Mastering ‘Is, Am, Are’ Sentences: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding how to use the verbs “is,” “am,” and “are” correctly is fundamental to building a solid foundation in English grammar. These verbs, forms of the verb “to be,” are essential for constructing simple sentences, describing states of being, and forming continuous tenses.

This article offers a comprehensive guide to mastering these verbs, providing clear definitions, structural breakdowns, numerous examples, and practice exercises. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this guide will help you confidently use “is,” “am,” and “are” in your everyday communication.

Table of Contents

• Definition of ‘Is, Am, Are’
• Structural Breakdown: Subject-Verb Agreement
• Types and Categories of ‘Is, Am, Are’ Sentences
• Examples of ‘Is, Am, Are’ Sentences
  • Affirmative Sentences
  • Negative Sentences
  • Interrogative Sentences
  • Sentences with Adjectives
  • Sentences with Prepositional Phrases
• Usage Rules: When to Use ‘Is,’ ‘Am,’ and ‘Are’
• Common Mistakes to Avoid
• Practice Exercises
• Advanced Topics: Beyond the Basics
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• Conclusion

Definition of ‘Is, Am, Are’

The words “is,” “am,” and “are” are forms of the verb “to be,” one of the most fundamental verbs in the English language. They are linking verbs, which means they connect the subject of a sentence to a word or phrase that describes or identifies the subject. Unlike action verbs that describe actions, linking verbs describe a state of being, a condition, or an identity.

Specifically:

• Am is used with the first-person singular pronoun I.
• Is is used with third-person singular pronouns (he, she, it) and singular nouns.
• Are is used with first-person plural pronoun we, second-person pronouns (you singular and plural), third-person plural pronouns (they) and plural nouns.

The verb “to be” is also an auxiliary verb (helping verb) used to form continuous verb tenses (e.g., present continuous, past continuous) and passive voice constructions. In these cases, it works in conjunction with a main verb.

Structural Breakdown: Subject-Verb Agreement

The correct usage of “is,” “am,” and “are” hinges on subject-verb agreement. This means the verb form must match the number (singular or plural) of the subject. Here’s a breakdown:

• Singular Subjects: Use “is” or “am.”
  • I am…
  • He/She/It is…
  • The dog is…
• Plural Subjects: Use “are.”
  • We are…
  • You are…
  • They are…
  • The dogs are…

Understanding this agreement is crucial for constructing grammatically correct sentences. Consider these examples:

• Incorrect: I is happy. Correct: I am happy.
• Incorrect: They is here. Correct: They are here.
• Incorrect: The book are interesting. Correct: The book is interesting.
• Incorrect: The books is interesting. Correct: The books are interesting.

Types and Categories of ‘Is, Am, Are’ Sentences

Sentences using “is,” “am,” and “are” can be categorized based on their function or purpose. The main types include:

Affirmative Sentences

These sentences make a statement or assertion. They declare something to be true.

For example: “I am a student,” “She is a doctor,” and “They are friends.”

Negative Sentences

These sentences state that something is not true. They are formed by adding “not” after the verb.

For example: “I am not tired,” “He is not ready,” and “We are not late.”

Interrogative Sentences

These are questions formed by inverting the subject and the verb. For example: “Am I right?” “Is she coming?” and “Are they happy?”

Sentences with Adjectives

These sentences use adjectives to describe the subject. For example: “I am happy,” “The sky is blue,” and “They are tall.”

Sentences with Prepositional Phrases

These sentences use prepositional phrases to provide additional information about the subject’s location or state. For example: “I am at home,” “The book is on the table,” and “They are in the park.”

Examples of ‘Is, Am, Are’ Sentences

The following tables provide extensive examples of sentences using “is,” “am,” and “are,” categorized by type.

Affirmative Sentences

This table showcases affirmative sentences using “is,” “am,” and “are.” Affirmative sentences state a fact or condition.

