Warm-up — 15 min
Introduce I am, you are, he/she/it is, we are, they are. Practise pronunciation and intonation and use flashcards.
Vocabulary lesson plan & materials
Free Time and Hobbies
Part 4 — To Be in the Present Tense: am, is, are · A1–A2. Grammar, reading, speaking, role-play and writing through school, friends, family, hobbies and everyday situations.
Lesson Plan
Objective: use am, is, and are correctly in affirmative and negative sentences, form questions, and practise the target forms through reading, speaking and role-play.
Reading Passage — 15 min
Read the short Sarah and Tom passage and identify forms of the verb to be.
Grammar Explanation — 10 min
Explain affirmative, negative, and question forms of am, is, and are.
Activity 1 — 15 min
Students create affirmative and negative sentences in pairs.
Activity 2 — 15 min
Students form and practise questions with am, is, and are.
Activity 3 — 15 min
Students use the role-play scenarios to practise the target forms.
Closure — 5 min
Review the main forms and their use.
Homework — 5 min
Write five sentences about yourself or a friend using the present tense of to be.
Materials
- Whiteboard and markers
- Reading handouts
- Flashcards with forms of to be
- Role-play scenario slips
- Timer or stopwatch
- Worksheets
To Be in the Present Tense
am · is · are
Affirmative
I am · You are · He / She / It is · We are · They are
I am a student.
They are happy.
Negative
am not · is not · are not
You are not late.
She is not here.
Questions
Am I...? · Are you...? · Is he / she / it...? · Are we / they...?
Are you from Italy?
Is he a doctor?
| Subject | Form |
|---|---|
| I | am |
| You | are |
| He / She / It | is |
| We / They | are |
Vocabulary in Context
Words drawn from the source readings and role-play activities.
- student
- teacher
- friend
- family
- class
- school
- kind
- funny
- tall
- clever
- friendly
- helpful
- happy
- busy
- cousin
- parents
- grandparents
- aunt
- uncle
- trip
- hobbies
- ready
- well
- excited
Reading Passages & Handouts
Sarah and Tom
A1My name is Sarah. I am a student. Sarah and Tom are friends. Tom is a teacher. He is from Canada. Sarah is from Mexico. They are in the same class.
Class Questions
- What is the passage mainly about?
- Which sentences use the present tense of "to be"?
- What information do these forms give us?
Answers
- It introduces Sarah and Tom and gives basic information about them.
- Examples include “My name is Sarah,” “I am a student,” “Sarah and Tom are friends,” “Tom is a teacher,” “He is from Canada,” “Sarah is from Mexico,” and “They are in the same class.”
- They give information about identity, occupation, origin, and relationships.
I Am Lily
A1This is me. My name is Lily and I am eight years old.
I have got brown hair and blue eyes. I am not very tall, but I like to play basketball.
I have got a pet dog — Max. He is a small, fluffy dog and he likes to play with his tail.
I am in grade three at school. My favourite subject is Art because I like to paint.
I also like to read books. My favourite book is about a girl who goes on an adventure to find treasure.
I am happy when I am with my family and friends. We like to go to the park and have picnics.
Sometimes we play board games at home. I am excited to learn more things at school and make new friends.
This is me!
Task 1 — Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the words from the original text.
Word bank: is (6), have got (2), am (6)
This _____(1) me. My name _____(2) Lily and I _____(3) eight years old.
I _____(4) brown hair and blue eyes. I _____(5) not very tall, but I like to play basketball.
I _____(6) a pet dog — Max. He _____(7) a small, fluffy dog and he likes to play with his tail.
I _____(8) in grade three at school. My favourite subject _____(9) Art because I like to paint.
I also like to read books. My favourite book _____(10) about a girl who goes on an adventure to find treasure.
I _____(11) happy when I _____(12) with my family and friends. We like to go to the park and have picnics.
Sometimes we play board games at home. I _____(13) excited to learn more things at school and make new friends. This _____(14) me!
Answers
- 1. is
- 2. is
- 3. am
- 4. have got
- 5. am
- 6. have got
- 7. is
- 8. am
- 9. is
- 10. is
- 11. am
- 12. am
- 13. am
- 14. is
Task 2 — Choose the Correct Answer
- How old is Lily?
- What colour is Lily's hair?
- What colour are Lily's eyes?
- What is Lily's favourite subject?
- What is Lily's dog's name?
- What does Max like to do?
- What is Lily's favourite book about?
- What does Lily like to do with family and friends?
