Audio Lesson – Book 1 – Lesson 1 – Verb to be

Hello everyone!

Welcome to today’s English lesson. I’m thrilled to have all of you here, eager to learn and improve your English skills. Today, we’ll be focusing on some fundamental aspects of English grammar and vocabulary that are essential for everyday conversations.

Our topics for today are:

• Am, Are, Is

• My, Your

• This is

• Greetings and courtesies like “How are you?” and “What’s this in English?”

• Numbers 1-10 and plurals

Let’s dive right in!

 

---

 

Understanding “Am,” “Are,” and “Is”

First, let’s talk about the verbs “am,” “are,” and “is.” These are forms of the verb “to be,” which is one of the most important verbs in English.

What are they?

• “Am” is used with “I.”

• “Are” is used with “you,” “we,” “they,” and plural nouns.

• “Is” is used with “he,” “she,” “it,” and singular nouns.

How do they work?

These verbs help us describe states of being, identities, professions, feelings, and more.

When do we use them?

We use them to:

• Introduce ourselves or others.

• Describe characteristics or conditions.

• Talk about locations or situations.

Are there exceptions?

Generally, these verbs follow the subject-verb agreement rules, but there are a few exceptions in certain expressions and with collective nouns.

Examples of Application:

1. I am a student.

2. You are my friend.

3. He is a teacher.

4. They are happy.

5. We are ready.

Examples of Exceptions:

1. Everyone is here. (Though “everyone” refers to many people, it’s singular.)

2. The news is interesting. (“News” is singular even though it ends with an “s.”)

3. Mathematics is difficult. (Subjects ending in “s” are usually singular.)

4. The team is winning. (Collective nouns are singular.)

5. No one is absent today. (“No one” is singular.)

 

---

 

Using “My” and “Your”

Next, let’s explore the possessive adjectives “my” and “your.”

What are they?

• “My” indicates that something belongs to the speaker.

• “Your” indicates that something belongs to the person being spoken to.

How do they work?

They come before a noun to show possession.

When do we use them?

We use them to talk about things that belong to us or to someone else.

Are there exceptions?

Possessive adjectives are straightforward, but remember they agree with the possessor, not the thing possessed.

Examples of Application:

1. My name is John.

2. Is this your book?

3. My friends are coming.

4. Your ideas are excellent.

5. My car is red.

Examples of Exceptions:

1. In expressions: “I need to find my way home.”

2. With body parts in idioms: “I need to keep my head up.”

3. Formal speech may omit the possessive: “Ladies and gentlemen, the President will speak.”

4. With certain family terms: “I spoke to Mother yesterday.”

5. In some phrases: “Out of my sight!”

 

---

 

Introducing “This is”

Now, let’s learn about the phrase “This is.”

What is it?

“This is” is used to introduce or identify someone or something close to us.

How does it work?

We say “This is” followed by the person or object we’re referring to.

When do we use it?

• Introducing people: “This is my friend, Sarah.”

• Identifying objects: “This is a laptop.”

Are there exceptions?

For plural forms, we use “These are.” For objects or people far away, we use “That is” or “Those are.”

Examples of Application:

1. This is my brother.

2. This is a beautiful painting.

3. This is your seat.

4. This is our house.

5. This is an excellent idea.

Examples of Exceptions:

1. These are my friends. (Plural form)

2. That is the museum we visited. (Farther away)

3. On the phone: “Hello, this is Mark speaking.”

4. Emphasizing: “This is amazing!”

5. Questions: “Is this your umbrella?”

 

---

 

Greetings and Courtesies

Let’s practice some common greetings and phrases that you’ll use daily.

“How are you?”

A polite way to ask about someone’s well-being.

Possible responses:

• “I’m fine, thank you.”

• “Doing well, and you?”

• “I’m great, thanks for asking.”

“What’s this in English?”

Use this question when you want to know the English name for something.

Example:

• Pointing at an object: “What’s this in English?“

• Response: “This is a dictionary.”

 

---

 

Numbers 1-10 and Plurals

Numbers 1-10:

1. One

2. Two

3. Three

4. Four

5. Five

6. Six

7. Seven

8. Eight

9. Nine

10. Ten

Forming Plurals:

Typically, we add “-s” or “-es” to make a noun plural.

Examples:

1. Book → Books

2. Bus → Buses

3. Box → Boxes

4. Dog → Dogs

5. Class → Classes

Exceptions (Irregular Plurals):

1. Child → Children

2. Man → Men

3. Woman → Women

4. Foot → Feet

5. Mouse → Mice

Some words remain the same in singular and plural:

 

1. Sheep → Sheep

2. Fish → Fish

3. Deer → Deer