Subject	Verb	Example Sentence
I	am	I am a teacher.
He	is	He is a talented musician.
She	is	She is my best friend.
It	is	It is a beautiful day.
We	are	We are excited about the trip.
You	are	You are a very kind person.
They	are	They are coming to the party.
The dog	is	The dog is barking loudly.
The cats	are	The cats are sleeping on the couch.
My brother	is	My brother is a software engineer.
My parents	are	My parents are visiting next week.
This book	is	This book is very interesting.
Those flowers	are	Those flowers are blooming beautifully.
The weather	is	The weather is getting warmer.
The children	are	The children are playing in the park.
John	is	John is a doctor.
Mary and John	are	Mary and John are siblings.
The car	is	The car is parked outside.
The clouds	are	The clouds are dark and ominous.
My house	is	My house is located on Main Street.
My friends	are	My friends are always there for me.
The movie	is	The movie is starting soon.
The birds	are	The birds are singing in the trees.
The food	is	The food is delicious.
The music	is	The music is very relaxing.

Negative Sentences

This table presents negative sentences using “is,” “am,” and “are.” Negative sentences deny or contradict a statement.

Subject	Verb + Not	Example Sentence
I	am not	I am not feeling well today.
He	is not (isn’t)	He is not available at the moment.
She	is not (isn’t)	She is not interested in that.
It	is not (isn’t)	It is not raining right now.
We	are not (aren’t)	We are not going to the beach.
You	are not (aren’t)	You are not allowed to enter.
They	are not (aren’t)	They are not happy with the results.
The dog	is not (isn’t)	The dog is not barking.
The cats	are not (aren’t)	The cats are not hungry.
My brother	is not (isn’t)	My brother is not at home.
My parents	are not (aren’t)	My parents are not coming tonight.
This book	is not (isn’t)	This book is not very helpful.
Those flowers	are not (aren’t)	Those flowers are not real.
The weather	is not (isn’t)	The weather is not good today.
The children	are not (aren’t)	The children are not behaving well.
John	is not (isn’t)	John is not here yet.
Mary and John	are not (aren’t)	Mary and John are not related.
The car	is not (isn’t)	The car is not working.
The clouds	are not (aren’t)	The clouds are not moving.
My house	is not (isn’t)	My house is not very big.
My friends	are not (aren’t)	My friends are not available right now.
The movie	is not (isn’t)	The movie is not interesting.
The birds	are not (aren’t)	The birds are not singing today.
The food	is not (isn’t)	The food is not ready yet.
The music	is not (isn’t)	The music is not playing.

Interrogative Sentences

This table provides examples of interrogative sentences using “is,” “am,” and “are.” Interrogative sentences ask a question.

Verb	Subject	Example Sentence
Am	I	Am I late?
Is	he	Is he your brother?
Is	she	Is she a doctor?
Is	it	Is it cold outside?
Are	we	Are we there yet?
Are	you	Are you ready?
Are	they	Are they coming?
Is	the dog	Is the dog friendly?
Are	the cats	Are the cats hungry?
Is	my brother	Is my brother home?
Are	my parents	Are my parents still here?
Is	this book	Is this book yours?
Are	those flowers	Are those flowers real?
Is	the weather	Is the weather nice today?
Are	the children	Are the children behaving?
Is	John	Is John at the meeting?
Are	Mary and John	Are Mary and John still together?
Is	the car	Is the car working?
Are	the clouds	Are the clouds moving?
Is	my house	Is my house clean?
Are	my friends	Are my friends coming over?
Is	the movie	Is the movie good?
Are	the birds	Are the birds singing?
Is	the food	Is the food ready?
Are	you	Are you sure about that?

Sentences with Adjectives

The following table demonstrates how to use “is,” “am,” and “are” with adjectives to describe the subject.

Subject	Verb	Adjective	Example Sentence
I	am	happy	I am happy today.
He	is	tall	He is very tall.
She	is	beautiful	She is beautiful.
It	is	cold	It is cold outside.
We	are	tired	We are tired after the long trip.
You	are	kind	You are very kind.
They	are	excited	They are excited about the news.
The dog	is	playful	The dog is playful.
The cats	are	lazy	The cats are lazy.
My brother	is	busy	My brother is busy with work.
My parents	are	proud	My parents are proud of me.
This book	is	interesting	This book is interesting.
Those flowers	are	colorful	Those flowers are colorful.
The weather	is	sunny	The weather is sunny today.
The children	are	noisy	The children are noisy.
John	is	smart	John is very smart.
Mary and John	are	friendly	Mary and John are friendly.
The car	is	new	The car is new.
The clouds	are	grey	The clouds are grey.
My house	is	clean	My house is clean.
My friends	are	supportive	My friends are supportive.
The movie	is	long	The movie is long.
The birds	are	loud	The birds are loud.
The food	is	delicious	The food is delicious.
You	are	helpful	You are helpful.

