UNIT

1
Subject pronouns and
present simple: to be

Subject pronouns
Singular Plural 1 Write the subject pronouns.
I it 1 Uncle John he
you we 2 the cat 
he you 3 Lucy 
she they
4 my mother 
Subject pronouns show who or what something 5 Mum and Dad 
does or is. 6 my friend and I
I am happy today.
7 the TV 
We use it for things or animals. But if the animal is 8 the books 
a pet, we often use he or she.
Look at the dog. It’s very big.
I love my cat. He’s funny.

We use you for the singular and the plural.

You are a good friend, David.
You are good friends, John and Sarah.

We use they for two or more people, animals or

things.
Where are the boys? They are in the park.
Are dolphins clever? Yes, they are.
Where are the pens? They’re on the table.

Are you
happy, Dad?

Yes, I am!

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 Subject pronouns and present simple: to be Unit 1

Present simple: to be
Affirmative Negative Question
I am (I’m) I am not (I’m not) Am I?
you are (you’re) you are not (you aren’t) Are you?
he is (he’s) he is not (he isn’t) Is he?
she is (she’s) she is not (she isn’t) Is she?
it is (it’s) it is not (it isn’t) Is it?
we are (we’re) we are not (we aren’t) Are we?
you are (you’re) you are not (you aren’t) Are you?
they are (they’re) they are not (they aren’t) Are they?

We use to be to talk about someone’s job,

Short answers
nationality, relationship, or his or her name.
Yes, I am. No, I’m not. He is a doctor. She is my sister.
Yes, you are. No, you aren’t. We are Italian. I am Gianna.
Yes, he is. No, he isn’t.
Yes, she is. No, she isn’t. We also use to be to describe people and things.
Yes, it is. No, it isn’t. We are happy.
Yes, we are. No, we aren’t. The sea is blue.
Yes, you are. No, you aren’t.
In everyday English, we use the short form.
Yes, they are. No, they aren’t.
Hi. I’m Susan.

We use to be with subject pronouns (I, you, he,

etc.) and other words.
He is sad.
The ball is green and red.

2 Complete the sentences with the present

Think about it!
simple of to be.
In English, you can be singular or plural.
1 He is not happy today. ✘
2 You funny. ✔
3 I hungry. ✘
3 Circle the correct answer.
4 The flowers in the garden
1 I / We am a good student.
very pretty. ✘
2 Is you / he clever?
5 The TV in the kitchen. ✘
3 We / She are tired.
6 The forest near our house. ✘
4 He / I is at school.
7 The books on the chair. ✘
5 They / She are English.
8 Anton and Luca friends. ✔
6 Is she / they in the bedroom?
7 We / He aren’t in the garden.
8 She / I isn’t in the kitchen.

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Unit 1 Subject pronouns and present simple: to be

4 Complete the questions with am, are or is. Then answer the questions.
1 Are you at home now? ✔ 5 breakfast ready? ✔
Yes, I am.
2 the clothes on the bed? ✘ 6 she outside the door? ✔

3 the computer on the desk? ✔ 7 we at the right house? ✔

4 I clever? ✔ 8 the cake in the basket? ✘

5 Complete the questions with aren’t

Think about it!
or isn’t.
Affirmative short answers do not use the
1 Aren’t I clever?
short form of to be.
2 she ready?
3 he at work today?
4 the vegetables in
Present simple: to be – the basket?
negative questions 5 they angry about the
Negative questions broken window?
6 the chocolate cake good?
Aren’t I?
Aren’t you? 7 you tired after your walk?
Isn’t he? 8 the teacher happy with
Isn’t she? your work?
Isn’t it?
Aren’t we? Think about it!
Aren’t you?
The negative question for I is Aren’t I?
Aren’t they?

We use negative questions when we

expect the answer: ‘Yes’. 6 Rewrite the sentences and questions
Isn’t it hot today? with subject pronouns.
Yes, it is. It’s very hot. 1 The restaurant is next to the sea.
It is next to the sea.
2 Nikolas isn’t on the bus.

3 Isn’t the actor good?

4 My family and I are very happy to see you.

5 Is Aunt Emilia on the phone?

6 Mum and Dad aren’t in the kitchen.

6
 Subject pronouns and present simple: to be Unit 1

7 Write sentences and questions with to be.

1 you / be / tired / today / ? 5 our friends / not be / at home at the moment
Are you tired today?
2 the sea / be / very warm 6 you / be / ready / for lunch / ?

3 I / not be / tall 7 my parents / be / very busy / at work

4 the books / be / on her desk 8 she / be / at the café now

8 Complete the text with is, isn’t, are or aren’t.

1
Is Aki happy today? Yes, he 2 . It 3 a beautiful
4
day. The sky cloudy; it 5 blue. Aki 6 at school
today. He 7 by a river, watching the ducks. The ducks 8 hungry!
His grandparents 9 at home. They 10 with Aki. Aki’s parents
11
watching the ducks. They 12 at work!

Pairwork

Work in pairs. Take turns to ask and answer the questions below.
• Is it sunny today? • Are you hungry?
• Are you at school now? • Are you thirsty?
• Is your mum at home now? • Is it hot outside?
• Are your school books heavy? • Is it lunchtime?
• Is your best friend with you now? • Is this activity easy?

Writing

Write. Include the points below.

• where you are now
• what the weather is like
• where the other members of your family are

7
Writing 1 Description: writing about yourself

1 Find and write.

1 My hair isn’t curly; it’s straight . ghtaistr
2 I’ve got fair hair and eyes. nereg
3 I’m not from a town. I’m from a . givalle
4 My is 4 Gate Street. asresdd
5 I’ve got five brothers. I’ve got a big . lafimy
6 I’ve got three brothers and a . risset
7 is my favourite sport. btlolfao
8 My hobbies are tennis and . wringad

2 Read Judy’s description. Answer the questions.

Hello! My name’s Judy. I’m twelve years

from
old. I’ve got fair hair and blue eyes. I’m
England. I live in a village with my fam ily.
s.
My mum’s got brown hair and green eye
er.
Her name’s Anna. My dad’s name’s Pet
He’s got dark hair and blue eyes.
My hobbies are drawing and tennis. I play
our
tennis with my best friend, Carla. It’s
favourite sport.

1 How old is Judy? 4 What’s her mum’s name?

twelve
2 Where’s she from? 5 What are her hobbies?

3 What colour eyes has she got? 6 What’s her best friend’s name?

3 Read again. In which paragraph does Judy

1 talk about her best friend?
2 tell us her name?
3 tell us about her family?

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 Description: writing about yourself Writing 1

4 Complete Judy’s writing plan.

Paragraph 1: 1
, say how old I am, say what I
look like, say where I’m from, say where I live
Paragraph 2: say who my parents are and 2
Paragraph 3: my hobbies, 3 and what we do
together

5 Read another description. Complete the description with the sentences from the box.

He’s got curly hair and dark eyes. Hello! My name’s Lucas. 1 I’m ten years old.
Her name’s Elena.
I’ve got curly hair and green eyes. I’m from Argentina.
My hobbies are playing the
2
piano and football.
I live in a town with my family.
My sister’s got dark hair and brown eyes.
I’m ten years old.
3

My brother’s name is Marcos.

4

5
I play the piano and I play
football with my best friend, David. We have a great time.

Now it’s your turn!

6 Use Judy’s writing plan to make notes for your description in the plan below.

My writing plan notes

Paragraph 1: 
Paragraph 2: 
Paragraph 3: 

7 Now use your writing plan notes to write a description about yourself. Write in
your notebook.

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