- What grade is Lily in?
- When is Lily happy?
Answers
- 1. c
- 2. b
- 3. b
- 4. c
- 5. a
- 6. c
- 7. b
- 8. b
- 9. c
- 10. c
Task 3 — True or False
1. Lily is ten years old.
TrueFalse
2. Lily has blonde hair and green eyes.
TrueFalse
3. Lily doesn't like to play basketball.
TrueFalse
4. Lily's pet dog is Max.
TrueFalse
5. Max is a big dog.
TrueFalse
6. Lily's favourite subject is Maths.
TrueFalse
7. Lily doesn't like to read books.
TrueFalse
8. Lily's favourite book is about a girl who goes on an adventure to find treasure.
TrueFalse
9. Lily likes to spend time with her family and friends.
TrueFalse
10. Lily doesn't like to learn new things at school.
TrueFalse
Answers
- False — Lily is eight years old.
- False — Lily has brown hair and blue eyes.
- False — Lily likes to play basketball.
- True.
- False — Max is a small, fluffy dog.
- False — Lily's favourite subject is Art.
- False — Lily likes to read books.
- True.
- True.
- False — Lily is excited to learn new things at school.
My Friend Mark
A1This is my friend, Mark. He is very kind and funny. He has got short black hair and brown eyes.
Mark is also very tall and he likes to wear colourful clothes. He is a good listener and always makes me feel better when I'm sad.
Mark is also very clever. He studies hard and gets good grades in school. He has got many friends because he is friendly and helpful.
We like to play football together on the weekends. Mark is a great player and he always scores lots of goals.
He also plays video games very well. We often play together online after school. Mark is my best friend!
Task 1 — Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the words from the original text.
Word bank: has got (2), is (8)
This _____(1) my friend, Mark. He _____(2) very kind and funny. He _____(3) short black hair and brown eyes.
Mark _____(4) also very tall and he likes to wear colourful clothes. He _____(5) a good listener and always makes me feel better when I'm sad.
Mark _____(6) also very clever. He studies hard and gets good grades in school. He _____(7) many friends because he _____(8) friendly and helpful.
We like to play football together on the weekends. Mark _____(9) a great player and he always scores lots of goals.
He also plays video games very well. We often play together online after school. Mark _____(10) my best friend!
Answers
- 1. is
- 2. is
- 3. has got
- 4. is
- 5. is
- 6. is
- 7. has got
- 8. is
- 9. is
- 10. is
Task 2 — Choose the Correct Answer
- What is Mark's hair colour?
- What colour are Mark's eyes?
- What can you say about Mark?
- How tall is Mark?
- What does Mark like to wear?
- What is one of Mark's hobbies?
- Why has Mark got many friends?
Answers
- 1. b
- 2. c
- 3. b
- 4. d
- 5. b
- 6. b
- 7. c
Task 3 — True or False
1. Mark is kind and funny.
TrueFalse
2. Mark has got long black hair and blue eyes.
TrueFalse
3. Mark likes to wear colourful clothes.
TrueFalse
4. Mark is a bad listener.
TrueFalse
5. Mark is not clever and doesn't get good grades.
TrueFalse
6. Mark has not got many friends.
TrueFalse
7. Mark doesn't like to play football.
TrueFalse
8. Mark does not play video games very well.
TrueFalse
Answers
- True.
- False — he has got short black hair and brown eyes.
- True.
- False — he is a good listener.
- False — he is clever and gets good grades.
- False — he has got many friends.
- False — he likes to play football.
- False — he plays video games very well.
My Friends
A1My name is Mike. I have got many friends. They are all very different.
Sarah is my best friend. She is very kind and funny. She has got long hair and brown eyes. Her favourite colour is blue.
Tom is also my friend. He is tall and he has got short hair. He is very good at sports. He likes to play football and basketball. His favourite food is pizza.
Emily is my friend too. She is very clever. She always reads books. She has got glasses and curly hair. Her favourite subject at school is maths.
John is my friend as well. He is very quiet, but he draws very well. He has got a lot of pencils and paints. He likes to draw animals.
We are all friends and we like to spend time together.
Task 1 — Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the words from the original text.
Word bank: is (13), have got, are (2), has got (4)
My name _____(1) Mike. I _____(2) many friends. They _____(3) all very different.
Sarah _____(4) my best friend. She _____(5) very kind and funny. She _____(6) long hair and brown eyes. Her favourite colour _____(7) blue.
