Das Verb 'sein' (am, is, are)
am, is, are, um sicher grundlegende englische Sätze über alles zu bilden!
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The verb 'to be' is the 'glue' of English, connecting a person or thing to a description, name, or location.
- Use `am` only with `I` (e.g., I am happy).
- Use `is` for one person/thing (he, she, it) (e.g., She is a doctor).
- Use `are` for you and groups (you, we, they) (e.g., We are students).
Overview
to be geht das einfach nicht.to be als den Kleber vor, der deine Identität an deine Worte heftet.I am tired postest oder den Status deines Uber-Fahrers checkst, du benutzt diese Regel. Es ist der erste Schritt, um auf Englisch wie ein echter Mensch zu klingen.How This Grammar Works
to be in kurzen Sätzen vielleicht weg. Im Englischen lassen wir es nie weg. Es fungiert wie ein Gleichheitszeichen (=) in einer mathematischen Gleichung.I = happy. You = at home. Das Verb to be verändert seine Form, je nachdem, über wen du sprichst.am, is und are. Du benutzt am nur für dich selbst.is für eine andere Person oder Sache. Du benutzt are für Gruppen oder die Person, mit der du sprichst. Es ist wie die Wahl des richtigen Outfits für das richtige Wetter.I is zu benutzen, klingt genauso schräg, wie Schneestiefel in der Sahara zu tragen. Wir lieben es auch, diese Wörter beim Sprechen abzukürzen.I am sagen wir I'm. Es ist die sprachliche Version einer Abkürzung in einem Rennspiel.
Formation Pattern
am mit dem Pronomen I. (Die „Selfie“-Regel).
I am a student. (Kurzform: I'm)
is mit he, she oder it. (Die „Single Friend“-Regel).
He is tall. (Kurzform: He's)
She is hungry. (Kurzform: She's)
It is cold. (Kurzform: It's)
are mit you, we und they. (Die „Squad“-Regel).
You are funny. (Kurzform: You're)
We are late. (Kurzform: We're)
They are outside. (Kurzform: They're)
I am a gamer. | Ich bin ein Gamer. |
You are kind. | Du bist nett. |
He is a doctor. | Er ist ein Arzt. |
She is busy. | Sie ist beschäftigt. |
It is 10 PM. | Es ist 22 Uhr. |
We are ready. | Wir sind bereit. |
They are fast. | Sie sind schnell. |
When To Use It
to be jeden Tag in fünf Hauptsituationen.- Identität: Jemandem deinen Namen oder deinen Job sagen.
I am Alex.She is a developer. - Ort: Sagen, wo du auf Google Maps bist.
We are at the cafe.He is in London. - Eigenschaften: Personen oder Dinge beschreiben.
The coffee is hot.You are very smart. - Gefühle: Deinen aktuellen Vibe teilen.
I am excited!They are bored. - Zustände/Alter: Einfache Fakten über das Leben.
It is Monday.I am 21 years old.
I am adventurous. I am a dog lover. My dog is very cute. Siehst du? Du bist schon ein Experte! Benutze es nur nicht, um deinen Ex zu beschreiben, es sei denn, du willst sagen He is annoying.
Common Mistakes
I have 20 years.
I am 20 years old.
She very pretty.
She is very pretty.
