A1 English GrammarCommon Verbs: To Be and To Have
Master the two most essential English verbs: 'to be' and 'to have'. These irregular verbs are used in almost every conversation.
1To Be: Present Tense
'To be' is the most important verb in English. It's irregular and must be memorized. Use 'be' for identity, descriptions, locations, age, and feelings.
'To Be' Present Tense
| Subject | Form | Contraction |
|---|---|---|
| I | am | I'm |
| you | are | you're |
| he/she/it | is | he's / she's / it's |
| we | are | we're |
| they | are | they're |
Examples
I am a teacher.
I am a teacher.
identity/job
She is tall.
She is tall.
description
We are at home.
We are at home.
location
He is 25 years old.
He is 25 years old.
age
2To Be: Negatives and Questions
For negatives, add 'not' after 'be'. For questions, put 'be' before the subject. Contractions are common in spoken English.
'To Be' Negative Forms
| Full Form | Contraction 1 | Contraction 2 |
|---|---|---|
| I am not | I'm not | - |
| he/she/it is not | isn't | he's not |
| we/you/they are not | aren't | we're not |
Examples
I'm not hungry.
I'm not hungry.
negative
Are you tired?
Are you tired?
yes/no question
She isn't here.
She isn't here.
contracted negative
Where are they?
Where are they?
wh- question
3To Have: Present Tense
'To have' is used for possession, relationships, experiences, and with food/drink. It has one irregular form: 'has' for he/she/it.
'To Have' Present Tense
| Subject | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I/you/we/they | have | I have a car. |
| he/she/it | has | She has a cat. |
Examples
I have two sisters.
I have two sisters.
family
She has blue eyes.
She has blue eyes.
physical feature
We have a meeting today.
We have a meeting today.
scheduled event
He has a headache.
He has a headache.
health/feeling
4Have Got (British English)
In British English, 'have got' is common for possession. It means the same as 'have'. Questions and negatives don't use 'do/does' with 'have got'.
'Have' vs 'Have Got'
| Have | Have Got |
|---|---|
| I have a car. | I've got a car. |
| Do you have time? | Have you got time? |
| She doesn't have a pen. | She hasn't got a pen. |
Examples
I've got a new phone.
I've got a new phone.
British: I have a new phone
Have you got any brothers?
Have you got any brothers?
British question
She hasn't got time.
She hasn't got time.
British negative