I am not tired.
- Language
- English
- Level
- A1
- Unit
- Negatives
- Practice types
- 0
What this grammar point covers
Negatives with 'to be' are sentences where we say that something is not true, using 'not' with the verb 'to be' (am, is, are).
When to use it
Use negatives with 'to be' to say that something is not the case, not true, or not happening. For example, to say someone is not happy or a place is not big.
Key forms
- I am not...
- You are not... / You aren't...
- He/She/It is not... / He isn't...
- We are not... / We aren't...
- They are not... / They aren't...
Examples
She is not at home.
They are not friends.
He isn't a teacher.
We aren't ready.
Tips
- Use 'not' after the verb 'to be'.
- You can use short forms: 'is not' = 'isn't', 'are not' = 'aren't'.
- Don't use 'do/does not' with 'to be'.
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