Tom _____(8) also my friend. He _____(9) tall and he _____(10) short hair. He _____(11) very good at sports. He likes to play football and basketball. His favourite food _____(12) pizza.
Emily _____(13) my friend too. She _____(14) very clever. She always reads books. She _____(15) glasses and curly hair. Her favourite subject at school _____(16) maths.
John _____(17) my friend as well. He _____(18) very quiet, but he draws very well. He _____(19) a lot of pencils and paints. He likes to draw animals.
We _____(20) all friends and we like to spend time together.
Answers
- 1. is
- 2. have got
- 3. are
- 4. is
- 5. is
- 6. has got
- 7. is
- 8. is
- 9. is
- 10. has got
- 11. is
- 12. is
- 13. is
- 14. is
- 15. has got
- 16. is
- 17. is
- 18. is
- 19. has got
- 20. are
Task 2 — Choose the Correct Answer
- Who is Mike's best friend?
- What is Sarah like?
- What is Tom good at?
- What is Emily's favourite subject?
- What is John good at?
- What does Sarah look like?
- What is Tom's favourite food?
- What does Emily like to do?
- What do Mike and his friends like to do?
Answers
- 1. d
- 2. b
- 3. c
- 4. a
- 5. c
- 6. a
- 7. a
- 8. c
- 9. a
Task 3 — True or False
1. Mike has got a lot of friends.
TrueFalse
2. Sarah is Mike's best friend.
TrueFalse
3. Sarah has got short hair and blue eyes.
TrueFalse
4. Tom is good at sports.
TrueFalse
5. Tom's favourite food is sushi.
TrueFalse
6. Emily likes to read books.
TrueFalse
7. Emily's favourite subject is history.
TrueFalse
8. John is very talkative.
TrueFalse
9. John likes to draw animals.
TrueFalse
10. Mike and his friends don't like to spend time together.
TrueFalse
Answers
- True.
- True.
- False — Sarah has long hair and brown eyes.
- True.
- False — Tom's favourite food is pizza.
- True.
- False — Emily's favourite subject is maths.
- False — John is very quiet.
- True.
- False — they like to spend time together.
My Family
A1–A2My name is Jim. I have got a big family. My mother's name is Sarah and my father's name is Tom. I have got one brother — Jack — and one sister — Emily.
We all live together in a house. My grandparents also live with us; they are my mother's parents. They are very kind to us. My grandfather likes to tell us stories about his childhood. My grandmother likes to cook for us.
My aunt and uncle live next door to us. They have got two children, my cousins, Jane and Peter. Jane is my age and we like to play games together. Peter is younger than us, but he is very cute.
My parents are very busy, but they always find time for us. We like to go on trips together.
I love my family very much. They are the most important people in my life.
Task 1 — Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the words from the original text.
Word bank: grandmother, grandfather, uncle, are (3), parents (2), brother, is (6), sister, aunt
My name _____(1) Jim. I have got a big family. My mother's name _____(2) Sarah and my father's name _____(3) Tom. I have got one _____(4) — Jack — and one _____(5) — Emily.
We all live together in a house. My grandparents also live with us; they _____(6) my mother's _____(7). They _____(8) very kind to us. My _____(9) likes to tell us stories about his childhood. My _____(10) likes to cook for us.
My _____(11) and _____(12) live next door to us. They have got two children, my cousins, Jane and Peter. Jane _____(13) my age and we like to play games together. Peter _____(14) younger than us, but he _____(15) very cute.
My _____(16) are very busy, but they always find time for us. We like to go on trips together.
I love my family very much. They _____(17) the most important people in my life.
Answers
- 1. is
- 2. is
- 3. is
- 4. brother
- 5. sister
- 6. are
- 7. parents
- 8. are
- 9. grandfather
- 10. grandmother
- 11. aunt
- 12. uncle
- 13. is
- 14. is
- 15. is
- 16. parents
- 17. are
Task 2 — Choose the Correct Answer
- How many siblings does Jim have?
- Who lives with Jim's immediate family?
- What does Jim's grandfather like to do?
- Who is Peter?
- Where do Jim's aunt and uncle live?
- What is the name of Jim's sister?
- What does Jim's family like to do together?
- Who does Jim like to play games with?
- What is Jim's grandparents' relationship to his mother?
- What is Jim's attitude towards his family?
