Using Be Verbs in Practical Conversation

Beginner–Intermediate | A short lesson + 20 quick exercises

“Are you ready?” “I’m ready!” You already hear be verbs everywhere. Let’s use them to talk about real life—today and yesterday.

The Function of “The Be Verb”

Be is for describing people, things, actions, and feelings. It connects directly to the subject—the person or thing we are talking about. In a basic statement, “the be Verb” comes right after the noun: “She is happy.” For actions in progress, use be + “ing” verb: “She is working.” In this case “be” comes before the action.

“I am a receptionist.” (person) “The room is quiet.” (thing)
“She is working.” (action in progress) “We are happy.” (feeling)

Choose your form: present or past

“I am busy today. I was free yesterday.”
“The children are at school now. They were at home yesterday.”

In conversation, use contractions

We usually join the subject and be: I am → I’m; you are → you’re; he is → he’s; she is → she’s; it is → it’s; we are → we’re; they are → they’re. “You’re ready” means “You are ready.”

Keep the conversation going

Ask a question—and give a short answer

Nouns

What are nouns? Nouns are people, places, things, ideas

When we refer to people we say “the Subject” (I, You, He, She, It, They, We)

To make a statement- Move “be” after the noun/subject: “You are ready.” → “Are you ready?”

To make a question – Start with the “Be Verb or Question Word” – then noun/subject-“Is he a friend?”

For a question with: Where, How, When, What, etc- put the question word first: “Where were you?”

Basic formula: QW (question word) + PV (Be verb ) + Noun + Action

At work
Ana: “Are you new here?”
Luis: “Yes, I am. I’m the new receptionist.”
Ana: “Were you here yesterday?”
Luis: “No, I wasn’t. I was at our other office.”

After a busy day
Mia: “How was your day?”
Jay: “It was busy. We were short-staffed.”
Mia: “Are you tired?”
Jay: “Yes, I am, but I’m happy to be home.”

Say something is not true

When we speak in the negative, we add not after the be verb: “He is not my friend.” With a contraction: “He isn’t my friend.” You can also say, “He’s not my friend.” In the past: “He was not here.” → “He wasn’t here.”

Useful forms: is not → isn’t; are not → aren’t; was not → wasn’t; were not → weren’t. Use “I’m not,” not “I amn’t.”

Two small fixes that make a big difference

Keep be in the sentence: say “She is tired,” not “She tired.”
Ask “Are you busy?” not “Do you are busy?” Be makes its own questions; don’t add do, does, or did.

For a positive short answer, use the full form: “Yes, I am,” not “Yes, I’m.” Negative short answers can use contractions: “No, I’m not.” “No, she wasn’t.”

One more everyday use: actions in progress

Be can also help an action verb ending in -ing: “I am waiting now.” “I was waiting at 9:00 yesterday.” Here, be helps show that the action is or was in progress.

Say it about you: “Today, I am ____. Yesterday, I was ____.” Then ask someone, “How are you today?”

Build your confidence one conversation at a time with Cross Colors Language Institute.

Quick quiz: put be to work

Complete all 20 exercises. Say each finished sentence aloud.
Name: __________________________ Score: ______ / 20

A. Fill in: am, is, are, was, or were

1. I ____ at the front desk now.

2. My sister ____ a nurse.

3. You ____ early today.

4. The keys ____ on the table now.

5. I ____ at the bank yesterday.

6. The store ____ closed last Sunday.

7. We ____ tired after yesterday’s meeting.

8. The children ____ at the park yesterday.

9. She ____ waiting for the bus right now.

10. They ____ waiting outside at 8:00 last night.

B. Complete the conversation

11. “____ you ready?” “Yes, I am.”

12. “Where ____ you yesterday?” “I was at home.”

13. “Is Rosa here?” “No, she ____.” (Use a contraction.)

14. “Were they busy?” “No, they ____.” (Use a contraction.)

15. “Are you the manager?” “Yes, I ____.”

C. Make it work

16. Make negative with a contraction: “He is available.”
________________________________________________

17. Make a question: “They were at the office.”
________________________________________________

18. Correct this sentence: “She are tired today.”
________________________________________________

19. Correct this question: “Did you were at home last night?”
________________________________________________

20. Change to the past: “We are busy today.” Use yesterday.
________________________________________________

Answer key

One point for each correct exercise. Full forms are acceptable unless the exercise asks for a contraction.

Check the pattern

Present: I am; he/she/it is; you/we/they are.
Past: I/he/she/it was; you/we/they were.

Questions: move be before the subject.
Negatives: add not after be.
Actions in progress: use be + an -ing verb.

Take it into your next conversation

Tell someone where you were yesterday and how you are today. Then ask two questions using be. Keep it simple—and keep talking.