White text-logo on blue background.

Category: Beginner

  • English Grammar for Beginners: How to Use Be Verbs in the Present Tense

    English Grammar for Beginners: How to Use Be Verbs in the Present Tense

    Be verbs are small but powerful words in English! We use am, is, and are to describe people, places, and things in the present tense. For example, we say I am a student, She is happy, or They are in class.
    In this lesson, you’ll learn how to use be verbs correctly, avoid common mistakes, and sound more natural when speaking English. Don’t forget to request your free Be Verbs Practice PDF at the end of this post to keep improving your grammar and pronunciation!

    Be Verbs – Subject-Verb Agreement   

    The Be verb must agree with the subject to make the sentence correct (Subject-Verb Agreement)

    There are three forms for Be verbs in the present tense:

    1. Am     

    We use ‘am’ with the subject pronoun I. 

    This form is for statements about oneself.

    I am on the first floor.              

    I am next to the desk.     

    I am excited.

    2. Is    

    We use ‘is’ with the subject pronouns he, she, it, and singular nouns.

    This form is used to talk about one person or thing.

    The teacher is between John and Bobby.  She is intelligent.

    The trash can is under the desk. It is empty.

    John is sleepy. He is tired. 

    3.  Are            

    We use ‘are’ with the subject pronouns you, we, they, and plural nouns.

    This form is used to talk about more than one person or thing.  

    The notebooks are in the drawer.  They are new.

    The pens are on the table. They are black.

    Alejandra and I are under the projector. We are nervous.

    💡 Tip! If you need a refresher on subject pronouns, check out our complete guide on subject pronouns.

    Be Verbs – Structure   

    We use the following structure for affirmative statements

    SubjectBe Verb (am, is, are)Other Information
    Iamhappy.

    We use the following structure for negative statements

    SubjectBe Verb (am, is, are)notOther Information
    Heisnota student.

    We use the following structure for Yes/No questions.

    Be Verb (am, is, are)Subject + fromLocation
    Aretheystudents?

    We use the following structure for short answers

    Yes/No,SubjectBe Verb (am, is, are) + (not)
    Yes,sheis.
    No,theyare not.

    We use the following structure for Wh- questions

    Wh- WordBe Verb (am, is, are)Subject
    Whereisthe coffee shop?

    When do we use Be verbs?  

    1. With an adjective to describe someone or something

    Adjectives can come after the Be Verb.  They describe the subject.       

    Alejandra is pretty.

    The adjective ‘pretty’ describes the subject ‘Alejandra.’

    The homework is easy.

    The adjective ‘easy’ describes the subject ‘The homework.’

    Grammar exams are difficult.

    The adjective ‘difficult’ describes the subject ‘grammar exams.’

    They are friendly.

    The adjective ‘friendly’ describes the subject pronoun ‘They.’

    2. With a noun to classify the subject                    

    Mary is a teacher.

    You are a student. (singular)  You are students. (plural)

    They are friends.

    We are students.

    3. With physical or emotional states

    My books are heavy. (physical state)

    She is tired. (physical state)

    They are happy. (emotional state)

    We are excited. (emotional state)

    4. To Talk about the Weather. Use “It” as the subject when talking about the weather.

    It is hot in Merida.

    It is sunny today.

    It is cold in New York City in December.

    5. To Talk about the Time. Use “It” as the subject when talking about time.

    It is 9:00AM.It is in the morning.
    It is midnight.It is in the afternoon.
    It is noon.It is at night.

    6. To Talk about the Day, Month, or Season. Use “It” as the subject when talking about the day or the date.

    It is Saturday.It is the weekend.
    It is August.It is summer.
    It is October.It is fall.
    It is December.It is winter.
    It is March.It is spring.

    7. Use a Be verb with a location

    My sisters are in Dallas.

    The restaurant is on San Pedro Ave.

    My parents are at 1704 Maberry St.

    Shakira and I are from Colombia.

    Contractions with Be Verbs

    Contractions are used for casual speech and informal writing.

    Contractions combine two words.  The apostrophe (’) replaces the letter removed from the Be verb.           

    In affirmative statements with Be verbs, we can combine a subject pronoun and a form of the Be verb.

