BE vs DO/DOES

English

Verb TO BE vs DO/DOES & DID

A class by Lucina Cabrera de la Rosa

I don't know what to use: is or does, was or did

* “Iz jus puzzeld” is Cat English dialect for “I am puzzled or confused”

What is a verb?

We usually say that verbs are words express actions; however this is not always true.. Let's define verbs. For the purpose of this lesson, we will talk about two verb categories: action verbs and linking verbs.

Linking verbs do not express actions. They serve as connectors between the subject and information that identifies or describes that subject.

Action verbs are words that express "real" actions.

Can you identify when we use do/does versus is/are/am in present, or did versus was/were in past? Before we study this lesson, let’s play a game to see how well you can identify the correct use.

Play

The uses of the verb TO BE

1. A noun plus another noun

As you read in the previous slide, the verb to be is a linking verb, that means it is nor " a real action". The verb to be functions as a connector. The verb to be connects: 1. A noun plus another noun 2. A noun plus an adjective 3. A noun plus a prepositional phrase

Mary is a teacher. Susan is my sister. This is my book.

2. A noun plus an adjective

John and Paul are English. Martha is tall. Charlie is 7 years old.

3. A noun plus a prepositional phrase

The cat is in the kitchen. Mark is from Ireland. The party is at 8 o'clock.

In this section you will study vocabulary that you use with the verb TO BE: nouns, adjectives and prepositional phrases

They're British.

It is beautiful.

He's a veterinarian.

He is six years old.

It is hungry.

She is at home.

Structure of sentences with the verb TO BE

AFFIRMATIVE STRUCTURE

INTERROGATIVE STRUCTURE (DIRECT QUESTION)

Is Marie a musician?

Marie is a veterinarian.

VERB TO BE SUBJECT COMPLEMENT

SUBJECT VERB TO BE COMPLEMENT

*Direct questions begin with the verb and are answered with Yes/No. Yes, she is a musician. / No, she is not a musician.

NEGATIVE STRUCTURE

INTERROGATIVE STRUCTURE (INFORMATION QUESTION)

What occupation is Marie?

Marie isn't an engineer.

SUBJECT VERB TO BE + NOT COMPLEMENT

QUESTION WORD VERB TO BE SUBJECT

*Information questions begin with a question word and are answered with the information. She is a veterinarian.

IMPORTANT: In questions it is neccesary to invert the verb to be and the subject.

Conjugation of the verb TO BE

BE in affirmative

Be in negative

Be in interrogative

I am a teacher. You are a musician. He is at home. She is 20 years old. It is expensive. You are from Poland. We are Italian. They are sad.

I am not an astronaut. You are not a baker. He is not at the university. She is not 16 years old. It is not cheap. You are not from Scottland. We are not French. They are not happy.

Am I a writer? Are you an architect? Is he at the supermarket? Is she 23 years old? Is it big? Are you from Madrid? Are we Argentinian? Are they tired?

The cojugation of the simple present

As we read at the beginning of this presentation, action or dynamic verbs express "real" actions. Action verbs change their form in affirmative sentences, and they need auxiliares to be conjugated in negative and interrogative.

Affirmative sentences

He lives She lives It lives

I live You live We live They live

Negative sentences

Interrogative sentences

I do not live You do not live We do not live They don't live

He does not live She does not live It does not live

Do I live? Do you live? Do we live? Do they live?

Does he live? Does she live? Does it live?

Notice how these verbs indicate an action:

Play

Sing

Run

Go to the movies

Dance

Live in Paris (or in any place)

Conjugation of simple present (DO/DOES)

Simple present in affirmative

Simple present in negative

Simple present in interrogative

I live in Mexico City. You play the piano. He works at a bank. She practices ballet. It costs a lot of money. You speak Polish. We like pasta. They sing sad songs.

I do not live in Yucatan. You do not play the guitar. He does not work at a school. She does not practice karate. It does not work very well. You do not speak Russian. We do not like Chinese food. They do not sing opera.

Do I work hard? Do you play the violin? Does he study at the UAM? Does she dance salsa? Does it cost a lot of money? Do you live in Portugal? Do we like chocolate? Do they get up early?

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Cojugation of the verb to BE in present and the simple present with the auxiliaries DO/DOES

Peter is a veterinarian.He isn't an engineer. Is Marie 17 years old? Yes, she is. Where are my keys? They're on the table. Michael and Vanessa are British. They are not Portuguese.

Peter cures animals. He doesn't build houses. Does Marie have a boyfriend? No, she doesn't. Where do you live? I live in the South of Mexico City. Where do you come from? We come from Veracruz.

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Extra practice for the verb TO BE

Push the button if you need extra practice for the verb to be in negative.

Push the button if you need extra practice for the verb TO BE in affirmative.

Push the button if you need extra practice for the verb to be in interrogative.

Push the button if you need extra practice for the verb to be in interrogative with question words.

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Extra practice for SIMPLE PRESENT

Push the button if you need extra practice for simple present in negative.

Push the button if you need extra practice for simple present in affirmative.

Push the button if you need extra practice for simple present in interrogative.

Push the button if you need extra practice for simple present in interrogative with question words.

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Now, do some exercises to contrast the uses of BE vs DO/DOES

THANKS!

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