The verb To Be in English. We teach the child English grammar: “am”, “is”, “are” and pronouns

The further you go into learning English, the more you begin to appreciate and love your familiar native Russian language. It seems to us that in Russian there are no confusing tenses, no regular/irregular verbs, no articles. Everything is simple and clear. But this, of course, is not the case. And the Russian language has enough of its complex rules and confusing definitions. In this article, we will look at the slightly confusing there is/are construction, which is rather unusual because it appears at the beginning of a sentence and is usually not translated in any way.

How and when to use there is/there are?

We use this construction when we need to say about the location any subject. That is, about what something (someone) somewhere located. We must immediately remember that we always put it at the beginning suggestions. I think you have already guessed that there is we use when it comes to one subject, and there are - about several.

Literally, we translate the first sentence as follows: "There is (is) book on the shelf. Of course, in Russian it sounds ugly, and in real life no one speaks like that. But at the first stage it is important to understand meaning what we say .

This literal translation will help you speak correctly and, most importantly, understand the logic of this construction. But when you say this turnover many times and you don’t have to translate it verbatim, then you can move on to a beautiful literary translation: There are two books on the shelf.

Order of words in a sentence
with there is/are

Don't forget to put "there is/there are" at the beginning when you talk about the location of something. This will help your interlocutor to understand from the very beginning that it is about finding something somewhere. In such a sentence, each word is in its specific place. Let's look at the word order in a sentence.

1 place	2nd place	3rd place	4th place
There	be (in the correct form)	What (who) is	Where is
There	is	a cat	in the room
There	are	cats	in the street

Negative form c there is/are

The negative form is formed by adding a particle not. It is used when you want to say that something no / was not / will not be anywhere. We can cut there is not = there isn't and there are not = there aren't.

Also with the construction there is / there are the word is often used no (No). But abbreviations are not allowed in such phrases, because not is a particle that can be abbreviated, and no is already a word that cannot be abbreviated.

How to ask questions with there is/are?

The construction of questions with this construction is subject to the standard rules of the English language. To ask a question, it is enough to move the words is / are to the beginning of the sentence, before the word there. Let's take an example of how affirmative proposal make an interrogative.

Statement

Question

Positive response will look like this.

At no answer we add the not particle.

Let's look at one more example to confirm.

How to ask questions using question words?

With the turns there is / there are, you can also build sentences using question words. Here are some of them:

• what - what,
• which - which,
• why - why,
• how long - how long,
• when - when.

In such questions, we put these words in the first place, and then the sentence is built as in a simple question.

There is/are in past and future tenses

If you want to say about something that was or will be somewhere, then for this it is enough to change word form is/are (verb be). How this verb changes, we will consider in great detail in the next article. For now, just remember - to change the time using the there is / are construction, you need to change the verb.

Since the phrase there is/ there are is mainly used to say where is this or that object, then you can easily practice using this construction. Take a look around. What do you see? Where are the things you are used to? So there is…

What does the particle to before verbs mean? Do you know the answer to this question?

Most English learners don't even think about it. Therefore, they make mistakes using this particle before each verb. When should it be used?

In the article I will answer this question and explain to you when to put to before verbs and when not.

What does the particle to mean and when is it used?

Particle to in English language we use before the initial (indefinite) form of the verb. initial form verb - a form that does not show us who and when will perform the action.

Indefinite verbs answer the question "what to do?" and “what to do?”. For example:

(what to do?) to write - write;
(what to do?) to see - see.

In English we call the indefinite form of the verb infinitive.

How to understand that we have an infinitive in front of us?

In Russian, we understand that we have a verb in an indefinite form at the end TH: skaz be, rice be, call t . In English, the endings of words do not change.

And here we come to the rescue particle to, which serves exactly as an indicator, which in Russian is the ending TH. That is, if we see a particle to before the verb, we can safely say that this verb is in the indefinite form: to say, to paint, to call.

If you look at the particle to and pronounce it, you will see that it is VERY similar to Russian TH but only at the beginning of a sentence.

I want to call my sister.
I want (what to do?) call be to her sister.

