Le Verbe 'Être' (am, is, are)
am, is, are pour construire des phrases solides sur tout !
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.to be comme la colle qui fixe votre identité à vos mots.I am tired ou que vous vérifiiez le statut de votre chauffeur Uber, vous utilisez cette règle. C'est la première étape pour ressembler à un véritable humain en anglais.How This Grammar Works
to be dans les phrases courtes. En anglais, nous ne le sautons jamais. Il agit comme un signe égal (=) dans une équation mathématique.I = happy. You = at home. Le verbe to be change de forme en fonction de la personne dont vous parlez.am, is et are. Vous utilisez am uniquement pour vous-même.is pour une autre personne ou chose. Vous utilisez are pour les groupes ou la personne à qui vous parlez. C'est comme choisir la bonne tenue pour la bonne météo.I is semble aussi bizarre que de porter des bottes de neige dans le Sahara. Nous aimons aussi raccourcir ces mots quand nous parlons.I am, nous disons I'm. C'est la version linguistique d'un raccourci dans un jeu de course.
Formation Pattern
am avec le pronom I. (La règle du Selfie).
I am a student. (Contraction : I'm)
is avec he, she ou it. (La règle du Single Friend).
He is tall. (Contraction : He's)
She is hungry. (Contraction : She's)
It is cold. (Contraction : It's)
are avec you, we et they. (La règle de la Squad).
You are funny. (Contraction : You're)
We are late. (Contraction : We're)
They are outside. (Contraction : They're)
I am a gamer. | Je suis un gamer. |
You are kind. | Tu es gentil. |
He is a doctor. | Il est médecin. |
She is busy. | Elle est occupée. |
It is 10 PM. | Il est 22h. |
We are ready. | Nous sommes prêts. |
They are fast. | Ils sont rapides. |
When To Use It
to be dans cinq situations principales chaque jour.- Identité : Dire à quelqu'un votre nom ou votre métier.
I am Alex.She is a developer. - Localisation : Dire où vous êtes sur Google Maps.
We are at the cafe.He is in London. - Caractéristiques : Décrire des personnes ou des choses.
The coffee is hot.You are very smart. - Sentiments : Partager votre vibe actuelle.
I am excited!They are bored. - États/Âges : Faits simples sur la vie.
It is Monday.I am 21 years old.
I am adventurous. I am a dog lover. My dog is very cute. Vous voyez ? Vous êtes déjà un expert ! Ne l'utilisez pas pour décrire votre ex, sauf si vous voulez dire He is annoying.
Common Mistakes
Avoir : En français, vous avez un âge. En anglais, vous êtes un âge. ✗ I have 20 years.
I am 20 years old.
She very pretty.
She is very pretty.
- Confondre
HeetShe: Utiliser la mauvaise forme pour les pronoms genrés est courant. Rappelez-vous :Hepour les garçons,Shepour les filles. Si vous appelez votre frèreshe, il pourrait être confus, mais au moins votre grammaire est correcte. - Mélanger
isetare: Les gens disent souventThey isparce qu'ils oublient que c'est un groupe. Pensez àarecomme au bus de fête du pluriel. - Orthographe des contractions : Ne confondez pas
You're(tu es) avecYour(ton/votre). C'est le déclencheur ultime de disputes sur Internet. Si vous le faites correctement, vous gagnez la section commentaires de TikTok.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
to be avec les verbes d'action. Vous ne pouvez pas simplement les coller ensemble sans une terminaison spéciale.- To Be vs. Actions : Vous pouvez dire
I am happy(description). Vous pouvez direI run(action). Mais vous ne pouvez pas direI am run. Cela donne l'impression que vous êtes littéralement une course physique. Ce qui serait un super-pouvoir très étrange. - To Be vs. To Have : Comme mentionné, nous utilisons
to bepour des sensations comme la faim ou la soif. ✗I have hunger.→ ✓I am hungry.Utilisezto bepour les choses qui décrivent votre état d'être, pas les choses que vous possédez physiquement. - Le facteur
It: Nous utilisonsIt ispour la météo et l'heure. En français, vous ditesIl fait froid. En anglais,It is cold.La météo est son propre personnage !
Quick FAQ
am pour d'autres personnes ?R: Non. am est un verbe égoïste. Il ne traîne qu'avec I.
You are est-il toujours pluriel ?R: Non ! Nous utilisons You are pour une personne ET pour un groupe. C'est très polyvalent.
I'm ?R: Parce que nous sommes paresseux ! Je plaisante. Cela rend la conversation plus fluide et plus naturelle dans des contextes informels comme WhatsApp.
I am being a student ?R: Généralement, non. I am a student est un fait stable. I am being implique que vous agissez comme un étudiant pendant un court moment.
is pour un animal de compagnie ?R: Oui ! Si l'animal est un mâle, utilisez he. Si c'est une femelle, utilisez she. Si vous ne savez pas, utilisez it.
to be pour mon âge ?R: Oui, toujours ! Dire I have 25 fera croire aux anglophones que vous avez 25 pommes dans votre sac.
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
| Pronom sujet | Verbe 'to be' | Contraction | Exemple |
|---|---|---|---|
|
I
|
am
|
I'm
|
I'm a student.
|
|
You (singulier)
|
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 (pluriel)
|
are
|
You're
|
You're all here.
|
|
They
|
are
|
They're
|
They're busy.
|
Spectre de formalité
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)
L'univers du verbe 'To Be'
Identifier
- I am a student Identité
- She is my friend Relation
Décrire
- It is cold Météo/Condition
- They are happy Sentiment/État
- He is tall Caractéristique
Localiser
- We are at home Lieu
- The book is on the table Position
Âge/Temps
- I am 20 years old Âge
- It is 5 PM Heure
Formes de 'To Be' : Qui prend quoi ?
Choisir 'Am', 'Is' ou 'Are'
Le sujet est-il 'I' ?
Le sujet est-il singulier (he, she, it, ou une personne/chose) ?
Le sujet est-il 'you', 'we', 'they', ou pluriel (plus d'une personne/chose) ?
Usages courants de 'To Be'
Identité
- • I am a student.
- • She is my boss.
Description
- • He is tall.
- • The car is red.
Lieu
- • We are at home.
- • The keys are on the table.
Sentiments/États
- • They are happy.
- • I am tired.
Âge
- • He is 30 years old.
- • How old are you?
Heure/Date
- • It is Monday.
- • It is 7 PM.
Exemples par 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.
Facile à confondre
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'.
Erreurs courantes
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...
Structures de phrases
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?
Pense aux pronoms
I am a good student.
N'oublie jamais 'To Be' !
She is tired!Les contractions sont tes amies
Demander 'How are you?'
Écoute le son
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.
Prononciation
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.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Remember 'A-I-R': Am for I, Is for Singular, Are for Rest.
Association visuelle
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
Défi
Look around the room and say 5 sentences using 'is' or 'are' to describe what you see (e.g., 'The lamp is on').
Notes culturelles
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.
Amorces de conversation
Where are you from?
What is your job?
How are you feeling today?
Who is your favorite celebrity?
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
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
Exercices pratiques
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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