Which sentence is using to be verb correctly?

The children were happy at recess.

The children was happy at recess.

The children were happy at recess.

Which sentence uses the to be verb correctly?

My friends were excited for the game.

My friends was excited for the game.

My friends were excited for the game.

Which sentence is correct?

He are learning to ride a bike.

Choose the sentence with the correct to be verb.

The cats were sleeping on the sofa.

The cats was sleeping on the sofa.

The cats were sleeping on the sofa.

Which sentence is correct?

I was at the library yesterday.

I were at the library yesterday.

Which sentence uses the to be verb correctly?

My little brother is hungry now.

My little brother are hungry now.

My little brother is hungry now.

Which sentence is correct with the to be verb?

The flowers are blooming in the garden.

The flowers is blooming in the garden.

The flowers are blooming in the garden.

Which sentence uses the past to be verb correctly?

The dog was tired after the long walk.

The dog were tired after the long walk.

The dog was tired after the long walk.

Which sentence is correct?

The teachers were in the classroom.

The teachers was in the classroom.

The teachers were in the classroom.

Which sentence is correct?

My little sisters are playing with blocks.

My little sisters is playing with blocks.

My little sisters are playing with blocks.

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TT.6 Use the correct form of to be verbs

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What are to be verbs?

To be verbs are special verbs that tell what someone or something is or was. They do not show action. Instead, they describe a state of being.

Examples:

I am happy.
The dog is big.
We are ready.

Note

To be verbs help tell what something is like or how it exists.

Present tense to be verbs

Use am, is, and are to talk about what is happening now. These are present tense to be verbs.

Examples:

I am a student.
She is my friend.
They are in class.

Note

Use am with I, is with one person or thing, and are with more than one.

Past tense to be verbs

Use was and were to talk about something that already happened. These are past tense to be verbs.

Examples:

I was tired yesterday.
The cat was hungry.
We were at school.

Note

Use was with one person or thing and were with more than one.

Choosing the correct to be verb

To choose the correct to be verb, think about when the sentence happens and who or what the sentence is about.

Examples:

Today I am excited.
Yesterday I was excited.
The kids are quiet now.
The kids were quiet earlier.

Note

Always ask: Is this happening now, or did it already happen?

Common mistakes with to be verbs

Using the wrong to be verb can make a sentence sound incorrect. Make sure the verb matches the subject and the time.

Examples:

Incorrect: I is happy.
Correct: I am happy.
Incorrect: They was here.
Correct: They were here.

Note

Reading your sentence out loud can help you hear the correct verb.

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Common Core alignment: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.1.E – Use verbs to convey a sense of past, present, and future.

Notes for teachers

This free lesson is aligned with CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.1.E. Use it for whole-class instruction, independent practice, or homework.

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