Pre-elementary Study Book 2nd edition

Unit 1 – am/is/are

A quick guide to using these materials

Choose the ‘audio‘ tab to listen to the text from your book.

Choose the ‘script‘ tab to listen to a conversation or text and read along with the script.

Choose the ‘grammar‘ tab to see an explanation and examples of the grammar point.

Choose the ‘answers‘ tab to see the answers to any exercises.

My name is Amy …

My name is Paul …

I am from Japan …

I am not angry …

I’m scared of spiders …

Are you American …

Are you American …

Are you hungry …

What is your name? (long form)

What is your name? (short form)

Anna’s story

Questions about Anna

Play the audio file, then follow along reading the script below.

All about you

Dave

Hello Anne. How are you?

Anne

I’m fine, thanks. How are you?

Dave

Great, thank you. What do you do Anne?

Anne

I’m an English teacher at a school in Phuket.

Dave

That’s interesting. Are you married?

Anne

No, I’m single.

Dave

How old are you?

Anne

I’m 27 years old.

Dave

Are you English?

Anne

No, I’m American. I’m from New York.

Dave

Wow, that’s an exciting city!

Anne

It is, but I like Phuket.

Dave

What do your parents do?

Anne

My dad is a taxi driver and my mum is a cook in a restaurant.

Dave

Are they from New York?

Anne

My dad is but my mum is from Baltimore. Now tell me about you.

Dave

I’m an English teacher in Phuket Town. I’m 32 years old and I’m married. My wife’s name is Jane. She’s a teacher too. I’m from Sydney, Australia and Jane is from Birmingham, England. My parents are retired, but Jane’s parents are a doctor and a dentist.

Anne

That’s very interesting.

Dave

It was nice to meet you.

Anne

You too!

The verb-to-be in present simple tense (am / is / are).

(See Unit 5 for present simple)

(See Unit 7 for present simple with I/you/we/they)

Point 1 – The verb-to-be has three forms in present simple tense: am, is, are

1. I am the manager.
2. You are a teacher.
3. He is a tall man.

Point 2 – use am and am not for the pronoun I.

(short forms in brackets)

1. I am English. (I’m English.)
2. I am not hungry. (I’m not hungry.)

Point 2 – use is and is not for the pronouns he, she, it.

1. He is a student. (He’s a student.)
2. He is not a taxi driver. (He’s not a taxi driver.) (He isn’t a taxi driver.)
3. She is skinny. (She’s skinny.)
4. She is not fat. (She’s not fat.) (She isn’t fat.)
5. It is a dog. (It’s a dog.)
6. It is not a cat. (It’s not a cat.) (It isn’t a cat.)

Point 3 – use are and are not for the pronouns you, we, they.

1. You are handsome. (You’re handsome.)
2. You are not fat. (You’re not fat.) (You aren’t fat.)
3. We are thirsty. (We’re thirsty.)
4. We are not ready. (We’re not ready.) (We aren’t ready.)
5. They are waiting. (They’re waiting.)
6. They are not coming. (They’re not coming.) (They aren’t coming.)

Complete the sentences

What is your name?

Rachel

Hello. My name is Rachel. This’s Nick. What’s your name?

Simon

My name’s Simon.

Nick

Nice to meet you Simon. Where are you from?

Simon

I’m from Malaysia. Where are you from?

Rachel

Were from Sydney.

Complete the sentences

  1. He is from Canada.
  2. She is from France.
  3. They are from Germany.
  4. She is from Spain
  1. She is from Thailand.
  2. They are from Japan.
  3. She is from England.
  4. He is from Malaysia.

Answer the questions

  1. Yes, she is.
  2. No, she isn’t.
  3. No, it isn’t.
  4. Yes, it is.
  1. Yes, she is.
  2. Yes, she is.
  3. No, she isn’t.
  4. Yes, she is.