PERSONAL PRONOUNS

I You He She

it We You They
 PERSONAL PRONOUNS USUALLY COME AT THE BEGINNING OF A
PHRASE, MANY TIMES IT INDICATES WHO THE SUBJECT OF THE
SENTENCE IS (IN OTHER WORDS, THEY TELL US WHO DID OR DOES
THE ACTION).

• I think English is a weird language, but I like it.

• Johnny is a very busy man; he usually works from Monday to

Saturday.

• We had to find a new hotel, because the one we had in mind

was already full.

• You’re a very nice person, did you know that?

 I speak English You speak English She speaks
He speaks English English

It speaks about
English* We speak English You speak English They Speak English
OBJECT PRONOUNS
Me You Him Her

U Them
it You
s
OBJECT PRONOUNS USUALLY COME AFTER A VERB, LATER IN THE
SENTENCE; SOMETIMES THEY ARE AT THE END, BUT NEVER AT THE
BEGINNING. THEY TELL US WHO RECEIVED THE ACTION IN A
SENTENCE (IN OTHER WORDS, THEY TELL US WHO THE OBJECT OF
THE PHRASE IS).

• I think English is a weird language, but I like it.

• If you have any questions, please call me.

• I lost my keys, and I just can’t find them.

• My mother-in-law has something on her teeth, but I don’t know

if I should tell her.
You will call me I will call you I will call him I will call her

I will read it* You will call us I will call you You will call them
 TO BE
( OR NOT TO BE)
• I am Mexican.
• The famous “Verb to Be” is one of the
• I’m 27 years old.
most used and peculiar verbs in the
• You are a student. English language. In Spanish it both
• You’re 17. means ‘ser’ and ‘estar’ at the same time,
which can be difficult for some English
• He is my brother.
speakers when they learn Spanish.
• He’s my brother.
• Verb ‘be’ is one of the only verbs that
• She is my sister. actually change forms when
• She’s my sister. conjugating (most verbs have a
consistent form when they are
• Math is a complicated topic.
conjugated, for example: I work, you
• It’s important to do some work, they work, etc.)
exercise.
• They are my parents
• I am Mexican. • Soy mexicano.
• I’m 27 years old. • Tengo* 27 años.
• You are a student. • Eres estudiante.
• You’re 17. • Tienes 17 (años). *
• He is my brother. • Él es mi hermano.
• He’s my brother. • Él es mi hermano.
• She is my sister. • Ella es mi hermana.
• She’s my sister. • Ella es mi hermana.
• Math is a complicated topic. • Las matemáticas son un tema
• It’s important to do some complicado.
exercise.* • Es importante hacer un poco de
• They are my parents ejercicio.*
 CONTRACTION
• A contraction is when two words become one. It’s very common to use
contractions when we speak, because we speak faster that way. When we
contract, we use an apostrophe ( ‘ ) between the two words and form one.

• I am = I’m  I am a student – I’m a student.

• You are = You’re  You are my friend – You’re my friend.
• She is = She’s  She is my sister – She’s my sister.
• He does not = He doesn’t  He does not speak English – He doesn’t speak
English
• I do not = I don’t  I do not speak English – I don’t speak English.
• I cannot = I can’t  I cannot lift a car – I can’t lift a car.
QUESTIONS WITH ‘BE’
• Are you Mexican? - Yes, I am.
• How old are you? – I’m 27.
• What do you do? – I’m a student.
• Are you 16? – No, I’m not.
• What does your brother do?* – He’s a carpenter.
• Is your brother a carpenter? – Yes, he is.
• What does your sister do?* – She’s an accountant.
• Is your sister a teacher? – No, she isn’t; She’s an accountant.
• What do you think about Math?* – I think it’s complicated.
• Is it important to do exercise?** - Yes, it is.
• Are your parents on vacation? – Yes, they are.
• Are they on vacation? – No, they are in the city.
CONJUGATING VERB ‘TO BE’
 • I am a teacher • Soy maestro
• You are a student. • Eres estudiante
• He is a boy. • (él) es un chico/niño.

TO BE • She is a girl. • (ella) es una chica/niña.

• It is a complicated • Es un tema complicado.
topic. • Estamos en un salón.
• We are in a classroom. • (ustedes) Son
• You are students. estudiantes
• They are in the soccer • (ellos) están en el
team. equipo de fútbol.
 • I am not a teacher
• You’re not a student.
• He’s not a boy.

TO BE • She’s not a girl.

• It’s not a complicated topic.
(NEGATIVE
FORM) • We’re not in a classroom.
• You’re not students.
• They’re not in the soccer team.
 • I am not a teacher
• You aren’t a student.
• He isn’t a boy.

TO BE
(NEGATIVE
• She isn’t a girl.
• It isn’t a complicated topic.
FORM VERSION
II) • We aren’t in a classroom.
• You aren’t students.
• They aren’t in the soccer team.
QUICK EXERCISE 1
Fill the blanks with the correct form of verb ‘Be’ in simple present.
Write in the parenthesis if ‘To be’ expresses ‘ser’ or ‘estar’.

are not Italian, weare

1. We ____ ____ Mexican. ser
( )
is my sister, she’s with her boyfriend. Her boyfriend
2. She ____ is_____ a doctor.
ser(
)
am esta
3. I _____ home
is right now, and I don’t feel like going out. r ( ) esta
4. My dad _____
is at work, but you can call him to ser r (
his cellphone, if you need.
) are esta
5. My dad _____is a veterinarian; he goes out aestalot. ( ) r
6. We _____ playing Grand Theft auto. It’s prettyr violent. I love it. ( )
am am ser esta
7. My dog _____
is in his little house. It’s
is so cute. ( ) r
ser
8. I ____ a teacher, and also I ____ at school in this moment. ( ), ( )
QUICK EXERCISE 2
 • Answer the Questions

• Are you American? • Is your mother tongue Spanish?

