To Be - English Grammar Exercises

The verb "to be" is the most important verb in English. It sounds simple at first, but it is the foundation for describing everything—from who you are to how you feel. Whether you’re saying "I am happy," "She is a doctor," or "They were late, " you’re using "to be" to link subjects with their status or descriptions.

This section covers the essential forms of "to be" in present and past tenses, including negative forms and how to match them correctly with different subjects. You’ll practice with 25 exercises that show you real-world sentence patterns.

Tricky Cases

Watch out for subjects that seem plural but are singular, like certain titles or collective groups. Also, remember that "You" always uses the plural form (are/were) even when you are talking to only one person.

Another common point of confusion is "There is" vs "There are." Always check the noun that follows: "There is a cat" (singular) but "There are two cats" (plural).

What You’ll Practice

The 25 exercises give you sentences where the form of "be" is either missing or incorrect. You’ll practice:

• Choosing between am, is, and are based on the subject
• Past tense forms: was vs were
• Negative sentences and questions
• Agreement with plural subjects and pronouns
• Correcting common errors like "She am" or "They was"

Take your time with each sentence. If you find a pattern confusing, refer back to the tables above. Pay close attention to whether the subject is singular (one) or plural (many)—it’s the key to mastering "to be!"

What You'll Practice

The 25 exercises give you sentences where To Be needs to be used correctly. You'll practice:

• Identifying the correct form based on the subject and context
• Understanding when to use different variations
• Recognizing common errors and how to fix them
• Applying the rules in various sentence structures
• Building confidence through repeated practice