- Verwechslung von „He“ und „She“: Es kommt häufig vor, dass die falsche Form für geschlechtsspezifische Pronomen verwendet wird. Merk dir:
Hefür Jungs,Shefür Mädchen. Wenn du deinen Brudershenennst, ist er vielleicht verwirrt, aber zumindest ist deine Grammatik okay. - Verwechslung von
isundare: Leute sagen oftThey is, weil sie vergessen, dass es eine Gruppe ist. Stell dirareals den Plural-Partybus vor. - Rechtschreibung von Kurzformen: Verwechsle nicht
You're(du bist) mitYour(dein). Das ist der ultimative Auslöser für Internet-Streitigkeiten. Wenn du es richtig machst, gewinnst du die TikTok-Kommentarspalte.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
to be oft mit Aktionsverben. Du kannst sie nicht einfach ohne eine spezielle Endung zusammenfügen.- To Be vs. Aktionen: Du kannst sagen
I am happy(Beschreibung). Du kannst sagenI run(Aktion). Aber du kannst nicht sagenI am run. Das klingt so, als wärst du buchstäblich ein physischer Lauf. Was eine sehr seltsame Superkraft wäre. - To Be vs. To Have: Wie erwähnt, benutzen wir
to befür Gefühle wie Hunger oder Durst. ✗I have hunger.→ ✓I am hungry.Benutzeto befür Dinge, die deinen Seinszustand beschreiben, nicht für Dinge, die du physisch besitzt. - Der „It“-Faktor: Wir benutzen
It isfür Wetter und Zeit. Im Deutschen sagst du „Es ist kalt“. Im Englischen auch:It is cold.Das Wetter ist sein eigener Charakter!
Quick FAQ
F: Kann ich am für andere Personen benutzen?
Nein. am ist ein egoistisches Verb. Es hängt nur mit I ab.
F: Ist You are immer Plural?
Nö! Wir benutzen You are für eine Person UND für eine Gruppe. Es ist sehr vielseitig, wie ein Schweizer Taschenmesser.
F: Warum benutzen wir Kurzformen wie I'm?
Weil wir faul sind! Nur ein Scherz. Es lässt das Gespräch flüssiger fließen und klingt in informellen Situationen wie WhatsApp natürlicher.
F: Kann ich sagen I am being a student?
Normalerweise nein. I am a student ist eine beständige Tatsache. I am being impliziert, dass du dich für kurze Zeit wie ein Student verhältst.
F: Ist es okay, is für ein Haustier zu benutzen?
Ja! Wenn das Haustier ein Junge ist, benutze he. Wenn es ein Mädchen ist, benutze she. Wenn du es nicht weißt, benutze it.
F: Brauche ich to be für mein Alter?
Ja, immer! Wenn du I have 25 sagst, werden Englischsprecher denken, dass du 25 Äpfel in deiner Tasche hast.
Present Simple Conjugation of 'To Be'
| Subject | Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
|
I
|
am
|
am not
|
Am I?
|
|
You
|
are
|
are not / aren't
|
Are you?
|
|
He
|
is
|
is not / isn't
|
Is he?
|
|
She
|
is
|
is not / isn't
|
Is she?
|
|
It
|
is
|
is not / isn't
|
Is it?
|
|
We
|
are
|
are not / aren't
|
Are we?
|
|
They
|
are
|
are not / aren't
|
Are they?
|
Common Contractions
| Full Form | Contraction | Negative Contraction |
|---|---|---|
|
I am
|
I'm
|
I'm not
|
|
You are
|
You're
|
You aren't / You're not
|
|
He is
|
He's
|
He isn't / He's not
|
|
She is
|
She's
|
She isn't / She's not
|
|
It is
|
It's
|
It isn't / It's not
|
|
We are
|
We're
|
We aren't / We're not
|
|
They are
|
They're
|
They aren't / They're not
|
Meanings
The verb 'to be' describes the state, identity, or quality of a subject rather than an action.
Identity and Names
Used to state who or what someone or something is.
“I am Sarah.”
“This is a book.”
Location
Used to describe where someone or something is situated.
“He is at home.”
“The keys are on the table.”
Feelings and States
Used to describe emotions, physical conditions, or temporary states.
“I am hungry.”
“You are tired.”
Professions
Used to state a person's job or role.
“She is a teacher.”
“They are engineers.”
Age
Used to state how old someone or something is.
“I am twenty years old.”
“He is five.”