Sentences with Prepositional Phrases

This table illustrates the use of “is,” “am,” and “are” with prepositional phrases to add context or location.

Subject	Verb	Prepositional Phrase	Example Sentence
I	am	at home	I am at home right now.
He	is	in the office	He is in the office.
She	is	on vacation	She is on vacation.
It	is	under the table	It is under the table.
We	are	at the park	We are at the park.
You	are	on time	You are on time for the meeting.
They	are	from Spain	They are from Spain.
The dog	is	in the yard	The dog is in the yard.
The cats	are	on the roof	The cats are on the roof.
My brother	is	at school	My brother is at school.
My parents	are	in the garden	My parents are in the garden.
This book	is	on the shelf	This book is on the shelf.
Those flowers	are	in the vase	Those flowers are in the vase.
The weather	is	like summer	The weather is like summer.
The children	are	with their parents	The children are with their parents.
John	is	with Mary	John is with Mary.
Mary and John	are	at a restaurant	Mary and John are at a restaurant.
The car	is	in the garage	The car is in the garage.
The clouds	are	over the mountains	The clouds are over the mountains.
My house	is	near the river	My house is near the river.
My friends	are	at my place	My friends are at my place.
The movie	is	about a hero	The movie is about a hero.
The birds	are	in the sky	The birds are in the sky.
The food	is	on the table	The food is on the table.
You	are	in charge	You are in charge.

Usage Rules: When to Use ‘Is,’ ‘Am,’ and ‘Are’

The following are key rules to remember when using “is,” “am,” and “are”:

• “Am” is exclusively used with the pronoun “I.” This is a straightforward rule with no exceptions.
• “Is” is used with singular nouns and third-person singular pronouns (he, she, it). Examples: “The cat is sleeping,” “He is my brother.”
• “Are” is used with plural nouns and pronouns (we, you, they). Examples: “The students are studying,” “They are my friends.”
• “You” always takes “are,” regardless of whether it refers to a singular or plural subject. Examples: “You are my friend,” “You are all invited.”

Special Cases:

• Collective nouns: Collective nouns (e.g., team, family, committee) can be singular or plural depending on whether they are acting as a unit or as individual members.
  • The team is playing well (acting as a unit).
  • The team are arguing about the strategy (acting as individuals).
• Sentences starting with “There”: The verb agrees with the noun that follows “there.”
  • There is a book on the table.
  • There are books on the table.
• Compound subjects joined by “and”: Generally take “are.”
  • John and Mary are coming to the party.
  • If the compound subject refers to a single entity, use “is.”
    • Mac and cheese is my favorite dish.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Here are some common mistakes learners make when using “is,” “am,” and “are,” along with corrections:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
I is happy.	I am happy.	“Am” is always used with “I.”
He are here.	He is here.	“Is” is used with singular subjects like “he.”
They is late.	They are late.	“Are” is used with plural subjects like “they.”
The dog are barking.	The dog is barking.	“Is” is used with singular nouns like “dog.”
The students is studying.	The students are studying.	“Are” is used with plural nouns like “students.”
You is my friend.	You are my friend.	“Are” is always used with “you,” regardless of whether “you” is singular or plural.
There is many books.	There are many books.	The verb agrees with the noun that follows “there.”
John and Mary is coming.	John and Mary are coming.	Compound subjects joined by “and” generally take “are.”
The team is arguing. (when they are arguing individually)	The team are arguing.	When the team members are acting individually, “are” is used.
She am a doctor.	She is a doctor.	“Is” is used with “she.”

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding with the following exercises. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb “to be” (is, am, are).

