Verb “To Be” Questions Form (Am, Is, Are): Rules, Examples & Exercises

We use am, is and are to ask simple questions about ourselves, other people and things.

For example:

Are you a student?
Is she your sister?
Is he at home?
Are they your friends?

These are questions with the verb “to be”. In this lesson, you will learn how to make and answer am, is, are questions.

1. Look at These Questions

First, look at these simple conversations.

Are you a student?
Yes, I am.

Is Maria your friend?
Yes, she is.

Is your father at home?
No, he isn't.

Are Tom and Anna at school?
No, they aren't.

Notice that the questions begin with am, is or are.

2. How Do We Make Questions with Am, Is and Are?

Look at this sentence:

She is happy.

To make it a question, move is before she:

Is she happy?

Another example:

They are at home.

Move are before they:

Are they at home?

This is the most important rule in this lesson.

Sentence: Subject + am/is/are + ...

Question: Am/Is/Are + subject + ...?

The subject is the person or thing we are talking about. For example, I, you, he, she, Tom and the dog can all be subjects.

3. Am I...?

We use am with I.

I am → Am I...?

Examples:

I am late. → Am I late?
I am right. → Am I right?
I am early. → Am I early?

More examples:

• Am I in the right room?
• Am I your partner?
• Am I on the right bus?

Remember: We use am only with I.

4. Is He...? Is She...? Is It...?

We use is with he, she and it.

More examples:

• Is he a teacher?
• Is she your sister?
• Is he at home?
• Is she hungry?
• Is it your bag?
• Is it new?

5. Use “Is” with One Person or Thing

We also use is with the name of one person or with one thing.

Examples:

• Is Tom at home?
• Is Anna a student?
• Is your mother busy?
• Is the dog hungry?
• Is the book new?
• Is the car outside?

One person or one thing is called singular.

One person or thing → is

6. Are You...? Are We...? Are They...?

We use are with you, we and they.

More examples:

• Are you tired?
• Are you a student?
• Are we early?
• Are we in the right room?
• Are they your friends?
• Are they hungry?

7. Use “Are” with Two or More People or Things

We use are when we talk about two or more people or things.

Two or more people or things are called plural.

Two or more people or things → are

Examples:

• Are Tom and Anna students?
• Are your parents at home?
• Are the children hungry?
• Are the books new?
• Are the dogs outside?

Compare:

One: Is the book new?
More than one: Are the books new?

One: Is Tom at home?
More than one: Are Tom and Anna at home?

8. Am, Is or Are? Easy Table

Use this table to remember which form you need.

Easy way to remember:

I → am
he / she / it → is
you / we / they → are

9. Change a Sentence into a Question

To make a question, move am, is or are to the front.

Remember:

She is happy.
→ Is she happy?

They are ready.
→ Are they ready?

10. Always Use “Are” with You

We always use are with you.

Examples:

• Are you ready?
• Are you tired?
• Are you a student?
• Are you at home?
• Are you hungry?

We use are when you means one person and also when it means more than one person.

❌ Is you ready?
❌ Am you ready?
✅ Are you ready?

11. Is This...? Is That...? Are These...? Are Those...?

We use is with this and that.

We use are with these and those.

This / that → is
These / those → are

12. Ask About Personal Information

At A1 level, you can use am, is, are questions to ask and answer simple questions about yourself and other people.

Ask About Jobs

Are you a teacher?
Is your father a doctor?
Is Anna a student?
Are they teachers?

With one job, we normally use a or an.

Is she a teacher?
Is he an engineer?

Ask About Nationality

Are you Indian?
Is she British?
Is he Italian?
Are they Spanish?

Ask About Age

We use the verb “to be” with age.

Are you 18?
Is she 10 years old?
Is Tom 20?

Ask About Family and Friends

Is she your sister?
Is he your brother?
Are they your parents?
Is Anna your friend?

Ask About Feelings

Are you tired?
Is she hungry?
Is he happy?
Are they cold?
Is the baby sleepy?

Ask About Places

Is Tom at home?
Is your mother at work?
Are the children at school?
Are your parents at home?
Is the book on the table?

13. Yes/No Questions

Many questions with am, is and are can be answered with yes or no.

These are called Yes/No questions.

Are you a student?
Yes, I am.
No, I'm not.

Is she your sister?
Yes, she is.
No, she isn't.

Are they at home?
Yes, they are.
No, they aren't.

14. How to Give a Positive Short Answer

We do not need to repeat the complete sentence. We can give a short answer.

Important: Do not normally use a contraction at the end of a positive short answer.

✅ Yes, she is.
❌ Yes, she's.

✅ Yes, they are.
❌ Yes, they're.

15. How to Give a Negative Short Answer

In negative short answers, contractions are very common.

A contraction is a shorter form of two words.

is not → isn't
are not → aren't
I am not → I'm not

You can also use the full forms:

No, I am not.
No, he is not.
No, they are not.

In everyday English, I'm not, isn't and aren't are very common.

16. Be Careful with “Am I...?”

Look at this conversation:

Am I late?
Yes, you are.

The first person says I because they are talking about themselves.

The other person answers with you because they are talking to that person.

Am I in the right room?
Yes, you are.

Am I late?
No, you aren't.

17. Do Not Use “Do” or “Does”

We do not use do or does to make these questions.

❌ Does she is a teacher?
✅ Is she a teacher?

❌ Do they are ready?
✅ Are they ready?

❌ Do you are tired?
✅ Are you tired?

Simply move am, is or are before the person or thing.

18. Remember the Question Mark

Put a question mark (?) at the end of a question.

✅ Is she at home?
✅ Are you ready?
✅ Am I late?

Not:

❌ Is she at home.
❌ Are you ready.

19. Common A1 Mistakes

Look at these common mistakes.

Wrong: ❌ She is happy?
Correct: ✅ Is she happy?

Wrong: ❌ Are he tired?
Correct: ✅ Is he tired?

Wrong: ❌ Is they ready?
Correct: ✅ Are they ready?

Wrong: ❌ Am she late?
Correct: ✅ Is she late?

Wrong: ❌ Does he is a teacher?
Correct: ✅ Is he a teacher?

Wrong: ❌ Yes, she's.
Correct: ✅ Yes, she is.

Wrong: ❌ Are you ready.
Correct: ✅ Are you ready?

20. Compare Positive, Negative and Question Forms

21. Quick Summary

Questions with am, is and are are easy when you remember these three patterns:

I → Am I...?
Am I late?

He / She / It → Is...?
Is he tired?
Is she happy?
Is it cold?

You / We / They → Are...?
Are you ready?
Are we late?
Are they at home?

Also remember:

• Put am, is or are before the subject.
• Use is with one person or thing.
• Use are with two or more people or things.
• Always use are with you.
• Do not use do or does.
• Put a question mark (?) at the end.
• Say Yes, she is, not Yes, she's.
• Contractions are common in negative answers: I'm not, isn't, aren't.

Now you are ready to practise am, is, are questions in the exercises below.