Is, Am, Are in English Grammar: Rules and Examples

Is, Am, Are in English Grammar Rules, Examples and Exercises for Beginners

Learning English grammar becomes easier when you understand how to use is, am, and are. These three words are used in everyday English to describe people, places, feelings, jobs, and situations.

In this beginner-friendly lesson, you will learn when to use is, am, and are, how to make positive and negative sentences, how to ask questions, and how to avoid common mistakes. At the end, you can test your knowledge with a short exercise and answer key.

What Are Is, Am, and Are?

Is, am, and are are forms of the verb “to be” in the present tense. We use them to give information about someone or something.

Examples:

• I am happy.
• She is a teacher.
• They are ready.

The correct form depends on the subject of the sentence.

1. When Do We Use “Am”?

Use am with the subject I.

Examples:

Sentence	What it tells us
I am a student.	My role
I am happy.	My feeling
I am at home.	My location
I am ready.	My condition
I am learning English.	An action in progress

Remember: In standard English, say “I am,” not “I is” or “I are.”

2. When Do We Use “Is”?

Use is with he, she, it, and a singular person, animal, or thing.

Examples:

Sentence	What it tells us
He is my friend.	A relationship
She is a doctor.	A job
It is cold today.	The weather
Ali is busy.	A person's condition
The book is on the table.	The location of an object

Tip: When talking about one person or one thing, check whether the subject can be replaced with he, she, or it. If so, is is often the correct choice.

3. When Do We Use “Are”?

Use are with you, we, they, and plural subjects.

Examples:

Sentence	What it tells us
You are helpful.	A quality
We are friends.	A relationship
They are at work.	A location
The children are happy.	Their feelings
My shoes are clean.	The condition of plural objects

Important: Use are with “you,” even when you are speaking to just one person.

4. Is, Am, Are: Quick Reference Chart

Use this chart whenever you are unsure which word to choose.

Subject	Correct form	Example
I	am	I am tired.
He	is	He is tall.
She	is	She is kind.
It	is	It is new.
Ali / Sara	is	Sara is busy.
You	are	You are welcome.
We	are	We are ready.
They	are	They are here.
The boys	are	The boys are outside.

5. How to Make Negative Sentences

To make a negative sentence, add not after is, am, or are.

Positive sentence	Negative sentence
I am busy.	I am not busy.
He is ready.	He is not ready.
She is tired.	She is not tired.
We are late.	We are not late.
They are at home.	They are not at home.

Common short forms:

• is not = isn't
• are not = aren't
• I am = I'm
• he is = he's
• she is = she's
• we are = we're
• they are = they're

In everyday English, contractions such as “isn't” and “they're” are common. In formal writing, choose the form that suits the situation.

Remember: “I am not” is correct. “I amn't” is not standard in ordinary English.

6. How to Ask Questions with Is, Am, and Are

To make a simple question, place is, am, or are before the subject.

Statement	Question
You are ready.	Are you ready?
He is at home.	Is he at home?
She is your sister.	Is she your sister?
They are busy.	Are they busy?
I am late.	Am I late?

You can answer with short responses:

• Are you ready? — Yes, I am. / No, I'm not.
• Is he busy? — Yes, he is. / No, he isn't.
• Are they here? — Yes, they are. / No, they aren't.

Notice that we do not normally answer “Yes, I am” with “Yes, I are.” The subject and verb must agree.

7. Is, Am, Are in Everyday Conversations

Here are some simple examples you can use in daily life.

Conversation 1: Meeting someone

A: Hello! Are you new here?

B: Yes, I am.

A: Is your name Ahmed?

B: No, it isn't. My name is Amir.

Conversation 2: At work

A: Are you busy?

B: Yes, I am.

A: Is the manager here?

B: Yes, he is. He is in the office.

Conversation 3: Talking about family

A: Where are your parents?

B: They are at home.

A: Is your brother at home too?

B: No, he isn't. He is at work.

These conversations show how is, am, and are are used in natural, everyday English.

8. Common Mistakes to Avoid

Learners often make these mistakes when they are starting to speak English.

Incorrect	Correct
I is happy.	I am happy.
He are my friend.	He is my friend.
They is ready.	They are ready.
You is late.	You are late.
She am a teacher.	She is a teacher.
Are he busy?	Is he busy?

Lio's Learning Tip: Before choosing the verb, find the subject first. Ask yourself: Is it “I,” one person or thing, or “you/we/they”? This simple habit can help you make fewer mistakes.

9. Practice Exercise: Choose the Correct Answer

Choose is, am, or are to complete each sentence.

1. I ___ from India.
2. She ___ my friend.
3. They ___ at school.
4. You ___ very helpful.
5. The dog ___ hungry.
6. We ___ ready to leave.
7. My brother ___ at work.
8. The books ___ on the desk.
9. It ___ a beautiful day.
10. I ___ not tired.

Try to answer all ten questions before checking the answers below.

Answer Key

1. am
2. is
3. are
4. are
5. is
6. are
7. is
8. are
9. is
10. am

How did you do?

• 9–10 correct: Excellent work!
• 7–8 correct: Good job. Review the reference chart once more.
• 5–6 correct: Keep practising with the example sentences.
• 0–4 correct: Read the three rules again and try the exercise another time.

This score is just a practice guide, not a formal assessment.

10. Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between is, am, and are?

All three are present-tense forms of the verb “to be.” Use am with “I,” is with “he, she, it” and singular subjects, and are with “you, we, they” and plural subjects.

Do we use “are” with “you”?

Yes. Use “are” with “you” whether you are speaking to one person or several people. For example: “You are right.”

Can we use is, am, and are with action verbs?

They can be used with an -ing verb to form the present continuous tense, as in “I am working” or “She is reading.” However, do not use them unnecessarily before a simple present-tense verb. For example, say “He works every day,” not “He is work every day.”

How can I practise English grammar every day?

Choose one grammar rule at a time. Read a few examples, write five original sentences, say them aloud, and complete a short quiz. Review mistakes and practise again the next day.

Conclusion

Understanding is, am, and are is an important first step in learning English grammar. Remember the basic pattern: I am; he, she, it is; you, we, they are.

Practise positive sentences, negative sentences, and questions until the pattern feels natural. Then try using these forms in your own conversations at home, at school, or at work.

Keep learning with Learn With Lio, and practise a little English every day.