Answers
- 1. b
- 2. c
- 3. b
- 4. b
- 5. b
- 6. d
- 7. a
- 8. a
- 9. a
- 10. b
Task 3 — True or False
1. Jim has a small family.
TrueFalse
2. Jim's mother's name is Sarah.
TrueFalse
3. Jim's father's name is Jack.
TrueFalse
4. Jim has two sisters.
TrueFalse
5. Jim's grandparents are his father's parents.
TrueFalse
6. Jim's grandfather likes to cook for the family.
TrueFalse
7. Jim's aunt and uncle live far away.
TrueFalse
8. Jim's cousins are Jane and Peter.
TrueFalse
9. Jane is younger than Jim.
TrueFalse
10. Jim's family never goes on trips together.
TrueFalse
Answers
- False — Jim has a big family.
- True.
- False — Jim's father's name is Tom; Jack is his brother.
- False — Jim has one sister, Emily.
- False — the grandparents are his mother's parents.
- False — his grandmother likes to cook; his grandfather tells stories.
- False — his aunt and uncle live next door.
- True.
- False — Jane is Jim's age.
- False — the family likes to go on trips together.
Task 4 — Answer the Questions
- Who is in Jim's immediate family?
- Where do Jim's grandparents live?
- What does Jim's grandfather like to do?
- What does Jim's grandmother like to do?
- Who lives next door?
- How many cousins does Jim have, and what are their names?
- What does Jim's family like to do together?
- Why is Jim's family important to him?
Answers
- His mother Sarah, father Tom, brother Jack, sister Emily, and Jim.
- His grandparents live with the family in their house.
- His grandfather likes to tell stories about his childhood.
- His grandmother likes to cook for the family.
- His aunt and uncle live next door.
- He has two cousins, Jane and Peter.
- They like to go on trips together.
- He loves them very much and says they are the most important people in his life.
Role-Play Scenarios
Meet and Greet
Two students meet for the first time in a classroom.
A: Hi, I'm [Name]. I am a student.
B: Hello, I'm [Name] too. I am a student too.
Shopping at a Store
A customer and a shopkeeper in a small grocery store.
A: Excuse me, how much is this?
B: That is $5.
Describing Hobbies
Two friends talk about their hobbies.
A: What are your hobbies?
B: My hobbies are reading and swimming.
Family Introduction
Family members introduce themselves at a reunion.
A: Hi, I'm [Name]. I am your cousin.
B: Hello, [Name]. I am your aunt.
Job Interview
An interviewer asks a job applicant to introduce themselves.
A: Tell me about yourself.
B: I am a teacher.
Classroom Scene
A teacher checks whether students are ready.
A: Are you ready for the quiz?
B: Yes, we are ready.
Planning a Trip
Two friends plan a weekend trip.
A: Where are we going this weekend?
B: We are going to the beach.
Buying Tickets
A student asks about museum ticket prices.
A: How much are the tickets to the museum?
B: The tickets are $10 each.
At the Doctor's Office
A patient tells a doctor how they feel.
A: Doctor, I am not well.
B: What are your symptoms?
To Be Worksheets
Worksheet 1 — Affirmative Sentences
Complete with am, is, or are.
- I ________ a student.
- She ________ a teacher.
- He ________ my friend.
- We ________ happy.
- You ________ kind.
Answers
- 1. am
- 2. is
- 3. is
- 4. are
- 5. are
Worksheet 2 — Negative Sentences
Rewrite using am not, is not, or are not.
- I am hungry. → I ________ ________ hungry.
- She is tired. → She ________ ________ tired.
- He is sad. → He ________ ________ sad.
- We are busy. → We ________ ________ busy.
- You are excited. → You ________ ________ excited.
Answers
- 1. am not
- 2. is not
- 3. is not
- 4. are not
- 5. are not
Worksheet 3 — Questions
Turn the sentences into questions.
- I am a student. → ________ ________ a student?
- She is a teacher. → ________ ________ a teacher?
- He is my friend. → ________ ________ my friend?
- We are happy. → ________ ________ happy?
- You are kind. → ________ ________ kind?
Answers
- 1. Am I
- 2. Is she
- 3. Is he
- 4. Are we
- 5. Are you
Writing Assignments
Homework
Write five sentences about yourself or a friend using the present tense of to be.
Personal Essay Topics
- My best friend and what I like about them.
- How I make new friends.
- My favourite thing to do with my friends.
General Essay Topics
- Friends are important in our lives. Do you agree?
- Some people believe that it's better to have many friends. Do you agree or disagree?
- True friends will always be there for you. What do you think?
- Making friends is easy for some people, but difficult for others. Why do you think this is?
- It's important to choose your friends wisely. Do you agree?