Verb 'be' - vocabulary and use
Jobs
Before this you should understand the grammar of the verb 'be'. Click here for that page.
One important way to use verb 'be' is with jobs.
Let's look at some:
Subject + verb 'be' + a + job
I am a teacher.
She is a firefighter.
We are policemen.
They are chefs.
Conversation
A: What do you do?
B: I am a teacher. What do you do?
A: I'm a chef.
A: What does your sister do?
B: She's a policewoman. What does your brother do?
A: He's a waiter.
A: What does your husband do?
B: He's a shop assistant. What does your husband do?
A: He's a fireman.
Age
Subject + verb 'be' + age
We use the verb 'be' to describe the state of something - how it is. For example, we say:
I am tall.
because it is true now that 'I' exist as a tall person. We use this structure to say our age because we exist as that age.
I am 34-years-old.
We often do not say 'years old' if it is obvious from context.
I am 34.
We also contract the 'I' and the 'am'.
I'm 34.
Guess what the person is saying:
She is 25.
Answer
He's 17.
Answer
It is 8.
Answer
They're 64.
Conversation
A: How old are you?
B: I am 35. What about you?
A: I'm 24.
A: How old is your sister?
B: She's 42. What about your sister?
A: She's also 42.
A: How old are your children?
B: They're 5 and 7.
From
Blog post on 'From'
Subject + verb 'be' + from + place
I am from London.
We are from Brighton.
I'm from London.
We're from Brighton.
We - Brighton
Answer
They are from Baltimore.
Answer
They're from Baltimore.
They - Baltimore
Answer
You are from Bristol.
Answer
You're from Bristol.
You - Bristol
Conversation
A: Where are you from?
B: I am from London. Where are you from?
A: I'm from Osaka.
A: Where is your mum from?
B: She's from Chicago. What about your mum?
A: She's from Washington.
Make it natural
We use the verb 'be' ALL THE TIME. Make sure you get it right.
Self-introductions
Hi! My name is Tom. I'm 40-years-old and from London. I was a firefighter but now I'm a teacher.
Hello, I'm Jane. I'm 36-years-old and from London. I'm a chef.
You
[Hello / Hi], I'm [name].
I'm [age] and from [______].
I'm a [job].