Correct Uses of the verb BE. In earlier lessons some irregular verbs were included. I’m sure you had no trouble with these because your ears know what

Correct Uses of the verb Correct Uses of the verb BE BE

In earlier lessons some In earlier lessons some irregular verbs were included. irregular verbs were included. I’m sure you had no trouble I’m sure you had no trouble with these because your ears with these because your ears know what sounds correct. know what sounds correct. However, we will review the However, we will review the rules just in case you become rules just in case you become confused.confused.

Regular verbs work this Regular verbs work this way.way.

TodayToday YesterdayYesterdayHe cooksHe cooksI, You, or We cookI, You, or We cook

cookedcooked

He fixesHe fixesI, You, or We fixI, You, or We fix

fixedfixed

He picksHe picksI, You, or We pickI, You, or We pick

pickedpicked

Sometimes there’s a pattern to Sometimes there’s a pattern to irregular verbsirregular verbs

TodayToday YesterdayYesterdayHe blowsHe blows I, You, or We blow I, You, or We blow

blewblew

He growsHe grows I, You, or We grow I, You, or We grow

grewgrew

He knowsHe knows I, You, or We know I, You, or We know

knewknew

Sometimes there’s no Sometimes there’s no patternpattern

TodayToday YesterdayYesterday

He ridesHe rides I, You, or We ride I, You, or We ride

roderode

He slidesHe slides I, You, or We slide I, You, or We slide

slidslid

He wakesHe wakes I, You, or We wake I, You, or We wake

wokewoke

Other times you may not Other times you may not even recognize the verb.even recognize the verb.

Singular Forms of the Verb Singular Forms of the Verb BEBE

TodayToday YesterdayYesterdayI amI am I wasI wasyou areyou are you wereyou werehe, she, it he, she, it isis

he, she, it washe, she, it was

Plural Forms of the Verb BEPlural Forms of the Verb BE

TodayToday YesterdaYesterdayy

We areWe are We wereWe were

Rules for Present TenseRules for Present Tense

am is aream is are UseUse amam with the pronoun I. with the pronoun I. Use Use isis when you mean one when you mean one

person, place, or thing.person, place, or thing. Use Use areare when you mean more when you mean more

than one person, place, or than one person, place, or thing, and with the pronoun thing, and with the pronoun you.you.

Examples – Present Tense Examples – Present Tense SingularSingular

Singular Singular Nouns or Nouns or PronounsPronouns

VerbVerbss

SentencesSentences

II amam I amI am the biggest the biggest boy in the valley. boy in the valley.

BillyBilly isis Billy isBilly is too young too young to hunt by himself. to hunt by himself.

It It isis It isIt is the biggest the biggest coon I have ever coon I have ever seen. seen.

Examples – Present Tense Examples – Present Tense PluralPlural

PluralPluralNouns or Nouns or PronounsPronouns

VerbVerbss

SentencesSentences

HoundsHounds areare Hounds areHounds are good good hunters. hunters.

YouYou areare You areYou are in for a in for a long, cold night. long, cold night.

Write the correct present tense Write the correct present tense form of be (form of be (amam,, is is,, are are) to ) to complete the sentence. complete the sentence.

The beautiful night __________ The beautiful night __________ perfect for hunting. perfect for hunting.

The beautiful night The beautiful night isis perfect perfect for hunting.for hunting.

Write the correct present tense Write the correct present tense form of be (form of be (amam,, is is,, are are) to ) to complete the sentence.complete the sentence.

Papa ________ happy to see my Papa ________ happy to see my ax sharpened. ax sharpened.

Papa Papa is is happy to see my ax happy to see my ax sharpened.sharpened.


The hounds ________anxious to The hounds ________anxious to go. go.

The hounds The hounds are are anxious to go.anxious to go.


He told the sheriff, "I _______ He told the sheriff, "I _______ Billy Colman." Billy Colman."

He told the sheriff, "I He told the sheriff, "I am am Billy Billy Colman." Colman."

Rules for Past TenseRules for Past Tense

was werewas were Use Use waswas when you mean one when you mean one

person place, or thing.person place, or thing. Use Use werewere when you mean when you mean

more than one person, place, more than one person, place, or thing. or thing.

Examples – Past Tense Examples – Past Tense SingularSingular

Singular Singular Nouns or Nouns or PronounsPronouns

VerbVerbss

SentencesSentences

II waswas I wasI was twelve years twelve years old when I caught old when I caught my first coon. my first coon.

