Английский язык с нуля до продвинутого. Практический курс по приложению English Galaxy. А0. Урок 18

Main Ideas

The lesson explains how to choose between the verb to be and an ordinary verb in the Present Simple.

Core Rule

Use an ordinary verb to describe an action or activity:

• I work.
• They live together.
• She studies at university.

Use the appropriate form of to be—am, is, or are—when there is no other main verb, such as when describing a state, quality, identity, or location:

• I am at work.
• She is very young.
• They are together.

A practical way to decide is to check whether the sentence already has a main verb. If it does, don’t add am, is, or are as another main verb. If it doesn’t, use the appropriate form of to be.

Actions and Location

Compare an action with a description of someone’s location:

• I work / I am at work now.
• She studies at university / She is at university.
• He studies at school / He is at school.
• I work here / I am at work now.
• She lives in this room / She is in this room.
• They study in the same group / They are in the same group.

Descriptions and Verbs

Use to be with an adjective that describes something. If the sentence has an ordinary verb, don’t add to be as the main verb:

• It is interesting uses is with the adjective interesting.
• It interests me uses the verb interest. With it, the verb takes -s: it interests.
• It is very effective describes something; It seems very effective uses the verb seem.
• She looks very young uses the verb look; She is very young uses is with the adjective young.

Position and Articles

Use to be to describe a location, or use an ordinary verb such as lie:

• It is on the sofa describes location; It lies on the sofa uses the verb lie.
• It is in the box describes location; It lies in the box uses the verb lie.

Because box is a singular countable noun, it takes an article: the box in these examples.

Other Expressions

In It seems to be a mistake and It seems to be enough, seems is the main verb and is followed by to be. By contrast, It is a mistake and It is enough use is directly.

Common location expressions include at work, at school, and at university:

• She is at university.
• He is at school.

Origin and Residence

Use live to describe where someone lives and be from to describe their origin:

• I live in Russia / I am from Russia.
• He lives in England / He is from England.
• She lives in America / She is from the States.

Adjectives and Verbs That Can Be Confusing

Tired and afraid are adjectives, so use to be:

• I am very tired.
• He is afraid.
• She is really afraid.

Agree is a verb, so say I agree or I agree with you—not I am agree.

The lesson recommends practicing these contrasts in the English Galaxy app.

Speakers and Sources

• The lesson is presented by one unnamed instructor from the English Language by Playlists channel.
• The English Galaxy app is mentioned as a practice resource; it is not a speaker.