I forgot to give him his book.
I forgot (what to do?) yeah be him his book.

I will go to swim tomorrow.
I'll go (what to do?) swimming be tomorrow.

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When do we not put to in front of indefinite verbs?

Every rule has exceptions. Consider them:

1. When a verb in an indefinite form is preceded by a verb that expresses not an action, but a possibility, necessity, ability.

We call such verbs in English modal: can (I can), may (I can), must (should), need(necessary), should(should). After them, we do not use the particle to.

I can run fast.
I can run fast.

You must tell me the truth.
You must tell me the truth.

He should be more careful.
He should be more careful.

True, there are several modal verbs that are always used with the to particle: have to (must), oughtto(should).

They have to work hard.
They have to work hard.

She ought to help me.
She must help me.

2. After the verb let (give, let).

Let me know how you are.
Let me know how you are.

Let him say.
Let him speak.

3. After the verb make if we use it meaning "force".

You make me think about it.
He made me think about it.

He makes me smile.
He makes me smile.

4. If in one sentence there are two verbs in an indefinite form and between them is and or or (or), then before the second verb we do not put the particle to.

I want to sing and dance.
I want to sing and dance.

I don't know to cry or laugh.
I don't know whether to cry or laugh.

The difference between the particle to and the preposition to in English

It is very important not to confuse particle to with preposition to. Despite the fact that they are the same in sound and spelling, in fact they are two different words.

Particle to we use with the verb in the initial form.

Preposition to we use with nouns. To this preposition, we can ask the question "Where?". Let's look at a few examples.

Particle to

I like (what to do?) to read interesting books.
I like (what to do?) chita be interesting books.

I want to meet my friends.
I want (what to do?) meet be hanging out with my friends.

Preposition to

I go (where?) to the cinema today.
I'll go (where?) in cinema today.

Every day I go to my work.
Every day I go (where?) on the work.

Now together

I want (what to do?) to drink the water so I go (where?) to the kitchen.

I want (what to do?) drink be water, so I went (where?) on the kitchen.

When asking a question, we can easily determine whether the particle is in front of us or a preposition.

Summarize

1. We put the particle to before verbs in the initial form (infinitive).

2. There are exceptions when we do not use a particle: after modal verbs (see above), after let and make verbs, when in a sentence 2 verbs are connected by the preposition and/or (see above).

3. The particle to is used with verbs, and the preposition to is used with nouns. These are different words.

4. How to check if the to particle should be used or not? To do this, we ask the question “what to do?”, “what to do?”. If these questions sound logical, then we put to before the verb.

Think about it.
(What do you do?) Think about it.

I want to think about it.
I want (what to do?) to think about it.

I hope now you will not be confused where to put the to particle and where not. If you have any questions, ask them in the comments below the article.

Reinforcement task

And now let's check how well you understood where to put the to particle and where not. Put the verb in brackets into the correct form. Don't forget about exceptions.

For example: “She will go (play) tennis. - She will go to play tennis.

1. My sister can (run) fast.
2. (Look) at this picture.
3. I want (cook) dinner.
4. Let him (help) you.
5. My friend forgot (call) me.
6. She decided (sell) her car.
7. He made me (buy) it.
8. You may (sit down) here.
9. I can (bring) your book.
10. We like (eat) sweets.
11. They should (write) it.
12. She wanted (drink) and (eat).

As always, write your answers in the comments. I will definitely check them out.

It is with this verb that you need to start learning English grammar. Verbs in English do not change by person, but the verb to be is an exception. With the help of this verb, we will learn how to compose simple sentences which do not contain a verb in Russian, for example, “I am a student”, “He is at home”, “This is interesting”, etc. In English, it is unacceptable to compose without a verb that performs an action, and to be serves as a linking verb. For example, to say “I am a student”, we must insert the correct form of the linking verb to be and, as a result, the sentence will take on the meaning “I am a student” - “I (are) a student”.

