"To Be" Grammar Reference | Unit 1 Resource

📚 "To Be" — Full Conjugation

Affirmative / Afirmativo

Iam→ I'm(Yo soy / estoy)

Youare→ You're(Tú eres / estás)

Heis→ He's(Él es / está)

Sheis→ She's(Ella es / está)

Itis→ It's(Es / Está)

Weare→ We're(Nosotros somos / estamos)

Theyare→ They're(Ellos son / están)

Negative / Negativo

Iam not→ I'm not(Yo no soy / no estoy)

Youare not→ You aren't / You're not(Tú no eres)

He/She/Itis not→ He isn't / He's not(Él no es)

We/Theyare not→ We aren't / We're not(No somos)

Questions / Preguntas

Am I...?¿Soy yo...?

Are you...?¿Eres tú...?

Is he/she/it...?¿Es él/ella...?

Are we/they...?¿Somos/Son...?

💡

Rule: To make a question, move "to be" BEFORE the subject.
Statement: You are a student. → Question: Are you a student?

🇪🇸 The Big Difference: "Ser" vs "Estar" → Both = "To Be"

English	Español	Which "be"?
I'm Maria.	Soy Maria.	Identity (ser)
I'm a doctor.	Soy doctor/a.	Profession (ser)
I'm from Spain.	Soy de España.	Origin (ser)
I'm tall.	Soy alto/a.	Permanent trait (ser)
I'm happy.	Estoy feliz.	Feeling now (estar)
I'm tired.	Estoy cansado/a.	State now (estar)
I'm at home.	Estoy en casa.	Location (estar)
I'm fine.	Estoy bien.	Condition now (estar)

🧠

Key insight: English uses ONE verb "to be" for everything. Spanish uses TWO (ser and estar). As a Spanish speaker, you already understand the difference — English just simplifies it into one word. "I'm" = "Soy" AND "Estoy"!

⚡ Common Patterns You'll Use

I'm + name

I'm Carlos.
I'm Ana.
Soy Carlos. Soy Ana.

I'm + age

I'm twenty-five.
I'm thirty.
Tengo 25 años. (NOT "I have"!)

I'm from + place

I'm from Mexico.
I'm from Madrid.
Soy de México.

I'm a + job

I'm a teacher.
I'm a student.
Don't forget "a"!

⚠️ Common Mistakes / Errores Comunes

✘ Wrong	✔ Correct	Why?
~~I'm doctor.~~	I'm a doctor.	Need "a" before jobs
~~I have 25 years.~~	I am 25 years old.	English uses "am" not "have" for age
~~I'm agree.~~	I agree.	"Agree" is a verb, not an adjective
~~He are tall.~~	He is tall.	He/She/It = "is" (not "are")