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English as an Additional Language/Copular verb to be: present tense
Reference material by Wikibooks contributors. This retains its source identity and is not 411 news reporting.
'To be' is perhaps the most important verb in the English language. It is known as a 'copular verb'. 'Be' is irregular, so its present tense conjugation must be memorized.
The Present Tense
Here is the present tense conjugation, with their IPA equivalents.
I am. /æːm/
You are. /ɑr/
He is. /ɪz/
She is. /ɪz/
It is. /ɪz/
We are. /ɑr/
They are. /ɑr/
The forms of to be contract to the pronoun, shown here:
I'm
You're
He's
She's
It's
We're
They're
These contracted forms are used regularly in speech by native speakers.
Here are some examples.
I am 36 years old.
They are hungry.