ESL teacher Jennifer Lebedev teaches the proper usage of the English verb 'be' in the present tense. The verb 'be' has three forms in the present tense: 'am', 'is', 'are'. Sentences are formed with a subject and a verb. To make sentences with the verb 'be', use the correct form with the subject. Subjects are nouns and pronouns (people, places and things). Use 'am' for the pronoun 'I', e.g. 'I am hungry. 'Use 'is' for singular nouns (one thing) and the pronouns 'he', 'she', 'it', 'this', e.g. "She is hungry'. Use 'are' for plural nouns (more than one thing) and the pronouns 'we', 'you', 'they', 'these', e.g. 'You are hungry'. We often use short forms of 'be' after pronouns: 'm (am), 's (is), 're (are), e.g. 'I'm hungry', 'Jennifer's hungry', 'They're hungry'. To form the negative, use 'not' after the form of the verb 'be', e.g. 'I am (or I'm) not hungry', 'He is (or He's) not hungry', 'We are (or We're) not hungry'. 'Is not' and 'are not' can also be shortened as 'isn't' and 'aren't', e.g. 'He isn't hungry', 'We aren't hungry'. Always use these guidelines to form proper English sentences with the verb 'be' every time.
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