The verb "to be" (am / is / are)
"To be" (быть) is the most common verb in English. It has three forms in the present: am, is, are.
Three forms
Use am with I. Use is with he, she, it, and names (one person/thing). Use are with you, we, they (more than one). Russian often drops the verb ("Я студент"), but English always needs to be.
- •I am a student.
- •She is my friend.
- •They are at home.
Short forms
In speaking we usually join the words: I am -> I'm, he is -> he's, you are -> you're, they are -> they're.
- •I'm from Russia.
- •He's a doctor.
- •We're happy.
Negative and questions
To make a negative, add not: I am not, she is not (isn't), we are not (aren't). To make a question, put be before the person: Is she here? Are you ready?
- •I am not tired.
- •She isn't at work.
- •Are you a teacher?