Hieronder zie je vormen van het werkwoord to be.
| Lange vorm | Korte vorm |
| I am - ik ben | I'm |
| you are - jij/u bent | you're |
| he is - hij is | he's |
| she is - zij is | she's |
| it is - het is | it's |
| we are - wij zijn | we're |
| you are - jullie zijn | you're |
| they are - zij zijn | they're |
Je maakt een zin ontkennend door not achter de vorm van to be te zetten.
| Lange vorm | Korte vorm | Korte vorm |
| I am not | I'm not | |
| you are not | you're not | you aren't |
| he/she/it is not | he's/she's/it's not | he/she/it isn't |
| we are not | we're | we aren't |
| you are not | you're not | you aren't |
| they are not | they're not | they aren't |
Je maakt een zin vragend door de vorm van to be vooraan in de zin te zetten.
| I am | Am I? |
| You are | Are you? |
| He is | Is he? |
| She is | Is she? |
| It is | Is it? |
| We are | Are we? |
| You are | Are you? |
| They are | Are they? |