BillyBilly waswas Billy wasBilly was too cold too cold to stop shaking. to stop shaking.

It It waswas It wasIt was time to go time to go home. home.

Examples – Past Tense Examples – Past Tense PluralPlural

PluralPluralNouns Nouns or or PronounPronounss

VerbsVerbs SentencesSentences

HoundsHounds werewere Hounds wereHounds were all all over the mountain. over the mountain.

WeWe werewere We wereWe were here here first. first.

YouYou werewere You wereYou were the last the last one to go home. one to go home.

Write the correct present tense Write the correct present tense form of be (form of be (waswas,, were were) to ) to complete the sentence.complete the sentence.

I ________ as nervous as I ________ as nervous as Samie, our house cat.Samie, our house cat.

I I was was as nervous as Samie, our as nervous as Samie, our house cat.house cat.


One of the things I promised One of the things I promised Mama _________ to not go into Mama _________ to not go into the river. the river.

One of the things I promised One of the things I promised Mama Mama waswas to not go into the to not go into the river.river.


My boots __________ as soft as My boots __________ as soft as a hummingbird's nest.a hummingbird's nest.

My boots My boots were were as soft as a as soft as a hummingbird's nest.hummingbird's nest.


I could tell Mama ______ as I could tell Mama ______ as worried as a cat in a room full worried as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs, and it didn't of rocking chairs, and it didn't make me feel too good.make me feel too good.

I could tell Mama I could tell Mama was was as as worried as a cat in a room full worried as a cat in a room full of rocking chairs, and it didn't of rocking chairs, and it didn't make me feel too good.make me feel too good.

Practice with this online quiz Practice with this online quiz using forms of using forms of BeBe

http://a4esl.org/q/f/z/zz86skm.http://a4esl.org/q/f/z/zz86skm.htmhtm

http://a4esl.org/q/f/z/zz86skm.htm

http://a4esl.org/q/f/z/zz86skm.htm

Practice – Number your paper Practice – Number your paper from 1 to 18. Write the correct from 1 to 18. Write the correct answer for each of the answer for each of the following items.following items.

1. We (am, is, are) down by the 1. We (am, is, are) down by the river bottom in record time. river bottom in record time.

2. Because I told Little Ann that 2. Because I told Little Ann that today is important, she (am, today is important, she (am, is, are) ready with her tail is, are) ready with her tail wiggling and twisting. wiggling and twisting.

3. A large raccoon (am, is, are) 3. A large raccoon (am, is, are) down in the river bottom. down in the river bottom.

4. Hanging on the tool shed 4. Hanging on the tool shed (am, is, are) my first hide. (am, is, are) my first hide.

5. I (am, is, are) old enough to 5. I (am, is, are) old enough to go hunting by myself. go hunting by myself.

6. Two large coons (am, is, are) 6. Two large coons (am, is, are) up in the tree. up in the tree.

7. While Mama and my sisters 7. While Mama and my sisters (was, were) bundling me up, (was, were) bundling me up, Papa lit my lantern. Papa lit my lantern.

8. By the large oak tree (was, 8. By the large oak tree (was, were) the largest coon I have were) the largest coon I have ever seen. ever seen.

9. Two pairs of coon eyes (was, 9. Two pairs of coon eyes (was, were) staring back at Billy. were) staring back at Billy.

10. Choose the sentence that 10. Choose the sentence that is written correctly. is written correctly.

a)a) Billy was beside his hounds expecting one of Billy was beside his hounds expecting one of them to bawl, but the hounds were ready for a them to bawl, but the hounds were ready for a rest. rest.

b)b) Billy was beside his hounds expecting one of Billy was beside his hounds expecting one of them to bawl, but the hounds was ready for a them to bawl, but the hounds was ready for a rest. rest.

c)c) Billy were beside his hounds expecting one of Billy were beside his hounds expecting one of them to bawl, but the hounds were ready for a them to bawl, but the hounds were ready for a rest. rest.

d)d) Billy were beside his hounds expecting one of Billy were beside his hounds expecting one of them to bawl, but the hounds was ready for a them to bawl, but the hounds was ready for a rest. rest.

