If you’re learning English, you are surely familiar with the verbs “is,” “am,” and “are” – but do you know how to use them correctly? In this article, we’ll explain the rules for using these three common verbs, and provide examples to help you understand how they work in context. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, understanding “is,” “am,” and “are” is essential for communicating effectively in English.
So, today’s topic is IS, AM, ARE. For English native speakers, this is not much complex topic but for all new learners this little bit confusing because people don’t know where and how to use Is, am, and are without grammatical mistakes. But after reading this article, the concept of using is, am, and are, will be a simple affair for you, and you will feel that your knowledge and your fluency in speaking English will improve.
So, the first question is what exactly is “is, am, and are”? Yaa of course these are English words but in English grammar, these are helping verbs. So before learning the use of is, am, and are we will learn about helping verbs first.
What is a helping verb?
Helping verbs are verbs that expand on the meaning of the sentence’s main verb. They supplement the main verb and are required to complete the sentence structure.
They can also add the clarification of how time is expressed in a sentence. As a result, in the formation of the complex progressive and perfect verb tenses, helping verbs are used. Learn about the two types of helping verbs (auxiliary and modal) and practice using them.
- I am having another piece of pizza. (here “am” is a helping verb)
- She is making dinner for us now. (here “is” is a helping verb)
- They are planning to go out of town. (here “are” is a helping verb)
The most common helping verbs are “to be,” “to have,” and “to do.” They can be found in the following forms:
- To Be: am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been, and shall be, will be
- To possess: has, have, had, possess, will possess
- To Do: does, do, has done, will do
A modal helping verb is another type of helping verb (or modal verb). Modal auxiliary verbs include “can,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “must,” “ought to,” “shall,” “should,” “will,” and “would.”The forms of modal auxiliary verbs never change.
Definition and meaning of helping verb/what does helping verb mean?
A helping verb (also known as an auxiliary verb) is used to provide information about the tense or voice of the main verb. The helping verbs “is, am, are” also help in sentence completion. They are also known as auxiliary verbs or ‘ to be’ verbs.
Example:
- I am drinking water of a glass.
- How many of you are carrying medicines with themselves.
If you’re learning English, you may have noticed that “is,” “am,” and “are” seem to appear everywhere. these words are essential for forming basic sentences in English. However, even for native speakers, it can be tricky to know which form to use in different situations. In this section of the article, we’ll break down the rules for using “is,” “am,” and “are” one by one with the help of some examples in clear, simple language.
Use of is, am and are in English
Use of helping verb “Is” with examples
With singular nouns (like a pen, chalk, bottle, tub, soap, window, phone, cycle, chair, game, meal, Grish, etc.) and singular pronouns, (like, he, she, it) we use ‘is.’
The word “is” is a verb, but it is not an action word. It’s just the present tense of the verb to be.
EXAMPLE:
- Ravi is having fun with a dog.
Explanation:
Because ‘Ravi’ is a singular noun in this example, we used ‘is’ in the sentence.
- She is making dinner for us.
Explanation:
Because ‘She’ is a singular pronoun in this second example, we used ‘is’ in the sentence.
Other examples:
- Arun is preparing dinner for us right now.
- Aditi is moving fast.
- Ram is launching a new personal training company.
- It is raining today.
- It is an ox.
- Her name is Miss Lee. She is an educator.
- Kenneth is an attorney.
- Rex is a smart canine.
- A duck is an example of a bird.
- Today, the playground is crowded with people.
- The school is close to my home.
- My father is him. He is a physician. He is not an attorney.
- He is a service member.
- It’s a beautiful day outside.
Use of helping verb “are” with examples
With plural nouns (like men, women, oxen, children, etc.) and plural pronouns (like those, those, you, they, we, etc.), we use ‘are.’
The word “are” is a verb, but it is not an action word. It’s just the present tense of the verb to be.
Keep in mind that the word “are” can be used with either the single or plural version of “you.”
EXAMPLE:
- Rahul and Amit are very good friends.
Explanation:
‘Rahul’ and ‘Amit’ are two people in this example. As a result, we used the word ‘are’ in the sentence.
- They are having fun with the ball.
Explanation:
Because ‘They’ is a plural pronoun in the second example, we used ‘are’ in the sentence.
Other examples:
- You are an unknown. You are not one of my traveling companions.
