The meaning of the verb to be is:

“ser” o “estar”

Examples: (when it means “ser”)

I am a woman.You are a man.He is a boy.She is a girl.It is a cat.We are a family.They are students.

When it means “estar”

I am in my house.You are in Aguascalientes.He is in the school.She is in the restaurant.It is in the garden.We are in the classroom.They are in the soccer field.

Contractions with the verb to be

I am I’mYou are You’reHe is He’sShe is She’sIt is It’sWe are We’reThey are They’re

Negative with the verb to be

I am not I’m notYou are not You aren’tHe is not He isn’tShe is not She isn’tIt is not It isn’tWe are not We aren’tThey arenot They aren’t

Questions with the verb to be

be + subject Short answers

Affirmative negative

Are you an engineer? Yes, I am. No, I’m not.

Is he a teacher? Yes, he is. No, he isn’t.

Is she a secretary? Yes, she is. No, she isn’t.

Is it your dog? Yes, it is. No, it isn’t.

Are we friends? Yes, we are. No we aren’t.

Are they students? Yes, they are No, they aren’t.

Ing. Isabel Fernández BeltránCentro de Educación MediaUniversidad Autonoma de Aguascalientes