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Is, Am, Are Worksheets

All About These 15 Worksheets

This collection of free worksheets focus on teaching students the correct usage of “is,” “am,” and “are” in English grammar. Through these, teachers can help their students understand the proper use of these commonly used forms of the verb “to be” in English. These verbs are essential to form sentences in the present tense.

These worksheets include various exercises and activities, such as identifying the correct form of the verb “to be” in sentences, completing sentences with the correct form of the verb, and writing sentences using the correct form of the verb “to be.” Some of these worksheets also provide explanations of the different uses of “is,” “am,” and “are,” along with examples of correct usage, which are ideal to be given to students as an introduction to the topic.

With these, students can improve their grammar skills and develop a strong understanding of the correct usage of “is,” “am,” and “are.” These verbs are essential for effective communication in English, and using them correctly is crucial to convey the intended meaning of a sentence. By understanding the nuances of grammar rules, students can express themselves more precisely and creatively. By completing these worksheets, students will:

  • Understand the function of “is,” “am,” and “are” in various sentences;
  • Rewrite incorrectly constructed sentences by changing its “to be” verb;
  • And create their own sentences using “is,” “am,” and “are” correctly.

In summary, these worksheets provide students with a comprehensive and structured approach to learning and practicing the proper use of these essential verbs. They help students to develop their grammar skills, improve their writing and speaking abilities, and expand their vocabulary, all of which are crucial for effective communication in English.

Using the Words “Is, Am, and Are” in English

We all are familiar with the basic parts of speech, subject, verb, and object. The subject is the actor, the verb is the action or the doing word, and the object is the person or thing affected by the subject’s action.

There are three types of verbs that we commonly discuss in the English language, action verbs, linking verbs, and helping verbs. Action verbs describe an action, e.g., jumped, arranged, spoke, etc. Helping verbs are used with another verb to express a mood or question, e.g., had, can, would, etc.

Linking verbs connect the subject and the adjective or its complement. Even though you can find many action words in the English language, there is only a handful of linking verbs. The most common true linking words are the following: is, am, are, was, were, has been, be, and seem.

The verbs is, am, and are are used in many English sentences, but where to use them correctly is often challenging and tricky. Since these are linking verbs, we must look at the noun acting. Examples of sentences having these linking verbs are:

Is

  • Mabel is playing the piano
  • He is sitting at his desk
  • Jack is still angry with his mom
  • The cat is eating her food quickly.

Am

  • I am able to swim for an hour
  • I am the owner of this house
  • I am very bored
  • I am doing this thing for my own good.

Are

  • The dog and the cat are playing together
  • Both the countries are surrounded by mountains
  • These boys are used to doing hard work
  • Where are you going?

The Use of “Is”

When the noun or the subject is in its singular form, then we use “is.” Example: “The dog is running.” However, there are instances when the subject seems plural, but still, we use “is” in front of it. You can determine whether the subject ends in –body or -one, and if it does, use “is.” For example: “Everyone is ready to leave the party.”

Other conditions when we can use “is” are the use of “either,” “or,” “neither,” and “nor” in a sentence, or if the subject is a collective noun or non-countable. Take a look at the following examples:

  • Either Cinderella or Tangled is her favorite movie
  • The class is learning about pronouns
  • Milk is very important for your health.

The Use of “Am”

The use of “am” is only possible when it is used with “I.” It means that “am” is only used to refer to oneself. “Am” used with a verb in its present tense indicates that the action is ongoing and changes the tense to present continuous form.

“Am” can be used in simple sentences:

  • I am going to run
  • I am making pizza
  • I am sleeping.

It can also be used to form questions:

  • Am I doing this right?
  • Am I going to see you again?
  • Am I getting a burger with fries?
  • “Am” is also used in negative sentences:
  • I am not listening to you
  • I am not going to the bookstore
  • I am not eating my lunch.

The Use of “Are”

The most common concept is to use “are” with plural subjects. For example: “The dogs are running.” However, other conditions ask us to use “are” in our sentences. For example, when the pronouns are plural indefinite and used to describe an unknown quantity of nouns, we use “are”:

  • Some of them are going to the wedding.
  • All the houses are getting a renovation.
  • Some of the sheep are getting their wool trimmed.

“Are” is also used with compound subjects, or the words “number” and “pair”:

  • Nancy and Jewel are going to the park
  • Germany and Belgium are neighboring countries
  • A pair of birds were shot down by hunters last week.