A1 · Iniciante Capítulo 1

Starting with the Basics

5 Regras totais
58 exemplos
5 min
Regras neste capítulo Prática rápida

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the essential building blocks to start speaking English with confidence and clarity today.

  • Identify the correct forms of 'to be' and 'have'.
  • Describe existence using 'there is' and 'there are'.
  • Apply subject-verb agreement rules to build accurate sentences.
Unlock the power to speak your first English sentences.

O que você vai aprender

Ready to take your first exciting steps in English? Here, we'll learn to confidently make sentences that feel just right, like saying 'I am' or talking about what 'there is'. Soon, you'll be building clear, basic sentences all on your own!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Construct simple sentences describing your identity, environment, and possessions.

Guia do capítulo

Overview

Imagine unlocking the very first doors to speaking English! This guide is your friendly helper, designed to get you comfortable with the absolute basics so you can start communicating right away. Mastering these fundamental building blocks is super important for anyone starting with the basics in English for beginners.
We’re talking about learning how to introduce yourself, describe simple things around you, and even talk about what's happening now. It’s like learning your ABCs before writing a story!
In this chapter, we'll dive into the magic of the verb 'to be' (that's am, is, are), which helps us describe who we are, where we are, and how we feel. We'll also explore how to say something exists using 'there is' and 'there are', and get super clear on how words like have change for different people. Plus, we’ll learn the clever ways English uses words like 'it' and 'there' for everyday talk about time and weather.
By the end, you'll feel confident as you learn English A1 grammar and build clear, simple sentences all on your own. Let's make English fun and easy!

How This Grammar Works

At the heart of simple English sentences are a few key patterns that help us describe the world. First up is the verb 'to be', which is essential for identity, location, and feelings. For example, I am happy, You are a student, She is in London.
Notice how 'to be' changes: am with I, is with he/she/it, and are with you/we/they. This is a core part of matching subjects and verbs, making sure your sentences sound correct.
Next, when we want to say that something exists, or that it's in a certain place, we use 'there is' for one thing and 'there are' for many things. So, you might say, There is a book on the table (one book), or There are two pens here (many pens). This is another example of subject-verb agreement in action, where the verb (is or are) matches the noun that follows (a book or two pens).
The verb 'have' is also crucial for possession. Like 'to be', it changes based on the subject. Most of the time, we use have (e.g., I have a car, We have a meeting).
But there's a special rule for he, she, and it: they use 'has'. For example, He has a new phone, She has a great idea. This s ending for he/she/it is a common pattern in present simple verbs in English, often called the 'S' Rule.
Finally, we use 'it' and 'there' in specific ways. 'It' is often used for general conditions like time and weather: It is sunny, It is 3 o'clock. And 'there' is used to introduce the existence of something, as we saw with 'there is/are': There are many people here.
These simple structures are your toolkit for forming countless basic English sentences.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1Mixing up 'is' and 'are' with 'there'
✗ There are a big problem.
✓ There is a big problem.
Explanation: Remember, the verb (is or are) should agree with the noun *after* 'there'. 'A big problem' is singular, so it needs is.
  1. 1Forgetting the 's' with 'have' for 'he/she/it'
✗ She have a cat.
✓ She has a cat.
Explanation: For he, she, and it, the verb 'have' changes to has in the present simple. This is a very common S rule to learn!
  1. 1Incorrectly using 'it' for existence instead of 'there'
✗ It is a nice park in the city.
✓ There is a nice park in the city.
Explanation: Use it for general statements about weather, time, or opinions (It is cold, It is good). Use there to introduce the existence or presence of something.

Real Conversations

At the Café

A

A

Hello! There is a table free by the window.
B

B

Oh, great! Is it for two people?
A

A

Yes, it is.
B

B

Perfect! Thank you.

Meeting a New Friend

A

A

Hi, I am Anna. Nice to meet you.
B

B

Hi Anna, I am Tom. You are from Spain, right?
A

A

Yes, I am. And you are from England?
B

B

That's right! I have a brother here.

In the Office

A

A

Good morning! Is it 9 o'clock already?
B

B

Almost! There are many emails today.
A

A

Oh, I see! He has a lot of work too.

Quick FAQ

Q

How do I know when to use am, is, or are in English?

