I am, you are, it is: how to use the verb be
Short answer: Use am with I, are with you and is with it. The verb be tells who or what someone or something is, or what it is like: I am happy, you are my friend, it is a cat. In English you must not leave out am, are or is. Do not say I happy.
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At a glance
| Subject | Verb be | Short form | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | am | I’m | I am ready. |
| you | are | you’re | You are kind. |
| it | is | it’s | It is a cat. |
In short
- am goes with I, are with you, is with it.
- Do not leave out am, are or is.
- Say I am six. Do not use have for age.
What is the rule for “I am, you are, it is”?
The rule
Use am with I, are with you and is with it.
How it looks
I am · you are · it is
What it means
am, are and is tell who or what someone or something is, or what it is like.
When to use it
Use them before a describing word, a noun or an age.
How it works
- Choose the verb by the subject: I takes am, you takes are, it takes is.
- Use be before a describing word (I am hungry), a noun (It is a dog) or a time (It is seven o’clock).
- Do not use have for age or feelings in English: say I am six or I am cold.
- In speech we usually use the short forms: I’m, you’re, it’s.
Examples of “I am, you are, it is”
- I am a girl.
I goes with am. - You are my friend.
you goes with are. - It is a cat.
it goes with is. - I am hungry.
Short form: I'm hungry. - You are very fast.
you goes with are, and fast describes you. - It is a sunny day.
it goes with is. - I am at school.
am also tells where I am. - It is seven o’clock.
We use it is to talk about time.
Common mistakes with “I am, you are, it is”
I happy.→ I am happy.
Do not leave out am, are or is.I have six.→ I am six.
We use am to say our age.I am like milk.→ I like milk.
Do not put am before an action word such as like.You is my friend.→ You are my friend.
you always goes with are, even for one person.It am cold.→ It is cold.
am goes only with I. it goes with is.
Exceptions: watch out
- I'm, it's
I am → I'm. It is → It's. Keep the apostrophe.
Be or have? Be or do?
Learners sometimes pick the wrong verb. Use be for who or what you are and how you feel. Use have for things you own. Use do only to make questions and negatives with action verbs.
| Idea | Correct | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| age | I am six. | I have six. |
| feeling | I am hungry. | I have hungry. |
| owning | I have a dog. | I am a dog. |
| action | I like milk. | I am like milk. |
See also: have and has
Check yourself
- Fill the gap: “You ___ my friend.”
Show the answer
are you always takes are.
- Fill the gap: “It ___ a cat.”
Show the answer
is it takes is.
- Correct this: “I happy.”
Show the answer
I am happy. English needs am, are or is before a describing word.
How to practice “I am, you are, it is”
The interactive version adds step-by-step help, spoken instructions and a quick check. One rule card, one sound lesson and the first lesson of every stone are free to try; the rest is part of Full Access. See Full Access.
- Practice lesson: I am, you are, it is
Questions
Why does English need “am, are, is”? Other languages do not.
In English a sentence needs a verb. With a describing word or a noun, that verb is be. Learners from languages without this rule often forget it, so say it out loud: I am, you are, it is.
Do I use “is” for a plural thing?
No. Is is for one thing (it, he, she). For more than one thing, use are: they are, we are, the books are.
What is the difference between “I am” and “I’m”?
They mean the same. I’m is the short form. Use it in speaking and in friendly writing. Use I am when you want to stress the words.
More Grammar Foundations rules
- Naming words: nouns: A noun is a naming word. It names a person, an animal, a place or a thing.
- A or An?: Before one thing, say a or an. Choose by the first sound.
- One and many: plural -s: For more than one thing, add -s: one cat, two cats.
- Plurals: -es, -ies and special nouns: Most nouns add -s. Some add -es or -ies, and some change a lot.
- this, that, these, those: Use this and these for things near you. Use that and those for things far away.
- he, she, it, we, they + is / are: A pronoun takes the place of a name. Use is with he, she and it. Use are with we, you and they.
Used in these writing topics
Part of the 📘 Grammar tool. Level G1: Grammar Foundations. Đọc bằng tiếng Việt.
Written for English learners by the English for Fun team. How we write our lessons · Last updated 2026-11-05.
Reviewed by Chinh Q. Hoang, PhD, founder, English for Fun · 2026-10-30
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