English Grammar
Verb To Be: Past, Present, Future
Learn the verb to be with simple explanations, examples, and an interactive tense board for kids and beginner English learners.
What is the verb “to be”?
The verb to be helps us say who someone is, where something is, how someone feels, or what something is like. It is one of the most important verbs in English.
Who?She is a teacher.
They are students.
They are students.
Where?He is at school.
We are at home.
We are at home.
FeelingsI am happy.
They are tired.
They are tired.
AgeI am 8 years old.
He is 10.
He is 10.
WeatherIt is sunny.
It was cold.
It was cold.
DescriptionThe apple is red.
The dog is small.
The dog is small.
Easy rule for beginners
In the present tense, the verb changes with the subject.
I → am
He / She / It → is
You / We / They → are
Interactive Verb Board
Click a tense, choose a subject, and see how the verb changes.
Present Tense
Used for now, today, or things that are true.
Subject
I
Verb To Be
am
I am happy today.
Conjugation Chart
Use this chart to compare present, past, and future forms.
| Subject | Present | Past | Future |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | am | was | will be |
| You | are | were | will be |
| He | is | was | will be |
| She | is | was | will be |
| It | is | was | will be |
| We | are | were | will be |
| They | are | were | will be |
Negative form
Add not after the verb.
I am notI am not hungry.
She is notShe is not at home.
They are notThey are not late.
Questions with “to be”
To make a question, put the verb before the subject.
| Sentence | Question |
|---|---|
| She is happy. | Is she happy? |
| They are ready. | Are they ready? |
| I am late. | Am I late? |
Short forms
In speaking and friendly writing, English often uses contractions.
| Long form | Short form |
|---|---|
| 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 |