RTO Grammar Practice (A1)
Show Explanation
Be
Use:
Use be with:
Names
Hello, I’m John.
Your age
How old are you?
I’m 17.
Places
London is in England.
The Pyramids are in Egypt.
The bank is one kilometre from here.
Adjectives
This hotel is nice.
I’m hungry.
Jobs and family
I’m a student.
My parents are doctors.
This is my sister.
Ann and Tom are my children.
Other Nouns
Jess is a dog.
‘Hamlet’ is a play.
adjective + noun
That’s a nice dress.
She’s a good actor.
Form:
Positive sentences
I
am / ‘m
cold / hungry
a student / a teacher
at home / in the kitchen
You / We / They
are / ’re
He / She / It
is / ‘s
Negative Sentences
I
am not / ‘m not
cold / hungry
a student / a teacher
at home / in the kitchen
You / We / They
are not / aren’t / ’re not
He / She / It
is not / isn’t / ‘s not
Questions
Am
I
cold / hungry?
a student / a teacher?
at home / in the kitchen?
Are
you / we / they
Is
he / she / it
Short answers
Yes,
I am.
you are.
he / she / it is.
we are.
they are.
No,
I’m not.
you aren’t / you’re not.
he isn’t / he’s not.
we aren’t / we’re not.
they aren’t / they’re not.
Contractions
The verb be has a full form and a contracted form.
I am = I’m
He is = He’s
We normally use the contracted form (‘m / ‘s / ‘re) in speaking and informal writing.
We write the words in full in formal writing.
You can only use one contraction at a time:
eg: He isn’t
He’s not
but NOT He’sn’t
You can contract ‘be’ after pronouns (I, you, she etc) and names.
You can contract ‘is’ after question words.
What is your name? => What’s your name?
But do not contract ‘are’ after question words.
Where are you from? => Where’re you from?
Do not contract short answers:
Yes, I am NOT Yes, I’m
Common mistakes
1. In English, every sentence must have a verb. Some students write sentences with no verb.
I very hungry. => I’m very hungry
My brother in his bedroom. => My brother is in his bedroom.
2. Some students write questions incorrectly.
She is your sister? => Is she your sister?