Present tense forms of the verb to be

In the present tense, the verb to be has three forms: AM, IS, ARE:

• Remember: to be and AM, IS, ARE are not 4 different ones, but forms the same verb:

(We hope our dragon will help you remember this)

Consider how the verb to be changes in the present tense

affirmative form

• We are friends - we are friends
• They are busy - they are busy
• The book is thick - the book is thick
• It is a cat - this is a cat
• She is clever - she is smart

negative form

To form the negative form of the conjugation of this verb, you need to put the negative particle “not” after one of the necessary forms of the verb (am, is or are). Here are some examples of negative sentences:

• I am not hungry - I am not hungry
• He is not busy - he is not busy
• The room is not big - the room is not big

Interrogative form

To form an interrogative form, you need to put the appropriate form of the verb (am, is or are) at the beginning of the sentence:

• Are you Peter? Are you Pete?
• This room? – Is this a room?
• You are hungry? Are you hungry?
• He is busy? – Is he busy?

• To understand how verbs live in English, let's first remember at least one Russian verb in its initial form, for example, the verb "live". As you know, the verbs of the Russian language in the initial form end in "-t", and later, when conjugated, the ending changes. With regard to English, the verb in the initial form is used together with the particle to, for example, we say to be - would be, find be sya, i.e. if the particle to precedes the verb, this means that the verb is in the initial form, and when further use verbs with persons, this particle is omitted. Let's give an example: “To be or not to be” - there are two verbs in the sentence - both in the initial form, and they must be used together with the particle to, and, accordingly, we will translate into English as “to be or not to be”. If we have before us the sentence “I (am) a student”, i.e. Since we have changed the verb to match the person of the subject, the particle to is omitted and the proper form of the verb is used, in this case am.
• Unlike the verb to be, other verbs in English do not conjugate, for example, the verbs “live, sit, love” in the initial form are translated into English “to live, to sit, to love”, i.e. with particle to, and when conjugated - without to, for example, “I live, sit, love” will be translated into English as “I live, sit, love”, i.e. the initial form of a verb in English without a particletonot used, but when conjugatedtogoes down. The initial form in English is called the Infinitive - Infinitive.

More about the particle to watch our video tutorial:

Verb conjugations tobe in present time

Now let's learn how the verb to be changes (conjugates) in the present tense. As mentioned above, in Russian sentences like “I am a student, she is a doctor, we are workers” are formed without a predicate verb. But to translate these sentences into English, you need to put the appropriate form to be after the subject - “I am a pupil, she is a doctor, we are workers”.

Pay attention to the translation of the following sentences in the affirmative, negative and interrogative forms into English:

Verb conjugations tobe in past and future tense

In the past tense, the verb to be has two forms - was and were (was, was, were)

In the future tense, the verb to be is conjugated as follows

Note: In modern English the form shall is of little use for the formation of the future tense of verbs (although its use is not grammatical error), for all persons the form is used will. Therefore, sometimes there is a discrepancy in different textbooks.

To summarize, consider the following table:

I bring to your attention a few commonly used expressions with the verb to be which you should learn and conjugate yourself according to the conjugation table:

• To be happy / unhappy - to be happy / unhappy
• To be glad - to be joyful
• To be hungry / to be full up - to be hungry / full
• To be fond of - love, get involved in something
• To be busy - to be busy
• To be late (for) - to be late (on)
• To be in time for - be on time
• To be present at - attend (for example, in a lesson)
• To be absent (from) - absent
• To be married - to be married / married
• To be single - to be single / not married
• To be lucky - to be lucky
• To be ready (for) - to be ready (to, for example, a lesson)
• To be afraid (of) - to be afraid
• To be interested (in) - be interested in something
• To be ill / well - get sick / feel good
• To be angry (with) - angry, angry (at someone)

Let's conjugate together the expression to be married in the affirmative, interrogative and negative sentences. What did you get?

Knowing English opens many doors. That is why it is actively studied in almost all countries of the world. Currently, over a billion people around the planet use this language on a regular basis. This number includes those for whom English is native, as well as those who use it as a foreign language: for contacts with business partners, communication with foreign friends, entertainment different kind and, in fact, study. In general, the study of any of the foreign languages ​​increases mental activity, logical and abstract thinking, as well as the ability to navigate in unexpected situations.