Exercise 1: Basic Subject-Verb Agreement

Question	Answer
1. I ______ a student.	am
2. He ______ a teacher.	is
3. They ______ friends.	are
4. We ______ happy.	are
5. You ______ kind.	are
6. It ______ cold today.	is
7. The dog ______ barking.	is
8. The cats ______ sleeping.	are
9. My brother ______ tall.	is
10. My parents ______ proud.	are

Exercise 2: Negative Sentences

Question	Answer
1. I ______ not tired.	am
2. He ______ not here.	is
3. They ______ not late.	are
4. We ______ not ready.	are
5. You ______ not allowed.	are
6. It ______ not raining.	is
7. The dog ______ not barking.	is
8. The cats ______ not hungry.	are
9. My brother ______ not at home.	is
10. My parents ______ not coming.	are

Exercise 3: Interrogative Sentences

Question	Answer
1. ______ I right?	Am
2. ______ he your brother?	Is
3. ______ they coming?	Are
4. ______ we there yet?	Are
5. ______ you ready?	Are
6. ______ it cold outside?	Is
7. ______ the dog friendly?	Is
8. ______ the cats hungry?	Are
9. ______ my brother home?	Is
10. ______ my parents still here?	Are

Advanced Topics: Beyond the Basics

For advanced learners, consider these nuanced aspects of using “is,” “am,” and “are”:

• Subjunctive Mood: Although less common, the subjunctive mood uses “be” instead of “is,” “am,” or “are” in certain contexts, particularly in formal writing or expressing wishes, demands, or suggestions. Example: I suggest that he be present at the meeting. (More common: I suggest that he is present at the meeting.)
• Existential “There”: As mentioned before, sentences starting with “There is/are” can be tricky. The verb agrees with the noun that *follows* the verb. Understanding this structure is vital for avoiding errors.
• Nominal Clauses as Subjects: When a clause acts as the subject of a sentence, it usually takes a singular verb (“is”). Example: What he says is important.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Q: Why is it important to learn “is,” “am,” and “are”?

   A: These verbs are fundamental to English grammar. They are used in almost every sentence, whether as linking verbs or auxiliary verbs. Mastering them ensures clear and correct communication.

2. Q: How do I remember which verb to use with each pronoun?

   A: A simple rule is: “Am” goes with “I,” “is” goes with singular subjects (he, she, it), and “are” goes with plural subjects (we, you, they). Practice and repetition will solidify this knowledge.

3. Q: What if “you” refers to only one person? Do I still use “are”?

   A: Yes, “you” always takes “are” regardless of whether it refers to a single person or a group of people. This is a consistent rule in English grammar.

4. Q: Are there any exceptions to the subject-verb agreement rules?

   A: Yes, there are exceptions, such as with collective nouns (e.g., team, family) and sentences starting with “there.” These require careful consideration of the context and meaning of the sentence.

5. Q: How can I improve my understanding of these verbs?

   A: Practice is key! Do exercises, read English texts, and pay attention to how native speakers use these verbs. Also, don’t hesitate to ask for feedback from teachers or language partners.

6. Q: What is a linking verb?

   A: A linking verb connects the subject of a sentence to a word or phrase that describes or identifies the subject. “Is,” “am,” and “are” are common linking verbs, as are verbs like “seem,” “become,” and “look.”

7. Q: Can “is,” “am,” and “are” be used in tenses other than the present tense?

   A: Yes, they are forms of the verb “to be,” which has different forms for different tenses. For example, the past tense forms are “was” and “were.” The future tense uses “will be.”

8. Q: How do I use “is,” “am,” and “are” in continuous tenses?

   A: In continuous tenses (e.g., present continuous, past continuous), “is,” “am,” and “are” act as auxiliary verbs, followed by the main verb in its -ing form. For example: “I am studying,”

   “She is working,” “They are playing.”

Conclusion

Mastering the use of “is,” “am,” and “are” is a crucial step in learning English grammar. By understanding the rules of subject-verb agreement, recognizing common sentence structures, and practicing regularly, you can confidently use these verbs in your everyday communication.

This guide has provided you with a comprehensive overview, numerous examples, and practical exercises to solidify your understanding. Keep practicing, and you’ll soon find that using “is,” “am,” and “are” becomes second nature!