    Full FormContraction
    I amI’m
    You areYou’re
    He isHe’s
    She isShe’s
    It isIt’s
    We areWe’re
    They areThey’re

    We can also combine a singular subject and the Be verb ‘is’ to form a contraction. We replace the letter ‘i’ with an apostrophe (’)

    Full FormContraction
    The book is on the table.The book’s on the table.
    John is late. John’s late.
    The teacher is nice.The teacher’s nice.
    The computer is in my backpack.The computer’s in my backpack.
    ⚠️ Remember! You cannot contract a plural noun and the Be verb ‘are’.

    ✅ The markers are on the table.

    In negative statements with Be verbs, there are two ways to make contractions.

    1. Contract the subject pronoun and the Be verb or a singular subject and ‘is’

    Full FormContraction
    I am not at home.I’m not at home.
    He is not a student.He’s not a student.
    She is not a teacher. She’s not a teacher.
          It is not on the desk.       It’s not on the desk.
    We are not in the cafeteria.We’re not in the cafeteria.
    They are not on the second floor.They’re not on the second floor. 
          Alejandra is not in class.      Alejandra’s not in class.
    ⚠️ Remember! The apostrophe (‘) replaces the letter removed from the Be verb or the singular subject.

    2. Contract the Be verb and the negative.

    Full FormContraction
    He is not a student.He isn’t a student.
    She is not a teacher. She isn’t a teacher.
    It is not on the desk. It isn’t on the desk.
    We are not in the cafeteria.We aren’t in the cafeteria.
    They are not on the second floor.They aren’t on the second floor. 
    Alejandra is not in class today.Alejandra isn’t in class today.

    There is only one form for “I am not.” 

    You contract the subject pronoun ‘I’ and the Be verb ‘am’.     

    I am  ✅  I’m

    You cannot contract am and not  ❌  amn’t         

    I am not  ✅  I’m not    

    ✅  I’m not in the language lab.

    🔊 Practice! Improve your English pronunciation of contractions with this free online practice tool!
    English pronunciation of contractions.
    ⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

    ❌ She happy.
    ✅ She is happy.

    ❌ They is at school.
    ✅ They are at school.

    ❌ I amn’t tired.
    ✅ I’m not tired.

    ❌ Where you are from?
    ✅ Where are you from?

    ❌ He’s teacher.
    ✅ He’s a teacher.

    📘 Get More Practice!

    Want extra exercises to master am, is, and are?
    Request your free Be Verbs Practice PDF

    Fill out the short form below!

    Name
    Checkboxes

    📚 Want more reading, writing, listening, and speaking practice? Check out the Essential English series on Amazon!

    Remember! Learning a language is not about perfection—it’s about progress. Keep practicing, stay curious, and trust the process. You are moving beyond English to more opportunities, connections, and self-expression!

    Leave a comment below!

    And remember . . . Practice, Practice, Practice!!!!!

  • English Future Tense with Be Going To: Easy Guide for ESL Beginners

    English Future Tense with Be Going To: Easy Guide for ESL Beginners

    Do you ever want to talk about tomorrow, next week, or even next year in English? Learning how to talk about the future is very important! The good news is, there are two common ways to talk about the future in English: will and be going to. In this post, we’ll focus on be going to. To learn more about using will, check out this guide. English learners use the future tense with Be Going To every day to make predictions, share plans, and even promise to do something. In this post, you’ll learn how to use the future tense with Be Going To step by step—with simple rules, examples, and common mistakes to avoid. By the end, you’ll be ready to talk about your own future in English with confidence!

    When do we use the future tense with Be Going To?

    We use Be Going To to talk about:

    1. Simple facts about the future

    I am going to finish class on Friday.  

    1. Predictions with evidence (when we can see something now).

    Look at those clouds! It is going to rain.

    1. Plans or intentions (things we already decided to do).

    She is going to study English at UNAM next session.

    Affirmative Statements in the Future Tense with Be Going To

    Subject + be (am/is/are) + going to + base form of the verb

    I am going to watch a movie tonight.

    She is going to travel to Spain.

    They are going to play basketball on Thursday.

    My mother is going to make dinner tonight.

    The students are going to take a test on Friday.

    Ana is going to celebrate her birthday on Saturday.

    Negative Statements in the Future Tense with Be Going To

    Subject + be (am/is/are) + not + going to + base form of the verb

    I am not going to watch a movie tonight.

    She is not going to travel to Spain.

    They are not going to play basketball on Thursday.

    My mother is not going to make dinner tonight.

