are very busy at the moment. = We’re very busy at the moment.
They are on holiday in Italy. = They’re on holiday in Italy.
Negativos
Para las negaciones, utilice not después del verbo. Podemos contraer el verbo o no.
I am not at work. = I‘m not at work. Note: I amn’t is not possible.
She is not a student. = She‘s not a student. = She isn’t a student.
Money is not important. = Money’s not important. = Money isn’t important.
We are not hungry. = We‘re not hungry. = We aren’t hungry.
They are not at home. = They‘re not at home. = They aren’t at home.
Preguntas
Para las preguntas, cambia el orden de am, is o are y the person.
Are you tired?
Is she Mexican?
Is this your phone?
Are we late?
Are they your children?
Respuestas cortas
| Affirmative | Negative | (Verb contracted) | (not contracted) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes, I am. | No, I am not. | No, I’m not. | |
| Yes, you are. | No, you are not. | No, you’re not. | No, you aren’t. |
| Yes, we are. | No, we are not. | No, we’re not. | No, we aren’t. |
| Yes, they are. | No, they are not. | No, they’re not. | No, they aren’t. |
| Yes, he is. | No, he is not. | No, he’s not. | No, he isn’t. |
| Yes, she is. | No, she is not. | No, she’s not. | No, she isn’t. |
| Yes, it is. | No, it is not. | No, it’s not. | No, it isn’t. |
Tenga en cuenta que en las respuestas cortas sólo se utilizan contracciones sin respuesta.
Preguntas con palabras interrogativas
También podemos hacer preguntas utilizando una palabra interrogativa como dónde, cuándo, quién o qué. Ponemos la palabra interrogativa al principio.
Where are you from? I’m from Brazil.
When is the meeting? It’s next Tuesday.
Who‘s she? She’s my sister.
What time is it? It’s six o’clock.