Am, Is and Are for Kids: The Rule in One Sentence, with a Table and Practice
am, is and are are the first grammar rule children meet in Grades 1 and 2, and the one they get wrong most. The reason: Arabic has no present-tense verb “to be”. Here is am, is, are explained for kids with one table, three gestures and a short drill.
- Suitable age
- 6 to 10 years
- Suggested time
- 10 minutes a day for a week
- the rule in one line: I am, he/she/it is, you/we/they are.
- the negative: am not, isn’t, aren’t.
- questions: Am I? Is he? Are you?
- short forms: I’m, he’s, they’re, plus a drill.
The Rule in One Line
I am · he / she / it is · you / we / they are. Learn it like a song, and sing it three times a day.
The Table
| Subject | Verb | Example | Arabic |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | am | I am happy. | أنا سعيد. |
| he | is | He is my dad. | هو أبي. |
| she | is | She is a teacher. | هي معلمة. |
| it | is | It is a cat. | إنها قطة. |
| you | are | You are my friend. | أنت صديقي. |
| we | are | We are at school. | نحن في المدرسة. |
| they | are | They are happy. | هم سعداء. |
Sentences from the book your child hears: , and
Why Arabic-Speaking Children Leave It Out
In Arabic we say «أنا سعيد» with no verb. In English, a sentence isn’t complete without a verb, so we add am: I am happy. A child who says I happy drops am because they’re translating from Arabic. Remind them: “An English sentence always needs a verb.”
The Three-Gesture Trick
- am: your child points to their chest: I am.
- is: they point one finger at one person or thing: He is. It is.
- are: they open their arms wide: They are. We are.
The Negative: not
Add not after the verb: I am not tired. She is not here. They are not cats. And from the book:
Questions: Move the Verb to the Front
You are happy. → Are you happy? The answer: Yes, I am. / No, I’m not. And from the book: →
Short Forms
| Full form | Short form |
|---|---|
| I am | I’m |
| he is | he’s |
| she is | she’s |
| it is | it’s |
| you are | you’re |
| we are | we’re |
| they are | they’re |
| is not | isn’t |
| are not | aren’t |
Drill
| Complete | Answer |
|---|---|
| I ____ six years old. | am |
| My mom ____ a doctor. | is |
| The cats ____ black. | are |
| We ____ in the garden. | are |
| It ____ a big dog. | is |
| ____ you happy? Yes, I ____. | Are / am |
More in the Grade 3 worksheets (a full am, is, are sheet), and before that, Pronouns for Kids.
Sing: I am, you are, he is, she is… three times with the three actions.
The three actions on the board: am (hand on chest), is (one finger), are (both arms), and every sentence with its action.
Summary
- am, is and are all mean “to be”, which Arabic leaves out: I am Sara = أنا سارة.
- I → am. he, she, it → is. you, we, they → are.
- For the negative, add not: is not = isn’t.
- For a question, move the verb to the front: Is she your sister?
Frequently Asked Questions
What do am, is and are mean?
All three are one verb meaning “to be”, which Arabic doesn’t say in the present: I am Sara (أنا سارة), He is tall (هو طويل). The form changes with the subject: am with I, is with one person or thing, are with more than one and with you.
How do I help my child remember the difference?
With three gestures: I am (point to yourself), he is (point to one person), they are (open your arms to everyone). And a chant: I am, you are, he is, she is…
Why does you take are when it’s one person?
In English, you is used for one person and for many, and it always takes are. It’s a rule to remember rather than reason out.
Should I teach the short forms?
Yes, a week after the full forms. Children hear I’m and it’s more often than I am and it is. Teach them that the apostrophe means a letter has been left out.
