Grammar · Verb & Sentence Basics

The Verb Be (Am, Is, Are, Was, Were)

A small verb you use all the time. Learn am, is, are, was and were with the film Trolls.

Grammar › Verb & Sentence Basics › The Verb Be (Am, Is, Are, Was, Were)

The rule in one sentenceUse am / is / are for now. Use was / were for before. Choose the word that goes with the person or thing.

About the film

Trolls is a film from 2016. Poppy is a happy troll. Branch is a grey troll. The Bergens are big and sad. They eat trolls to be happy!

What does “be” do?

“Be” is a small verb. It does not show an action, like run or sing. It tells you what a person or thing is like, or where they are.

Look at Poppy. There is no action here. We just say what Poppy is like:

Poppy is a troll.

Poppy is pink.

Poppy is happy.

The verb has five forms. Three for now, two for before:

Now

Before

I am

I / he / she / it was

he / she / it is

you / we / they were

you / we / they are

Only two forms. Easy!

People say the short form. Learn both:

I am → I’mhe is → he’sshe is → she’sit is → it’syou are → you’rewe are → we’rethey are → they’rewas and were have no short form

Branch was grey. (before) Branch is blue. (now)
The word changes. The idea does not: a person or thing, then a form of “be”, then what they are like.

You use “be” for your name, your age, your job, how you feel, and where you are.

Poppy is a princess.

The Trolls are twenty years old.

Branch is under the ground.

The Bergens are sad.

Visual guide

Grammar focus: the verb be. Is it "The Trolls is happy" or "The Trolls are happy"? An English lesson using the film Trolls.

Rule 1: am, is and are describe what is true right now — match the form to the subject. Poppy is happy. The Trolls are singing. Examples: I am, Branch is, they are.

Rule 2: was and were describe what was true before, and there are only two forms. Trolls was a hit and the songs were everywhere. Examples: I was, Poppy was, they were.

Wrong: "The Trolls is happy." The verb must match the subject, and "the Trolls" is more than one.

Right: "The Trolls are happy." One thing takes is, more than one takes are. Poppy is one troll; the Trolls are a whole village.

Poppy is happy today. In 2016, they were famous. Am, is and are describe now; was and were describe before. More English lessons through film at engmoviereviews.com.

Swipe through Teacher Teddy’s 6-slide illustrated guide to this rule

How to make it

Now am / is / are

person or thing+am / is / are

Poppy is a happy troll.

−

Branch isn’t a happy troll.

am not / isn’t / aren’t

Is Branch happy?

Am / Is / Are + person + …

Before was / were

person or thing+was / were

Trolls was a big hit in 2016.

−

The Bergens weren’t happy.

wasn’t / weren’t

Were the Trolls safe?

Was / Were + person + …

When to use each one

Am / is / are — true now

Who someone is: Poppy is the princess of the Trolls.
What something is like: The Trolls are small and colourful.
Feelings: I am happy. Branch is worried.
Where: The Bergens are in Bergen Town.
Time: It’s hug time!

Was / were — true before

Things that changed: Branch was grey. Now he is blue.
Things in the past: The film was in cinemas in 2016.
Old feelings: The Bergens were sad for a long time.
Old places: Twenty years ago, the Trolls were in the Troll Tree.

Words that help: now or before?

Some words tell you which form to use.

Now → am / is / are

nowtodayat the momentthis yearevery day

Before → was / were

yesterdaylast yearin 2016twenty years agobefore

Common mistakes

❌ The Trolls is happy.

✅ The Trolls are happy.

“The Trolls” is more than one. More than one → are.

❌ I am love this film.

✅ I love this film.

“Love” is a verb. Do not put “am” before a verb. Use “am” with a word like happy: I am happy.

❌ Branch were grey.

✅ Branch was grey.

Branch is one troll. One → was.

❌ The songs in Trolls was great.

✅ The songs in Trolls were great.

“Songs” is more than one. More than one → were.

One more thing

This part is a little harder. You can come back to it later.

“Aren’t I?” We say I am. But in a question with not, we say aren’t I?. We do not say amn’t I.
✅ “I am a troll, aren’t I?”

Practice: choose the right word

Eight questions. Choose one word. You get the answer, and why.

1. Poppy ___ a troll.

Poppy is one troll → is.

2. The Trolls ___ small.

The Trolls are more than one → are.

3. Trolls ___ in cinemas in 2016.

2016 is before → was.

4. The songs ___ great.

Songs — more than one → were.

5. I ___ happy today.

I → always am.

6. ___ Branch happy as a little boy?

“As a little boy” is the past → Was.

7. The Bergens ___ big.

The Bergens — more than one → are.

8. Branch ___ grey before. Now he is blue.

“Before” → was.

Your turn

Choose one word that is true for you. Then listen to your sentence.

I am …

Yesterday, I was …

Every word here is correct. Pick the one that is true for you. Say it out loud too!

Keep going

Next lessonPresent Simple →

More lessons

Present Continuous Present Simple vs Present Continuous There Is / There Are Stative Verbs

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The Verb Be (Am, Is, Are, Was, Were) — English Grammar (A1)