Reference Table
| Personalpronomen | Verb 'to be' | Kurzform | Beispiel |
|---|---|---|---|
|
I
|
am
|
I'm
|
I'm a student.
|
|
You (singular)
|
are
|
You're
|
You're smart.
|
|
He
|
is
|
He's
|
He's my brother.
|
|
She
|
is
|
She's
|
She's happy.
|
|
It
|
is
|
It's
|
It's cold.
|
|
We
|
are
|
We're
|
We're friends.
|
|
You (plural)
|
are
|
You're
|
You're all here.
|
|
They
|
are
|
They're
|
They're busy.
|
Formalitätsspektrum
I am prepared to depart. (Leaving a location)
I am ready to go. (Leaving a location)
I'm ready! (Leaving a location)
I'm set. (Leaving a location)
Das 'To Be'-Universum
Identifizieren
- I am a student Identity
- She is my friend Relationship
Beschreiben
- It is cold Wetter/Zustand
- They are happy Gefühl/Zustand
- He is tall Eigenschaft
Lokalisieren
- We are at home Ort
- The book is on the table Position
Alter/Zeit
- I am 20 years old Alter
- It is 5 PM Zeit
'To Be'-Formen: Wer bekommt was?
'Am', 'Is' oder 'Are' wählen
Ist das Subjekt 'I'?
Ist das Subjekt Singular (he, she, it, oder eine Person/Sache)?
Ist das Subjekt 'you', 'we', 'they', oder Plural (mehr als eine Person/Sache)?
Häufige Verwendungen von 'To Be'
Identität
- • I am a student.
- • She is my boss.
Beschreibung
- • He is tall.
- • The car is red.
Ort
- • We are at home.
- • The keys are on the table.
Gefühle/Zustände
- • They are happy.
- • I am tired.
Alter
- • He is 30 years old.
- • How old are you?
Zeit/Datum
- • It is Monday.
- • It is 7 PM.
Beispiele nach Niveau
I am happy.
I am happy.
She is a doctor.
She is a doctor.
They are at school.
They are at school.
Are you cold?
Are you cold?
It is a big dog.
It is a big dog.
We are not hungry.
We are not hungry.
He's not from Italy.
He's not from Italy.
The keys aren't in my bag.
The keys aren't in my bag.
Is your mother a teacher?
Is your mother a teacher?
We're very tired after the trip.
We're very tired after the trip.
The weather is usually quite mild here.
The weather is usually quite mild here.
You are being very helpful today.
You are being very helpful today.
Is it true that she is moving?
Is it true that she is moving?
They are both interested in art.
They are both interested in art.
The results are to be announced tomorrow.
The results are to be announced tomorrow.
It is essential that he be informed.
It is essential that he be informed.
The building is currently being renovated.
The building is currently being renovated.
Whether that is the case remains to be seen.
Whether that is the case remains to be seen.
It was her who was responsible for the error.
It was her who was responsible for the error.
The truth is, I am quite exhausted.
The truth is, I am quite exhausted.
Were it not for your help, I would fail.
Were it not for your help, I would fail.
Such is the nature of the business.
Such is the nature of the business.
To be, or not to be, that is the question.
To be, or not to be, that is the question.
The problem is not so much that he is poor, but that he is lazy.
The problem is not so much that he is poor, but that he is lazy.
There is no denying the impact of his work.
There is no denying the impact of his work.
The city is but a shadow of its former self.
The city is but a shadow of its former self.
Leicht verwechselbar
Many languages use 'have' for age, hunger, and thirst.
Learners use 'It is' to mean 'exists'.
Learners try to contract 'Yes, I am' to 'Yes, I'm'.
Häufige Fehler
I is happy.
I am happy.
She teacher.
She is a teacher.
I have 20 years old.
I am 20 years old.
They no are here.
They are not here.
Do you be tired?
Are you tired?
Yes, I'm.
Yes, I am.
Is the cats hungry?
Are the cats hungry?
I am being a student.
I am a student.
It's mean that...
It means that...
If I was you...
If I were you...
Satzmuster
I am ___.
She is not ___.
Are they ___?
It is ___ today.
Real World Usage
I'm a photographer based in NYC.
Are you here yet?
I am very interested in this role.
Where is gate 5?
I am sick.
Is this dish spicy?
Übe mit Pronomen
Vergiss 'to be' nicht!
Kontraktionen sind dein Freund
Fragen 'Wie geht es dir?'