You use am with I (I am). You use is with he, she, and it (He is, She is, It is). You use are with you, we, and they (You are, We are, They are). It's all about matching the right form of 'to be' to the person or thing you're talking about!

Q

What's the main difference between there is and it is?

There is tells you that something exists or is located somewhere (There is a coffee shop nearby). It is tells you about the condition, time, or characteristic of something already known or generally understood (It is cold today, It is my favorite color).

Q

Why does have change to has sometimes?

In English, for present simple sentences, the verb 'have' changes to 'has' only when the subject is 'he', 'she', or 'it' (or a singular noun that represents them, like 'my friend' or 'the dog'). For all other subjects (I, you, we, they), it stays have.

Cultural Context

Native English speakers use these basic patterns constantly, often shortening them in casual speech. For example, I am becomes I'm, there is becomes there's, and it is becomes it's. This informal contraction is very common and makes speech flow faster.
While grammatically simple, these structures are the foundation of almost every conversation, from formal meetings to chatting with friends.

Exemplos-chave (8)

1

I am a new student at SubLearn.

Eu sou um(a) novo(a) estudante na SubLearn.

O Verbo 'To Be' (am, is, are)
2

She is very tall for her age.

Ela é muito alta para a idade dela.

O Verbo 'To Be' (am, is, are)
3

I **drink** water every morning.

Eu bebo água toda manhã.

Concordância Sujeito-Verbo: A Regra do 'S' (Concordância Sujeito-Verbo)
4

He **plays** video games after work.

Ele joga videogame depois do trabalho.

Concordância Sujeito-Verbo: A Regra do 'S' (Concordância Sujeito-Verbo)
5

I have a lot of homework tonight.

Eu tenho muita lição de casa esta noite.

Verbo 'have': Formas do Presente Simples (I have / He has)
6

She has a beautiful voice for singing.

Ela tem uma voz linda para cantar.

Verbo 'have': Formas do Presente Simples (I have / He has)
7

It is hot today.

Hoje está calor.

Usando 'It' e 'There' (Tempo, Clima e Existência)
8

There is a cat on the sofa.

Há um gato no sofá.

Usando 'It' e 'There' (Tempo, Clima e Existência)

Dicas e truques (4)

💡

Pratique com os Pronomes

Sempre pense primeiro no pronome pessoal (I, you, he, she, it, we, they). Isso vai te dizer na hora se deve usar 'am', 'is' ou 'are'. I am hungry.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: O Verbo 'To Be' (am, is, are)
⚠️

A Armadilha do 'It Is'

Muita gente confunde! Nunca diga 'It is a cat in the garden' quando você quer dizer que existe um gato. Use 'It is' só pra descrever coisas ('It is black') ou o clima ('It is raining').
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Há / Tem (There is / There are)
💡

Identifique os sujeitos com 'S'

Quando você está montando uma frase, sempre pense se o sujeito é 'he', 'she', 'it' ou uma única pessoa/coisa. Se for, seu verbo provavelmente precisa daquele '-s' no final. É seu lembrete rápido!
My sister works at a big company.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Concordância Sujeito-Verbo: A Regra do 'S' (Concordância Sujeito-Verbo)
💡

Concordância Sujeito-Verbo

Sempre confira quem é o sujeito da sua frase! Se for 'I', 'you', 'we', 'they' (ou um substantivo plural), use have. Se for 'he', 'she', 'it' (ou um substantivo singular), use has. É a regra de ouro para o 'have'!
I have a car, she has a bike.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbo 'have': Formas do Presente Simples (I have / He has)

Vocabulário-chave (6)

I first-person singular is singular state of being have possession there place/existence marker it impersonal subject sun celestial object/weather

Real-World Preview

message-circle

Meeting a New Friend

Review Summary

  • Subject + am/is/are + complement
  • There + is/are + noun
  • Subject (3rd person) + Verb+s
  • Subject + have/has + object
  • It + is + adjective

Erros comuns

The verb 'to be' changes based on the subject. 'I' always pairs with 'am'.

Wrong: I is a student.
Correto: I am a student.

When the subject is 'he', 'she', or 'it', use 'has' instead of 'have'.

Wrong: She have a car.
Correto: She has a car.

Use 'is' for single items and 'are' for multiple items.

Wrong: There are a pen.
Correto: There is a pen.

