GRAMMAR LESSON ONE: Verb "To Be" and Present Continuous

Hi everyone!

So here we are, with the first grammar lesson of the blog. Though I didn't want to post grammar when I first thought about writing a blog, I think it's useful for all of us to have a look at it through videos and some examples. So here we go, the verb "To Be":


The verb “To be” is said to be the most changing verb of the English language, constantly changing form, sometimes without much of a discernible pattern. Considering that we use it a lot, it is really too bad that the verb “To be” has to be the most irregular, slippery verb in the language.

Depending on the tense you're trying to form, you will find it different ways:

Present Tense
I am	We are
You are	You are
He/She/It is	They are

Past Tense
I was	We were
You were	You were
He/She/It was	They were

Perfect Form (past participle) I have been, etc.

Progressive Form (present participle) I am being, etc.

It is also used to say what you are, what you do, where you are from, etc.... Example:

I am an architect
She is a doctor
We are all students
They are not from here
He is a happy person

Simple Questions:

We create simple yes/no questions by inverting the order of subject and the “To be” verb.

Is your brother taller than you?

Am I bothering you?

Were they embarrassed by the comedian?

The verb “To be” most frequently works in conjunction with another verb: “He is playing the piano,” “She will be arriving this afternoon.” Occasionally, though, the verb will stand by itself, alone, in a sentence. This is especially true in simple, brief answers to questions.

“Who's going to the movies with me?”

“I am”

“Who's responsible for this mess in the bathroom?”

“She is.”

The verb "To be" gets paired with another verb in gerund (-ING ending) to make the Present continuous.

Present Continuous

It's used to make statements of something that is happening at the moment. Example:

I am studying right now, I cannot go out

They are sleeping upstairs, so don't bother them

She wants to go with her friends, but she is cleaning the house.

In an affirmative form, the verb "To be" is followed by a verb in gerund (-ING ending). Example:

She is having a coffee at the coffee shop as usual

We are driving fast because we're running a bit late

They are teaching us English, so we should pay attention

I'm reading this book now, but I'm not* really into it

In a negative form, the verb "To be" appears as "am not" or "I'm not" for I, "is not" or "isn't" for He/She/It and "are not" or "aren't" for You/We/They. Examples:

She is not having a coffee at the coffee shop as usual, that's* weird

We aren't driving fast because we have plenty of time

They are not teaching us English, it´s* math class now

I'm not reading this book now, I got tired of it

In an interrogative form, the verb "To be" is at the beginning of the question, followed by the subject and the verb in gerund (-ING ending). Example:

Is she having a coffee at the coffee shop as usual?

Are we driving fast because we don't have time?

Aren't they teaching us English?

*You find here a verb "To be" out of a Present continuous.

Let's see some examples of how to use it in a normal situation:

Suburgatory, Episode 1x01: ARE YOU CALLING MY BRA UGLY?

DALIA

That's so lame your mom died, beyotch.

TESSA

My mom, heh, didn't die. She's just gone.

DALIA

So you became a lesbian to get back at her.

TESSA

What?

DALLAS

Tessa? If you need any help

or you have any questions or you feel lost

or unattractive in any way just let me know.

TESSA
I know why we're doing all this. It´s because your mom feels sorry for me.
DALIA
No. It's because my mom wants to screw your dad.

TESSA

Doesn't your mom screw your dad?

DALIA

Heh, no.

DALLAS
The suspense is killing me. I'm dying to see how cute you girls look.
DALIA
I'm buying* this
DALLAS
Oh, my godness, Tessa. Look at you. That is a keeper. That top is just off to the chizzy, is it not?
This is going* straight to the register.
Oh dear Lord, Who did this to you?
TESSA
This? I ordered it from a sporting-goods catalogue.
What's the problem?
DALLAS
Well, it's downright orthopedic. It's like a giant ACE bandage.
Like something a burn victim would wear.

TESSA

Are you calling my bra ugly?

DALLAS

Yes, honey, I am because it is ugly. And I would love to find one for you

that isn't. Along with a nice heterosexual dress shoe.

So after the video, let's explain what we have:

Verb "To be" as a normal verb. It is marked with BOLD. As in:

DALIA

That's so lame your mom died, beyotch. (0:09)

DALLAS
Oh, my godness, Tessa. Look at you. That is a keeper. That top is just off to the chizzy, is it not? (0:44)

DALLAS

Yes, honey, I am because it is ugly. And I would love to find one for you

that isn't. (1:15)

Present continuous is underlined, and don't forget it is used to express an action happening now. As in:

TESSA
I know why we're doing all this. It´s because your mom feels sorry for me. (0:27)
DALLAS
The suspense is killing me. I'm dying to see how cute you girls look. (0:39)

TESSA

Are you calling my bra ugly? (1:13)

DALLAS
Yes, honey, I am because it is ugly.(1:15)

There are a couple of sentences marked with a * because there, the Present continuous is used as future. As in:

DALIA
I'm buying* this (0:43)
DALLAS
This is going* straight to the register. (0:52)


Also, I've crossed off the lines that were not necessary for this grammar explanation, because I thought it´d be better to just concentrate on that part.

Hope you've liked it and see you soon!

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