The negative short form of the verb to be
Reminder: the verb to be is irregular. To be, present simple tense
In negative phrases, to be can also be conjugated in its short form, which is frequently used in informal situations:
| NEGATIVE FULL FORM | NEGATIVE SHORT FORM |
|---|---|
| I am not | I'm not |
| You are not | You're not/ You aren't |
| She/He/It is not | She/He/It's not / She/He/It isn't |
| We are not | We're not / We aren't |
| You are not | You're not / You aren't |
| They are not | They're not / They aren't |
You're not French / You aren't French.
Magda's not a doctor / Magda isn't a doctor.
With the exception of the subject I, all subjects have two negative short forms, which can generally be used interchangeably.
You're not a teacher / You aren't a teacher.
She's not my cousin / She isn't my cousin.
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