Am / is / are
100% Original Practice Test
Talk about people, places and everyday life. Study the guide, practise 44 questions, then use what you know in four short speaking tasks.
Your Quick Grammar Guide
Use be to introduce yourself, describe a place or say how someone feels. Find the subject first: who or what is the sentence about?
1. How to Form It
Choose the partner for your subject
I → am: I am the new receptionist.
He / she / it / one person or thing → is: The visitor is in room four.
You / we / they / plural nouns → are: The visitors are in room four.
You takes are when speaking to one person or several people.
Positive, negative and question
Positive: subject + am/is/are + description.
Our office is quiet.
Negative: subject + am/is/are + not + description.
Our office is not upstairs.
Question: am/is/are + subject + description?
Is our office upstairs?
Questions are introduced here; Unit 2 gives you more practice.
Everyday short forms
I am → I’m · she is → she’s · it is → it’s · we are → we’re · they are → they’re.
is not → isn’t · are not → aren’t · I am not → I’m not. Use am not when a blank comes after the printed subject I.
2. Clue Words & Patterns
What does your sentence tell us?
Identity: Lena is our team leader.
Place: Lena is beside the lift.
Feeling: Lena is nervous.
Age: Lena is thirty.
A job, place or feeling can follow be. The subject decides which form to use.
One person or more?
The assistant is downstairs.
The assistants are downstairs.
Sam and I are downstairs.
Sam and I means we.
Today tells us when, but does not choose the form: I am here today; they are here today.
3. Watch Out & Common Mistakes
Give I its own form
Wrong: I are the first customer.
Better: I am the first customer.
Use am with I, even when other people use are.
Keep be before a description
Wrong: The waiting room quiet.
Better: The waiting room is quiet.
The description quiet needs is to make this complete sentence.
Match a plural subject
Wrong: Our neighbours is friendly.
Better: Our neighbours are friendly.
Neighbours means more than one person, so use are.
Say your age with be
Wrong: I have twenty-eight years old.
Better: I am twenty-eight years old.
In English, use am/is/are to give someone’s age.
Try three quick self-checks — no points
Which form fits: Our driver ___ outside?
Is. There is one driver, so the sentence is: Our driver is outside.
Complete the negative: I ___ the manager. (not / be)
Am not. The printed subject is I. Write only am not in the gap.
Why do we say: You are welcome?
You takes are, even when we welcome just one person.
Before you start: find the subject, choose its form of be, then check whether you need not.
Speaking: make it personal
Listen to each model, repeat it, then change the details to tell your own story. Speaking practice is for self-assessment and adds no points to the 44-question test.
Practice 1
Introduce yourself to a new colleague. Say your name and where you are today.
Read the model
Hello, I'm Alex. I am at the Riverside office today.
Practice 2
Describe two things in your work bag and say where they are.
Read the model
My notebook is in the front pocket. My keys are in the side pocket.
Practice 3
Tell a friend how you feel and where you are now.
Read the model
I am a little tired, but I am at home now.
Practice 4
Describe your home or neighbourhood in two short sentences.
Read the model
My flat is near the library. The shops are on the next street.
Ready to check your work?
Submit to grade your whole test, OR use 👁 Show Answer per part / per question.
Learning review: what can you do now?
Can you choose am with I, is with one person or thing, and are with you or plural subjects? Can you add not without changing the subject? Try three new sentences about your day without looking at the guide.