English Grammar | VERB – BE
Verb BE
Affirmative (positive) Statements
SUBJECT | PRESENT SIMPLE | PAST SIMPLE |
I | am | was |
You | are | were |
He | is | was |
She | is | was |
It | is | was |
They | are | were |
We | are | were |
Examples of Affirmative Statements
SUBJECT | PRESENT SIMPLE | |
I | am | happy. |
You | are | late. |
He | is | smart. |
She | is | intelligent. |
It | is | old. |
They | are | friendly. |
We | are | tired. |
SUBJECT | PAST SIMPLE | |
I | was | happy. |
You | were | late. |
He | was | smart. |
She | was | intelligent. |
It | was | old. |
They | were | friendly. |
We | were | tired. |
Affirmative Statements – How to Contract the verb BE
PRESENT SIMPLE | PAST SIMPLE |
I’m | [none] |
You’re | [none] |
He’s | [none] |
She’s | [none] |
It’s | [none] |
They’re | [none] |
We’re | [none] |
Negative Statements
SUBJECT | PRESENT SIMPLE | PAST SIMPLE |
I | am not | was not |
You | are not | were not |
He | is not | was not |
She | is not | was not |
It | is not | was not |
They | are not | were not |
We | are not | were not |
Negative Statements – How to Contract the verb BE + NOT
Except for I am, there are two ways to contract the verb BE in negative sentences in the PRESENT SIMPLE form.
PRESENT SIMPLE | PAST SIMPLE |
I’m not | I wasn’t |
You’re not You aren’t | You weren’t |
He’s not He isn’t | He wasn’t |
She’s not She isn’t | She wasn’t |
It’s not It isn’t | It wasn’t |
They’re not They aren’t | They weren’t |
We’re not We aren’t | We weren’t |
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