Next Steps

You've built a solid foundation. Keep that momentum going into Chapter 2!

Describe your room out loud using 'There is' and 'I have'.

Continue to: Present Tenses

Prática rápida (10)

Escolha a forma correta de 'it' ou 'there'.

___ is raining outside.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It
'It' é usado para expressões de clima como 'raining'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Usando 'It' e 'There' (Tempo, Clima e Existência)

Escolha a forma correta de 'have'.

My best friend ___ a fantastic sense of humor.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: has
'My best friend' é um sujeito singular (ele/ela), então ele usa a forma 'has'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Verbo 'have': Formas do Presente Simples (I have / He has)

Encontre e corrija o erro.

Find and fix the mistake:

My cat sleep all day.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: My cat sleeps all day.
O sujeito 'My cat' é singular (it), então o verbo 'sleep' deve ter um '-s' para virar 'sleeps'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Concordância Sujeito-Verbo: A Regra do 'S' (Concordância Sujeito-Verbo)

Qual frase está correta?

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: She likes to watch movies.
Para 'She' (terceira pessoa do singular), o verbo 'like' corretamente vira 'likes'. 'They' é plural, então deveria ser 'like'. 'He' é singular, então deveria ser 'likes'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Concordância Sujeito-Verbo: A Regra do 'S' (Concordância Sujeito-Verbo)

Escolha a forma correta do verbo.

She ___ a new book every week.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: reads
O sujeito 'She' é a terceira pessoa do singular, então o verbo 'read' precisa de um '-s' para virar 'reads'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Concordância Sujeito-Verbo: A Regra do 'S' (Concordância Sujeito-Verbo)

Qual frase está correta?

Escolha a frase correta:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: It is 5 PM.
'It' é usado para falar sobre a hora.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Usando 'It' e 'There' (Tempo, Clima e Existência)

Você está verificando uma avaliação de restaurante

There ___ only two vegetarian options on the menu.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: are
'Two vegetarian options' (duas opções vegetarianas) é plural, então precisamos de 'there are'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Há / Tem (There is / There are)

Dando direções a um turista

There ___ a great coffee shop right around the corner.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is
'A great coffee shop' (uma ótima cafeteria) é singular → 'there is'. Você vai usar isso o tempo todo ao recomendar lugares!

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Há / Tem (There is / There are)

Encontre e corrija o erro.

Find and fix the mistake:

There is two students in the classroom.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: There are two students in the classroom.
O verbo 'are' deve concordar com o substantivo plural 'students'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Usando 'It' e 'There' (Tempo, Clima e Existência)

Você está descrevendo seu novo apartamento para um amigo

There ___ a huge balcony with a city view!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: is
'A huge balcony' (uma varanda enorme) é singular, então usamos 'there is'. Perfeito pra descrever lugares!

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Há / Tem (There is / There are)

Score: /10

Perguntas comuns (6)

O verbo 'to be' principalmente identifica, descreve características, expressa sentimentos ou indica a localização de um sujeito. Ele conecta o sujeito a mais informações sobre ele, como em I am happy ou
She is a doctor
.
'To be' é um verbo irregular, o que significa que ele não segue um padrão simples de conjugação. Suas diferentes formas (am, is, are) são necessárias para concordar com diferentes sujeitos (I, he/she/it, you/we/they).
A diferença é a quantidade! Use 'There is' para uma pessoa ou coisa (singular) e 'There are' para duas ou mais (plural). Exemplo: 'There is a cookie' (um biscoito) versus 'There are three cookies' (três biscoitos).
Tecnicamente, não. Numa prova de inglês, estaria errado. Mas em conversas informais, muitos nativos usam 'There's' mesmo para plurais, porque é mais fácil de falar.
É simplesmente garantir que o verbo de uma frase combine com seu sujeito. Por exemplo, se você tem um sujeito, o verbo geralmente assume uma forma especial; se tem muitos, assume outra. Eles são como parceiros de dança, sempre em sintonia! He walks vs They walk.
Porque a mudança mais notável para iniciantes no Simple Present é adicionar um '-s' ao verbo quando o sujeito é 'he', 'she', 'it' ou qualquer outro substantivo singular. É um apelido útil para um padrão chave! She eats.
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Present Tenses
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