The affirmative short form of the verb to be
Reminder: the verb to be can be used to describe people, things or events and it is irregular To be, present simple tense.
Magda is tall.
They are generous.
In the present simple, the verb to be also has a short form, which we mainly use in informal conversations:
| TO BE (FULL FORM) | TO BE (SHORT FORM) |
|---|---|
| I am | I'm |
| You are | You're |
| She/He/It is | She's / He's / It's |
| We are | We're |
| You are | You're |
| They are | They're |
She's my best friend.
They're happy in London.
Notes:
- after a name, 's can be the short form of the verb to be or it can indicate belonging.
Anna's cold (= Anna is cold).
Anna's hotel is unique (=The hotel that belongs to Anna is unique).
- 's is also the short form of has used in she has/ he has/ it has. When it indicates possession, it is generally followed by got to avoid confusion. To have, present simple, short form
He's got a new car.
Still facing difficulties with 'The affirmative short form of the verb to be'? Improve your English with Gymglish's English lessons - try our online English course for free now and receive a free level assessment!
What our users say:
Find out about other grammar rules. Improve your English further and test Gymglish, online English lessons.
Tips for learning 'The affirmative short form of the verb to be'? Share them with us!