    The students are not going to take a test on Friday.

    Ana is not going to celebrate her birthday on Saturday.

    Contractions in the Future Tense with Be Going To

    In English, we often make sentences shorter by contracting the Be verb (am, is, are) with a subject pronoun. This makes speaking sound more natural.

    I am → I’m → I’m going to study tonight.

    You are → You’re going to fail if you don’t do the homework.

    He is → He’s → He’s going to play soccer.

    She is → She’s → She’s going to cook dinner.

    It is → It’s → It’s going to rain.

    We are → We’re → We’re going to travel next week.

    They are → They’re → They’re going to visit us.

    ⚠️ Remember! We never contract going to itself—only the be verb.
    💡 Tip! If you need a refresher on subjects, check out our complete guide on subject pronouns.

    We can also contract the be verb (am, is, are) with not in negative sentences.

    is not → isn’t

    She isn’t going to eat lunch.

    are not → aren’t

    They aren’t going to play soccer.

    ⚠️ Remember! am not → There is no contraction.

    ❌ I amn’t going to study.
    ✅ I’m not going to study.

    🚫 Common Mistakes with Affirmative and Negative Statements

    ❌ She going to study tomorrow.
    ✅ She is going to study tomorrow.

    ❌ They are going study tomorrow.
    ✅ They are going to study tomorrow.

    ❌ I am not going study English.
    ✅ I am not going to study English.

    ❌ I amn’t going to study.
    ✅ I’m not going to study.

    ⚠️ Remember! Always use a be verb (am, is, are) and to.

    Yes/No Questions and Short Answers in the Future Tense with Be Going To

    Be (am/is/are) + subject + going to + base form of the verb?

    Are you going to do your homework?

    Is it going to rain tonight?

    Is she going to visit her parents?

    Are they going to eat lunch at Taco Bell?

    Are the students going to celebrate the teacher’s birthday?

    Are we going to fly to Cancun? 

    Short Answers

    Yes, I am. / No, I’m not.

    Yes, you are. / No, you’re not. / No, you aren’t.

    Yes, he is. / No, he’s not. / No, he isn’t.

    Yes, she is. / No, she’s not. / No, she isn’t.

    Yes, it is. / No, it’s not. / No, it isn’t.

    Yes, we are. / No, we’re not. / No, we aren’t.

    Yes, they are. / No, they’re not. / No, they aren’t.

    ⚠️ Remember! Only the negative short answers use contractions

    Wh- Questions in the Future Tense with Be Going To

    Wh- word + Be (am/is/are) + Subject + going to

    When are you going to do your homework?

    When is it going to rain tonight?

    Why is she going to visit her parents?

    What are they going to eat at Taco Bell?

    Who are the students going to celebrate the teacher’s birthday with?

    When are we going to fly to Cancun? 

    How are we going to pay for our vacation?

    🚫 Common Mistakes with Yes/No and Wh- Questions

    When making questions with be going to, many students forget to move the be verb (am, is, are) to the beginning.

    Yes/No Questions
    ❌ You are going to watch a movie tonight?
    ✅ Are you going to watch a movie tonight?

    ❌ She is going to call you?
    ✅ Is she going to call you?

    👉 Always put am/is/are before the subject in questions.

    Wh- Questions
    ❌ Where you are going to eat lunch?
    ✅ Where are you going to eat lunch?

    ❌ What he is going to do tomorrow?
    ✅ What is he going to do tomorrow?

    👉 Start with the Wh- word (What, Where, When, Why, Who, How) → then am/is/are → then the subject.

    Let’s Practice!

    Exercise A

    Fill in the blank(s) with the correct word(s). Use contractions if possible.

    1. She ________  going to visit her grandmother this weekend.
    2. They ________ going to play soccer after school.
    1. I ________  not going to eat pizza tonight.
    2. He ________  not going to watch TV before bed.
    1. ________ you ________ to study for the test tomorrow?
    2. ________ she  going ________ call her friend tonight?
    3. ________ they ________ come to the party?
    1. What ________ you ________ eat for lunch?
    2. Where ________ they ________ travel next summer?
    3. When ________ he ________ start his new job?

    Exercise B

    Correct the mistakes in each sentence. There is one mistake per sentence.

