Am / is / are — Questions
100% Original Practice Test
Ask questions, find information and give short answers at a neighbourhood learning centre. Study the guide, practise 44 questions, then use what you know in four short speaking tasks.
Your Quick Grammar Guide
On your first visit to a learning centre, use a yes/no question to check something. Use a question word when you need a name, place, time or other detail.
1. How to Form It
Check something: yes or no?
Positive: subject + be + description.
The workshop is free.
Negative: subject + be + not + description.
The workshop is not free.
Question: be + subject + description?
Is the workshop free?
Yes, it is. / No, it isn’t.
Find out a detail
Statement: The workshop is on Tuesday.
Information question: question word + be + subject?
When is the workshop?
Answer: It is on Tuesday.
A question with when needs a time or day. A yes/no answer does not give that detail.
Keep the right partner
I → am: Am I in Group Orange?
He / she / it / one person or thing → is: Is the class leader here?
You / we / they / plural nouns → are: Are the class leaders here?
You takes are when you speak to one person or several people. Do not add do to these questions with be.
2. Clue Words & Patterns
Choose the information you need
Where → place: Where is the painting class? — In Room Five.
Who → person: Who is the new tutor? — Mina.
What → information: What is the centre’s phone number? — It’s on your card.
When / What time → time: What time is lunch? — At twelve.
How old → age: How old is your cousin? — She’s nine.
Change perspective in an answer
A volunteer asks you: “Are you here for the chess club?”
You answer about yourself: “Yes, I am.” / “No, I’m not.”
“Is Amira your tutor?”
“Yes, she is.” / “No, she isn’t.”
“Are the lockers empty?”
“Yes, they are.” / “No, they aren’t.”
The person or thing you mean decides the pronoun. The question word tells you what information to give.
3. Watch Out & Common Mistakes
Leave do out
Wrong: Do you are in the pottery class?
Better: Are you in the pottery class?
Are goes before you. You do not need do with present be.
Keep a plural subject with are
Wrong: Is the pencils on that table?
Better: Are the pencils on that table?
Pencils means more than one, so use are.
Use question word order
Wrong: Where does the club room is?
Better: Where is the club room?
Use Where + is + subject. Leave out does.
Keep positive short answers full
Wrong: Is the printer free? Yes, it’s.
Better: Is the printer free? Yes, it is.
Do not contract the verb at the end of a positive short answer. Negative short forms are fine: No, it isn’t. / No, it’s not.
Try three quick self-checks — no points
Which fits: ___ the scissors in this drawer? (Is / Are)
Are. Scissors takes a plural verb: Are the scissors in this drawer?
A tutor asks you: “Are you in my class?” How do you answer yes?
Yes, I am. You answer about yourself with I. Use the full form am at the end.
Ask about the place: the sewing room / where / is
Where is the sewing room? Put Where first, then is, then the subject.
Before you begin: decide what you need to know, find the subject, and put its form of be before it.
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
A volunteer asks about your first visit. Tell them your name and ask where the welcome desk is.
Read the model
Hello, I'm Noor. Where is the welcome desk?
Practice 2
Ask another learner if they are in the reading group, then answer as that learner.
Read the model
Are you in the reading group? Yes, I am.
Practice 3
Ask about two people near the door and give a short answer.
Read the model
Are those learners your friends? No, they aren't.
Practice 4
Ask the guide about the time of the centre tour and the room for the talk.
Read the model
When is the centre tour? Is the welcome talk in Room Two?
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 put am, is or are before the subject? Can you choose a question word to ask about a place, a person or a time? Practise a yes/no question, a short answer and an information question with a partner.