How to master English grammar

For many learners of English, its grammatical structure presents a certain difficulty. In fact, there is nothing complicated there (especially when compared, for example, with the Russian language!), It is enough to understand the important patterns once and memorize the basic forms well. However, memorization comes with practice: doing exercises, reading, writing letters or essays, oral communication. The best way master English grammar - do it naturally.

It often happens that a person knows the rule, but cannot apply it in his speech. Such difficulties are eliminated by practice - and the more and more varied it is (writing, reading, speaking, listening), the faster and better the result.

Remember that each person has his own, purely individual, pace of mastering new knowledge and the ability to apply them in the practice of his own speech. For example, if you are studying in a group where some students learn grammar rules faster and more correctly than you do, you don’t need to lose heart. you, too, will one day begin to speak English confidently and without mistakes. The main thing is to keep practicing.

Verb forms "is" / "are": use in speech

If you have recently started learning English, then you are familiar with the following situation: you want to say something, but the fear of making a mistake gets in the way, causes timidity. To avoid this, try to understand the rule and, most importantly, practice more in the exercises.

One of the frequent grammatical difficulties occurs when the verb connectives "is" / "are" are confused. The use of data to be (to be) depends solely on the person of the pronoun in each case. It is a pronoun that performs the function of the subject. For example:

I am a student. - I am a student.

If the subject is a noun or a proper name, then you need to mentally replace it with the corresponding pronoun. Then the conjugation scheme will surely pop up in your memory, including the linking verbs “is” / “are”, the use of which often causes difficulties.

Kate (?) a student -> She is a student.

To be sure which of the forms of the verb to put, you must firmly remember the principle of conjugation.

to be (present tense)

Statement

Negation

Question

Cases such as the use of "is" in English are usually descriptive situations. When we want to characterize something that is in the singular (can be replaced by the pronoun it), or someone acting as "he" or "she" - then, without a doubt, the "is" form should be used. Examples:

It is great. - (It is perfectly.

He is old. - He is old.

She is a doctor. - She is a doctor.

The main thing that needs to be firmly grasped: "am", "is", "are", the use of which sometimes causes difficulties, are not three different verbs, but one and the same - the verb to be (to be).

Conjugation of the verb to be (past tense)

Now let's move on to the next issue that has been troubling some English learners, namely the rules for using "was"/"were". This is also the same verb, and not at all not two different ones. Moreover, these two verb forms are directly related to "am", "is", "are". Guess why? That's right, it's all the same verb to be.

And now more about these correspondences. The past tense form "was" is used only in the singular and corresponds to the pronouns: I, it, he, she. The form "were" is used with the pronouns you, we, they and is most often used in plural. For example:

I was at home. - I was home.

It was hot. - It was hot.

They were happy. - They were happy.

There are only two situations when the verb-predicate "were" in a sentence can refer to the subject in the singular. The first case: when the pronoun "you" implies the translation of "you" or "you" (that is, one person). The second case: the so-called Conditional sentences, in which the form "if I were" is possible.

Have you been to...

In communication between people, situations often arise when you need to ask a person about his past experience: where he was, what he did, whether he finished the work he started. In such cases, a special construction is used from the forms of two verbs: to have (to have) + semantic verb.

Often the already well-known to us to be (to be) appears. Depending on the subject used (and what pronoun it can be replaced with), two varieties are distinguished: “have been” and “has been”. The first is used with the pronouns you, we, they, the second - with I, it, he, she. For example:

Have you been to Europe? - Have you been to Europe?

She has been on the excursion. - She was on a tour.

As a rule, the use of has been associated with such situations when they mean:

• some experience;
• completion or result of some business;
• the importance of the fact that the action took place (while the time of its commission is not of particular importance);
• the need to emphasize how long this action has already taken place.

Let's take a closer look at the latter situation.

How long (How long)…?

In such cases, time is used. It is formed according to the scheme: have (has) + been + Ving, where V is a semantic verb. For example:

I have been studying English for 3 months. - I have been studying English for 3 months now (that is, I started studying in the past and continue to this day for a certain period of time).

