Self-study materials for unit I

After the preliminary test we recommend to start from the explanation of the Verb to be in the Present Simple Tense according to the system given below with all types of questions. These grammar materials are intended not only for elementary students but also for lower-intermediate level students whose grammar is weaker than other aspects of their English. At the end of every lesson the students have revision test. We advise to do all given exercises at the lesson to help students to understand all peculiarities of using of the verb to be in all questions.

Verb to be (the Present Simple Tense) Positive and Negative Forms

I	am	from Russia	I’m—l am
He/She/It	is		He’s/She’s/It’s = He/ She/It is
We You They	are		We’re — We are You’re — You are They’re They are

I	am	not	from Russia	I’m not — I am not
He/She/It	is			He/She/It isn’t — He/She/It is not
We You They	are			We aren’t — We are not You aren’t — You are not They aren’t — They are not

NOTE: Look at the negative forms: She isn’t married. You aren’t British.

BUT: I’m not a schoolboy.

Exercise 1. Write the short form (she’s, we aren’t, etc.).

1. He’s 4. I’m not

2. They’re 5. It’s

3. She isn’t 6. You aren’t

Exercise 2. Write the full form (she is/we are not, etc.).

1. We are not 4. They are not

2. I am 5. It is not

3. You are 6. She is

Exercise 3. Put in am/am not/is/isn’t/are/aren’t.

1. I am from Russia.

2. Debbie and Mark aren’t British. They are German.

3. My friend is interested in computers.

4. His parents are around 40.

5. How old are you? I am 18.

6. London is not situated on the river Evans. It is situated on the river Thames.

7. I am keen on sports. But I am not rather good at basketball.

8. Her name isn’t Jane. It‘s Helen.

Exercise 4. Write true sentences, positive or negative. Use am/am not/is/isn’t/are/aren’t.

1. I am (am not) keen on Biology.

2. Rome isn’t in Spain.

3. We are Russian.

4. Football is a popular sport in Britain.

5. The “Beatles” and “Deep Purple” are famous British groups.

6. American English is different from British English.

7. My hobbies are art and music.

General Questions

Am	I	a student?	— Yes, I am./No, I am not.
Is	he / she / it	a student?	— Yes, he/she/it is./No, he/she/ it isn’t.
Are	we you they	students?	— Yes, we are. / No, we aren’t. — Yes, you are. / No, you aren’t. — Yes, they are. / No, they aren’t.

Exercise 5. Make general questions with these words. Give short answers.

1. Is your mother at work? Yes, she is/No, she isn’t.

2. Are her children at home? Yes, they are./No, they aren’t.

3. Is he from Italy? Yes, he is./No, he isn’t.

4. Am I good at English? Yes, you are./No, you aren’t.

5. Are you interested in books? Yes, I am.

6. Am I right? Yes, you are./No, you aren’t.

7. Is this subject difficult? Yes, it is./No, it isn’t.

Exercise 6. Give short answers (Yes, I am/No, he isn’t, etc.).

1. Are your parents old? No, they aren’t.

2. Are all your school friends students now? Yes, they are.

3. Is English difficult? No, it isn’t./Yes, it is.

4. Is your home town small? Yes, it is.

5. Are you interested in music? Yes, I am.

6. Is your friend good at languages? Yes, he is./No, he isn’t.