This presentation explains how we use "be" as the main verb in a Present tense English sentence.

1. The Non-Action Verb Be
This presentation will help you learn:
• the forms of be in the present
• when to use be as the main verb in a sentence

2. Present of Be: Statements

3. Present of Be: Contractions

4. Present of Be: Negatives

5. Word Order with Be
When be is the main verb in an English sentence:
• the subject comes first.
 The subject is whom or what we’re talking about.
• the verb be (am, is, are) comes second.
 The verb must agree with the subject!
• the complement completes the sentence.
 The complement is an adjective, a noun, a
prepositional phrase, or a combination of these.

6. Word Order with Be
Subject be complement
I am hungry.
(adjective)
She is my classmate.
(noun)
They are from Mexico.
(prepositional phrase)

7. When Do We Use Be?
In English, we use the verb be when we:
• tell time.
• talk about the weather.
• give someone’s age
• give the place of origin
• give a location
• describe someone or something
• classify someone or something

8. When Do We Use Be?
In English, we use the verb be when we:
• tell time
 The subject is always it.
Examples:
What time is it?
It is one o’clock.
It’s 3:30 now.

9. When Do We Use Be?
In English, we use the verb be when we:
• talk about the weather.
 The subject is it.
 The complement is an adjective.
Examples:
What’s it like outside?
It is warm and sunny.
It’s not rainy.

10. When Do We Use Be?
In English, we use the verb be when we:
• give someone’s age
 Don’t use have as you do in some other languages.
 Use just a number or a number with years old.
Examples:
How old are you?
I’m twenty years old.
or I’m twenty.
Wrong: I’m twenty years.

11. When Do We Use Be?
In English, we use the verb be when we:
• give the place of origin
 Use the preposition from.
Examples:
Where is he from?
He’s from New York.
Brie cheese is from France.

12. When Do We Use Be?
In English, we use the verb be when we:
• give the location of someone or something
 The complement is a prepositional phrase.
Examples:
Where is the library?
It’s on Lee Highway.
The flowers are in a vase on the table.
Where are your children?
They’re at the park.

13. When Do We Use Be?
In English, we use the verb be when we:
• describe someone or something
 Use adjectives as the complement.
Examples:
This man is bald.
His eyes are brown.
He’s young and handsome.
He’s very intelligent.

14. When Do We Use Be?
In English, we use the verb be when we:
• classify someone or something
 Use nouns in the complement to say what or
who the subject is.
Examples:
This is a laboratory.
It’s a very clean room.
Those men are scientists.