11. Read this sentence. 11. Read this sentence. Billy is an inexperienced trainer, but Old Dan and Billy is an inexperienced trainer, but Old Dan and Little Ann are the best coon dogs a boy could Little Ann are the best coon dogs a boy could wish for.wish for.What is the correct way to write this sentence?What is the correct way to write this sentence?

a)a) Billy am an inexperienced trainer, Billy am an inexperienced trainer, but Old Dan and Little Ann are the but Old Dan and Little Ann are the best coon dogs a boy could wish for. best coon dogs a boy could wish for.

b)b) Billy is an inexperienced trainer, but Billy is an inexperienced trainer, but Old Dan and Little Ann is the best Old Dan and Little Ann is the best coon dogs a boy could wish for. coon dogs a boy could wish for.

c)c) Billy are an inexperienced trainer, Billy are an inexperienced trainer, but Old Dan and Little Ann are the but Old Dan and Little Ann are the best coon dogs a boy could wish for. best coon dogs a boy could wish for.

d)d) Best as is. Best as is.

12. Which of the following is 12. Which of the following is NOTNOT written correctly? written correctly?

a)a) My dogs were just big, awkward My dogs were just big, awkward pups, trailing their first live coon. pups, trailing their first live coon.

b)b) The ring-tail fool was not going to The ring-tail fool was not going to trick my dogs again. trick my dogs again.

c)c) My dogs didn't know it, but I was My dogs didn't know it, but I was pretty well convinced the coon had pretty well convinced the coon had hidden in the log. hidden in the log.

d)d) Neither Old Dan or Little Ann were Neither Old Dan or Little Ann were bewildered. bewildered.

13. Choose the sentence that 13. Choose the sentence that is written correctly. is written correctly.

a)a) After seeing that there was After seeing that there was nothing to be scared of, once nothing to be scared of, once again I were the fearless hunter. again I were the fearless hunter.

b)b) The trails was forgotten as I tore The trails was forgotten as I tore off through the brush. off through the brush.

c)c) I are afraid to believe it. I are afraid to believe it. d)d) Little Ann is about to stand on Little Ann is about to stand on

the stepping stone in the river. the stepping stone in the river.

14. Which of the following is 14. Which of the following is NOTNOT written correctly? written correctly?

a)a) It was the king of the woods, It was the king of the woods, towering far above the smaller towering far above the smaller trees. trees.

b)b) The huge limbs was spreading out The huge limbs was spreading out over the small birch, ash, box elder, over the small birch, ash, box elder, and water oak. and water oak.

c)c) I am the one who named this tree I am the one who named this tree "the giant". "the giant".

d)d) I was thinking of going to the river I was thinking of going to the river to wash my face in cool water. to wash my face in cool water.

15. Which sentence in the 15. Which sentence in the paragraph below contains a paragraph below contains a mistake?mistake?

(1) The raccoon are a furry animal that (1) The raccoon are a furry animal that has a bushy ringed tail. (2) Their fur has a bushy ringed tail. (2) Their fur coloring makes them appear to be coloring makes them appear to be wearing masks. (3) This is why they wearing masks. (3) This is why they have been given the nickname have been given the nickname "Bandit". (4) The "mask" goes across "Bandit". (4) The "mask" goes across the raccoon's face from cheek to the raccoon's face from cheek to cheek then around the eyes above cheek then around the eyes above the nose. the nose.


(1) The fur on the mask is a dark (1) The fur on the mask is a dark brown color. (2)The rest of the brown color. (2)The rest of the raccoon's fur are gray to a blackish raccoon's fur are gray to a blackish color. (3) The tail of a raccoon has color. (3) The tail of a raccoon has rings of different colors. (4) The rings of different colors. (4) The rings are black and light brown or rings are black and light brown or gray. gray.


(1) Seven species of raccoons live (1) Seven species of raccoons live in the world. (2) The northern in the world. (2) The northern raccoon are 30 to 38 inches long. raccoon are 30 to 38 inches long. (3) They weigh 12 to 25 pounds. (3) They weigh 12 to 25 pounds.


(1) Raccoons have stiff, long hair. (1) Raccoons have stiff, long hair. (2) The hair are generally gray (2) The hair are generally gray with yellow or brown. (3) with yellow or brown. (3) Raccoons have tails which are 12 Raccoons have tails which are 12 inches long. inches long.

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Correct Uses of the verb BE. In earlier lessons some irregular verbs were included. I’m sure you had no trouble with these because your ears know what