- Although we are in the same class, we are not on the same team.
- They get along well. They are not adversaries.
- Fruit and vegetables are nutritious foods.
- Lambs are young sheep.
- These are too difficult questions.
- The balloons are brightly colored.
- Those people are extremely busy.
- Dad and Mom are preparing dinner.
- The bay is home to a few sharks.
- Doesn’t it look like there are enough candies for everyone?
- On the roof, there are two pigeons.
- The institution has a large book collection..
- At the gate, there are two guards.
Use of helping verb “am” with examples
We use ‘am’ with the pronoun ‘I’. It is used to describe an action that would be taking place right now.
The word “am” is a verb, but it is not an action word. It’s just the present tense of the verb to be and it is used with the pronoun “I” only.
EXAMPLE:
- I am an engineer.
Explanation:
Because ‘I’ is a pronoun, we used to use ‘am’ in the sentence.
- I am going to Bombay to attend the wedding.
Explanation:
Because ‘I’ is a pronoun, we used to use ‘am’ in the sentence.
Other examples:
- I am Paul. I am not Peter.
- I’m enraged with Joe.
- Next week, I’m going to see Joe.
- I am learning the piano.
- Presently I am reading a book.
- I’m consuming mangoes.
- Tomorrow, I’m going to a party.
- I’m doing my job.
Use of is, am, are: table
This table will help you remember how to use am, is, and are.
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Person | I am Rich. | We are rich. |
| 2nd Person | You are rich. | You are rich. |
| 3rd Person | He / She / It / Jack is rich. | They are poor. |
Note:
- First-person means person who is speaking
- Second person means who is listening
- The third person means the person whom we are talking about in conversion.
- The helping verbs “is, am, are” also aid in sentence completion.
- They are also known as auxiliary verbs or ‘be’ verbs.
For example:
- I am a singer. (Subject is first person)
- You are a singer. (A subject is a second person)
- She is a singer. (A subject is a third person).
Let us study the short forms known as contractions.
- I am = I’m
- they are = they’re
- you are = you’re
- we are = we’re
- he is = he’s
- she is = she’s
- it is = it’s
- am not = aren’t ( questions only)
- is not = isn’t
- are not = aren’t
Uses aren’t as a contraction of am not in questions.
For instance,
“I’m taller than you, aren’t I?” you could say.
But you say in a statement
: “I’m not as old as you.”
Now some examples:
- They are my good friends.
- You are taller than Charlie.
- She is sick.
- We are very hungry.
- Today is a sunny day.
- I am studying with Joey.
“Is,” “am,” and “are” can be used in both tense and non-tense sentences in English grammar. Here are some examples of how they can be used in each type of sentence:
Tense sentences:
- Present tense: “She is running,” “I am studying,” “They are playing.”
Non-tense sentences:
- Statements of fact: “The sky is blue,” “Water is necessary for life,” “Cats are mammals.”
- Identifying a subject: “This is my house,” “He is my friend,” “Those are my keys.”
- Describing a condition: “I am hungry,” “She is happy,” “The baby is asleep.”
In both types of sentences, “is,” “am,” and “are” are used to link the subject of the sentence to a description, state of being, or action. By mastering the use of these verbs, you’ll be able to create clear, effective sentences in English.
Use of is, am, and are: points to remember
- “Is” is used with third-person singular subjects, such as “he,” “she,” “it,” or any singular noun. For example: “She is a doctor,” “The book is on the table,” or “The dog is barking.”
- “Am” is used with the first-person singular subject, “I.” For example: “I am a student,” “I am feeling tired,” or “I am happy.”
- “Are” is used with plural subjects, such as “we,” “they,” or any plural noun. For example: “They are my friends,” “The flowers are beautiful,” or “We are going to the movies.”
Conclusion
In conclusion, “is,” “am,” and “are” are essential verbs or words in English grammar that help us to describe states of being, actions, and conditions. Whether used in tense or non-tense sentences, they play a vital role in creating clear, effective communication in both spoken and written English.
By understanding when and how to use each word (ie is, am, and are), you’ll be able to construct accurate and meaningful sentences that convey your intended message with clarity. So, keep practicing and perfecting your use of these verbs, and soon, you’ll be able to create meaningful sentences using “is, am, and are” and communicate in English with confidence and ease.