    1. She going to visit her friend tomorrow.
    2. They are going play basketball after school.
    3. I am go to study English tonight.
    1. He isn’t going to calls you later.
    2. We is not going to watch TV tonight.
    3. I amn’t going to eat dinner.
    1. You are going to come to class tomorrow?
    2. She is going to call her mom tonight?
    1. Where you are going to travel next year?
    2. What he is going to eat for lunch?
    Check Your Answers

    Scoring and Feedback

    🔵 17 – 20 Correct

    Excellent work! 🎉You really understand the future with Be Going To. Keep using it in your everyday conversations and writing.

    🟢 14 – 16 Correct

    Great job! ✅ You have a good understanding of the future with Be Going To. Review the ones you missed.

    🟡 12 – 13 Correct

    Good effort! 💪You’re learning, and that’s what matters. Take a moment to review the examples and do the quiz again.

    🔴 0 – 11 Correct

    No worries! 🌱 The future with Be Going To can be tricky at first. Go back and review the examples in the lesson.

    📚 Want more reading, writing, listening, and speaking practice? Check out the Essential English series on Amazon!

    Remember! Learning a language is not about perfection—it’s about progress. Every time you say “I am going to learn English!” you are using the future tense with ‘be going to‘ to tell the truth about your journey. Keep practicing, stay curious, and trust the process. You are moving beyond English to more opportunities, connections, and self-expression!

    Leave a comment below!

    And remember . . . Practice, Practice, Practice!!!!!

  • English Future Tense with Will: Easy Grammar for ESL Students

    English Future Tense with Will: Easy Grammar for ESL Students

    Do you ever want to talk about tomorrow, next week, or even next year in English? Learning how to talk about the future is very important! The good news is, there are two common ways to talk about the future in English: will and be going to. In this post, we’ll focus on will. To learn more about using the future tense with be going to, check out this guide. English learners use the future tense with Will every day to make predictions, share plans, and even promise to do something. In this post, you’ll learn how to use the future tense with Will step by step—with simple rules, examples, and common mistakes to avoid. By the end, you’ll be ready to talk about your own future in English with confidence!

    When do we use the future tense with will?

    We use will to talk about:

    1. Simple facts about the future

    I will do my homework tonight.

    2. Predictions about the future.

    It will rain tomorrow.

    3. Promises or offers.

    I will help you with your homework.

    4. Future plans or decisions made at the moment of speaking.

    I’m hungry. I will make a sandwich.

    Affirmative statements in the Future Tense with Will

    Subject + will + base form of the main verb

    She will make dinner tonight.

    They will travel to Spain this summer.

    The students will take a test on Friday.

    The teacher will help you with your homework.

    Ana will celebrate her birthday on Saturday.

    We will go to the park on Sunday afternoon.

    🚫 Common Mistakes with Affirmative Statements

    ❌ He will goes to school tomorrow.
    ✅ He will go to school tomorrow.

    ❌ They will playing soccer next week.
    ✅ They will play soccer next week.

    ⚠️ Remember! After will, always use the base form of the verb (go, play, eat).

    Contractions in the Future Tense with Will

    In English, we often make sentences shorter by contracting (joining) the subject pronoun and will. This makes speaking more natural and faster.

    I will → I’ll call you tomorrow.

    You will → You’ll need to study if you want to pass grammar class.

    He will → He’ll text you later.

    She will → She’ll help us with the project.

    It will → It’ll be cold tomorrow.

    We will → We’ll drive to the concert.

    They will → They’ll come to the party.

    ⚠️ Remember! Contractions are common in speaking and informal writing, but in formal writing (like school essays or exams), it’s better to use the full form: I will, you will, etc.
    💡 Tip! If you need a refresher on subjects, check out our complete guide on subject pronouns.

    Negative statements in the Future Tense with Will

    Subject + will not + base form of the verb

    I will not watch TV tonight.

    He will not go to the party.

    It will not snow tomorrow.

    She will not attend class on Friday.

    That charger will not work on your phone.

     We will not eat dinner at home tonight.

    Contractions in the Future Tense with Will – Negative Statements

    In a negative statement, do not contract the subject pronoun and will. Instead, you can contract will and not to form the contraction won’t.

    I won’t watch TV tonight. I have to study for a test.

    He won’t go to the party. He’s boring.

    It won’t snow tomorrow. It’s too hot.

    She won’t attend class on Friday. She has a doctor’s appointment.

    That charger won’t work on your phone. It’s for iPhones.

    We won’t eat dinner at home tonight. We’re eating out instead.