Achte auf den Klang
Smart Tips
Always use 'I'm' followed by your name. It sounds much more natural than 'My name is...'.
Use the full form in positive short answers to avoid sounding unfinished.
Always start with 'It's'. English always needs a subject, even for weather.
Always use 'are', even if you are talking to just one person.
Aussprache
Contraction Reduction
In fast speech, 'I am' becomes 'I'm' /aɪm/. 'You are' becomes 'You're' /jʊər/.
The 's' sound in 'is'
The 's' in 'is' and 'He's' sounds like a /z/.
Linking 'are'
When 'are' is followed by a vowel, the 'r' is often pronounced clearly (e.g., 'They are at...').
Yes/No Question Rising
Are you happy? ↗
Asking for confirmation.
Statement Falling
I am happy. ↘
Giving information.
Einprägen
Eselsbrücke
Remember 'A-I-R': Am for I, Is for Singular, Are for Rest.
Visuelle Assoziation
Imagine a bridge with three lanes. The first lane is only for a single person named 'I' (Am). The second lane is for single cars (Is). The third lane is for buses with many people (Are).
Rhyme
I am, you are, he is too. We are, they are, how are you?
Story
Once there was a king named 'I' who only liked the word 'Am'. His three children, He, She, and It, shared a small toy called 'Is'. All the other people in the kingdom (You, We, They) had to share a big boat called 'Are'.
Word Web
Herausforderung
Look around the room and say 5 sentences using 'is' or 'are' to describe what you see (e.g., 'The lamp is on').
Kulturelle Hinweise
Americans use 'I'm good' to mean 'I am fine' or 'No thank you'.
In some dialects, 'I'm' is used even in places where Americans might use the full 'I am'.
The 'invariant be' is used for habitual actions, while the copula is sometimes omitted for present states.
The English verb 'to be' is a 'suppletive' verb, meaning it comes from three different Proto-Indo-European roots.
Gesprächseinstiege
Where are you from?
What is your job?
How are you feeling today?
Who is your favorite celebrity?
Tagebuch-Impulse
Häufige Fehler
Test Yourself
My sister ___ a doctor.
Find and fix the mistake:
You is very kind.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Score: /3
Ubungsaufgaben
8 exercisesShe ___ a very kind person.
Which one is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
I'm not have hungry.
you / from / Are / London / ?
I -> ?, He -> ?, We -> ?
___ (It is) very hot today.
We ___ ready.
Are you a student? Yes, I ___.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesThe weather today ___ sunny.
I ___ from Canada.
Choose the correct sentence:
She not is ready.
Translate into English: 'El libro está en la mesa.'
Arrange these words into a question:
Match the subjects with the correct form:
My friends is very busy this week.
Translate into English: 'Ella no está aquí ahora.'
How old ___ your brother?
Choose the correct sentence:
Arrange these words into a sentence:
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
English is an old language, and the verb 'to be' comes from different roots. It's irregular, so you just have to memorize these specific pairs.
No, in formal writing, you should use the full forms like `I am` or `It is`. Contractions are for speaking and casual writing.
There is no difference in meaning. `Isn't` is just the shorter, more common way to say it in conversation.
In English, age is considered a state of being (who you are), not a possession (something you have).
Both! In English, `you` is used for one person and for a group of people. The verb is always `are` for both.
Only with the subject `I`. It is the most exclusive form of the verb.
Yes, but that's for more advanced tenses like the Present Continuous (e.g., 'I am running'). For now, focus on using it with nouns and adjectives.
Usually, yes. But it can also mean 'It has' in the present perfect (e.g., 'It's been a long day'). Context will tell you which one it is!
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Ser / Estar
English doesn't distinguish between permanent and temporary 'being'.
Être
French uses 'to have' for physical states like hunger.
Sein
German word order changes more than English in questions.
Desu / Arimasu / Imasu
Japanese verbs don't change based on 'I', 'You', or 'They'.
Zero Copula
Arabic omits the verb entirely in the present affirmative.
Shì (是)
Chinese doesn't use 'to be' with adjectives.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
Continue With
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