• Are you Mexican? • Are Mexican people friendly?

• Are you a woman? • Is Mexico a nice country?

• Are you a man? • Is Spanish hard?

• Are you tired? • Is English hard?

• Is your sister Brazilian? • Are you doing anything this Friday?

• Is your country in the south of • Are you studying English?

America? • Are you studying French?
• Is your mother tongue English? • Are you a teacher?
QUICK EXERCISE 3
 NEGATIVE AND INTERROGATIVE FORM OF ‘BE’
• I am Mexican/ I’m Mexican • She is a doctor/ She’s a • We are the champions/We’re
doctor the champions
• I am not Mexican
• She isn’t a doctor • We aren’t the champions
• I’m not Mexican
• She‘s not a doctor • We’re not the champions

• Am I Mexican? • Are we the champions?

• Is she a Doctor?

• You are ok / You’re ok. • They are my parents /They’re

• He is a nurse / He’s a
• You aren’t ok my parents.
nurse
• They aren’t my parents
• You‘re not ok • He isn’t a nurse
• They’re not my parents
• He’s not a nurse

• Are you ok?

• Are they my parents?
QUICK EXERCISE 4
 TRANSLATE THE SENTENCES INTO ENGLISH

1. Soy Mexicano. 1. I am Mexican.

2. Tu mamá es Americana. 2. Your mom is American.
3. Mi papa está en su oficina. 3. My dad is in his office.
4. Somos estudiantes de inglés. 4. We are English students.
5. Mis padres son de Zacatecas. 5. My parents are from
6. Soy un buen estudiante. Zacatecas.

7. Ella es Mariana. Está en su 6. I am a good student.

casa en este momento. 7. She is Mariana. She’s in her
8. Mi hija está en la cocina. house right now.

9. Estamos felices de estar a 8. My daughter is in the kitchen.

aquí. 9. We are happy to be here.
LET’S READ
• I’m Richie, from Mexico. I am a teacher, graduated from the Autonomous
University of Zacatecas, my major is Foreign languages. If I had to describe
myself, I would say that I’m friendly, respectful, curious, analytic, and other
adjectives. I’m not extremely social, but I like being with people. Sometimes I
am shy around others, especially if I don’t know them.
• My mom is very nice. She’s very cheerful and with a strong character, but she is
very, very loving. She likes to hug people, especially children. She’s not so
strict, actually. She is very respectful to other people, and tries to be fair with
everyone.
• My dad’s a little stricter than my mom, but not so much. He is very responsible,
hardworking and very logical. He’s not very patient, though. He gets angry
easily sometimes. That’s why I don’t like his driving lessons.
• You’re a student. Probably you’re studying English because you need it, or
maybe because you are curious about it; or maybe someone made you study it.
In any case, English is a weird language, but it is very useful. And, in my opinion
EXERCISE
 TURN THE SENTENCES INTO NEGATIVE FORM

1. I am Mexican. 1. I am not Mexican.

2. Your mom is American. 2. My mom’s not American.
3. My dad is in his office. 3. My dad’s not in his office.
4. We are English students. 4. We’re not English students.
5. My parents are from 5. My parents aren’t from
Zacatecas. Zacatecas.*

6. I am a good student. 6. I ‘m not a good student.

7. She is Mariana. She’s in her 7. She’s not Mariana. She’s not in

house right now. her house right now.

8. My daughter is in the kitchen. 8. My daughter’s not in the kitchen.

9. We are happy to be here. 9. We’re not happy to be here.

 TURN THE SENTENCES INTO NEGATIVE FORM

1. I am Mexican. 1. I am not Mexican. *

2. Your mom is American. 2. My mom isn’t American.
3. My dad is in his office. 3. My dad isn’t in his office.

4. We are English students. 4. We aren’t English students.

5. My parents are from 5. My parents aren’t from

Zacatecas. Zacatecas.
6. I’m not a good student. *
6. I am a good student.
7. She isn’t Mariana. She isn’t in
7. She is Mariana. She’s in her
her house right now.
house right now.
8. My daughter isn’t in the
8. My daughter is in the kitchen. kitchen.
9. We are happy to be here.
 TURN THE SENTENCES INTO INTERROGATIVE FORM

1. I am Mexican. 1. Am I Mexican?
2. Your mom is American. 2. Is your mom American?
3. My dad is in his office. 3. Is your dad in his office?
4. We are English students. 4. Are we English students?
5. My parents are from 5. Are my parents from
Zacatecas. Zacatecas?
6. I am a good student. 6. Am I a good student?
7. She is Mariana. She’s in her 7. Is she Mariana? Is she in her
house right now. house right now?

8. My daughter is in the kitchen. 8. Is my daughter in the kitchen?

9. We are happy to be here. 9. Are we happy to be here?