    🚫 Common Mistakes with Negative Statements

    ❌ I not will eat dinner.
    ✅ I will not (won’t) eat dinner.

    ❌ She willn’t come to the party.
    ✅ She will not come to the party. (or She won’t come to the party.)

    ⚠️ Remember! Use will not or the contraction won’t. Do not write willn’t.

    Yes/No Questions and Short Answers in the Future Tense with Will

    Will + subject + base form of the verb?

    Will she make dinner tonight? Yes, she will. / No, she won’t.

    Will they travel to Spain this summer? Yes, they will. / No, they won’t.

    Will the students take a test on Friday? Yes, they will. / No, they won’t.

    Will the teacher help you with your homework? Yes, he will. / No, he won’t.

    Will Ana celebrate her birthday on Saturday? Yes, she will. / No, she won’t.

    Will the Longhorns play on Saturday? Yes, they will. / No, they won’t. 😞

    ⚠️ Remember! Only negative short answers use contractions.
    🚫 Common Mistakes with Yes/No Questions

    ❌ You will come to class tomorrow?
    ✅ Will you come to class tomorrow?

    ❌ They will play soccer on Saturday?
    ✅ Will they play soccer on Saturday?

    ⚠️ Remember! In questions, will comes before the subject.

    Wh- Questions in the Future Tense with Will

    Wh- word + will + subject + base form of the verb

    What will she make for dinner tonight?

    When will they travel to Spain?

    When will the students take a test?

    What will the teacher help you with?

    What will Ana celebrate on Saturday?

    Who will the Longhorns play on Saturday?

    Why won’t the dog stop barking?

    How will you travel to Bogota?

    🚫 Common Mistakes with Wh- Questions

    ❌ Where you will go on vacation?
    ✅ Where will you go on vacation?

    ❌ What she will eat for lunch?
    ✅ What will she eat for lunch?

    ⚠️ Remember! Start with the Wh- word (What, Where, When, Why, Who, How) → then will → then the subject.

    Let’s Practice!

    Exercise A

    Unscramble the words to form affirmative statements. Use contractions if possible.

    1. play / will / soccer / tomorrow / they
    2. finish / homework / tonight / will / my / I
    3. visit / will / next week / their / grandparents / they
    4. to / will / not / go / afternoon / they / the park / this
    5. their / not / do / homework / will / students / the
    6. to / tonight / the party / will / come / she / ?
    7. help / class / me / will / after / my homework / you / with / ?
    8. play / soccer / will / Saturday / he / on /?
    9. see / we / movie / tonight / will / a / ?
    10. eat / for lunch / what / will / she / ?
    11. go / on vacation / where / will / you / ?
    12. do / tomorrow / will / he / what / ?
    13. help / me / will / when / you / ?
    14. see / who / will / at the park / we / ?
    15. university / which / you / at / study / will / year / next / ?

    Exercise B

    Correct the mistakes in each sentence (There is only 1 mistake per sentence)

    1. He’ll goes to school tomorrow.
    2. They will playing soccer next week.
    3. She’ll eats breakfast at 9:00.
    4. She willn’t come to the party.
    5. They won’t plays soccer.
    6. You’ll come to class tomorrow?
    7. She’ll calls you tonight?
    8. Where you’ll go on vacation?
    9. What she’ll eat for lunch?
    10. When he’ll come to school?
    Check Your Answers

    Scoring & Feedback

    🔵 22 – 25 correct

    Excellent work! 🎉You really understand the future with will. Keep using it in your everyday conversations and writing.

    🟢 19 – 21 correct
    Great job! ✅ You have a good understanding of the future with will. Review the ones you missed.

    🟡 15 – 18 correct
    Good effort! 💪You’re learning, and that’s what matters. Take a moment to review the examples and do the quiz again.

    🔴 0 – 14 correct
    No worries! 🌱 The future with will can be tricky at first. Go back and review the examples in the lesson.

    📚 Want more reading, writing, listening, and speaking practice? Check out the Essential English series on Amazon!

    Remember! Learning a language is not about perfection—it’s about progress. Every time you say “I will learn English” you are using the future tense with will to tell the truth about your journey. Keep practicing, stay curious, and trust the process. Your English is not standing still—it’s moving forward, step by step.

    Leave a comment below!

    And remember . . . Practice, Practice, Practice!!!!!