He hasn't been riding a bike for a long time. - He has not ridden a bicycle for a long time (that is, he stopped riding sometime in the past, did not ride for a long time and still did not ride a bicycle).

I am going to do...

In English, in addition to the usual future tense, the construction “to be going to” is actively used. The use of this grammatical construction refers to situations where you plan or know exactly what you will do. Often this construction is also used to predict what (in your opinion) should happen soon: it will rain, there will be a traffic jam on the road, someone will like or dislike a gift presented to them. “To intend”, “to gather” - this is how the phrase “to be going to” is most often translated. Its use in a sentence is associated with a change to be to "am", "is", "are".

For example:

I am going to learn English next month. - I intend to learn English from next month.

We are going to visit granny at the weekend. We are going to visit grandma this weekend.

It's going to rain. - It's going to rain.

I'm used to...

In conclusion, let's look at the use of "be used to". This stable construction is quite often used in colloquial speech. Its meaning is "to get used to something". For example:

He is used to Russian winter. - He is accustomed (used) to the Russian winter.

He is used to living in winter cold. - He is accustomed (used) to live in the winter cold.

However, you need to watch and listen carefully so as not to confuse "be used to" with the very similar construction "use to" (and the corresponding past tense form - "used to").

What is the difference between these two expressions? Firstly, in the meaning: “be used to” - “get used to”, “use to” - “do something in the past, but now it’s gone” (analogous to Past Simple). This is best understood with examples.

Be used to

I'm used to my work hours. - I'm used to my working day.

He is used to TV noise. He is used to the noise of the TV.

I used to live here before. - I used to live here (but I don't live anymore).

I didn't use to have a mobile phone 10 years ago. - I did not have mobile phone 10 years ago (but now there is).

From the examples, the second difference between these two, at first glance very similar, structures is also obvious. The one that translates to "get used to" is equipped with the verb to be (am, is, are). And the other, respectively, no. Simple attentiveness, a little practice - and you can easily learn to distinguish between these two "insidious" formulations.

The same goes for any grammar. Understand the essence and practice more often: in exercises, reading, writing or oral communication. As the British say: "Practice makes perfect." This can be translated into Russian as: "The work of the master is afraid." So let the most difficult and intricate grammatical rules be afraid of your determination. Good work for you!

There are several verbs in English that are not quite common, and their use is not always clear to people who have just started learning this language. One of these verbs is the verb to be, and is, in turn, is one of the forms of this verb. So what does is mean? Is is the 3rd person, singular, present tense form of the verb to be. Simply put, we can use it only after the words he (he), she (she), it (it) or words that can be replaced by this pronoun. For example: President, this word can be replaced by the pronoun he, respectively, after it in English there will be is. But the word clouds, we cannot replace with any of these pronouns, only “they”, which is not in this list, is suitable for it. Therefore, we can no longer use is after it.

So, the verb to be, and therefore its form is, can be used as:

1. a semantic independent verb, that is, a verb that carries the meaning of being or existing. For example: He is at home - He is at home. The meaning of the word is is that it IS at home, it's just that this word is superfluous in translation into Russian, and we omit it. Or She is beautiful - She is beautiful (She IS beautiful). The fact is that in Russian a sentence can do without a verb, and in English the verb must be mandatory;
2. auxiliary verb, i.e., a verb that helps to form temporary forms for other verbs. In such cases, it does not translate at all, but serves as an assistant. For example: She is writing a letter now. She is writing a letter now. Time is present continuous. Here it is important to remember how this or that time is formed, and is itself will also be in the 3rd person, singular, present tense;
3. modal verb, that is, a verb that does not itself denote any action, but expresses an attitude towards it. It expresses either a planned action or instructions and orders. And always after is in such sentences there is a particle to. In such cases, is is translated as "should", but in different meanings. Consider examples that will explain everything to us. Marry is to arrive on Friday - Mary should arrive on Friday (planned action). The boss says he is to call her, because it is his job - The director says that he should call her because it's his job.

This is what is means ... Of course, it cannot be studied separately, because it is closely related to other forms of the verb to be, which can only be understood in the aggregate. Only when the grammatical material is mastered in the system is it easy to master.