"To Be or Not to Be?" Not to Be (Part 2)

Are you ready to continue?

Today, let's continue to master the verb "to be" as we look at the present tense: negative.

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As was mentioned in the first post, the verb "to be" is one of the most commonly used verbs in the English Language. Learning to mater it is both helpful and honestly not too difficult. Let's dive in and take a look how one we use this.

Once again here a few examples that are incorrect.

I isn't hot.

They isn't hungry.

So let's fix them up.

I'm not hot.

They aren't hungry.

Q: So this begs the question, when do you use the right verb?

Let's look at the following chart below. The negative tense of the verb "To be" needs to agree with the subject. Subjects can be either singular or plural (more than one). In English the verb "to be" needs to agree with the subject of the sentence. Subjects are either singular or plural and need to be included when speaking and writing in English. Though there is an exception, which we will look at in more detail below.

Simple Present Tense: Negative

Once again did you notice the subject "you" can be either singular or plural?

(Singular) (When talking to someone directly.)

You aren't very serious.

(Plural) (When talking to a group of people.)

You guys aren't very serious.

Notice the difference?

Hint: In the second sentence there in an addition of the word “guys” which is a noun and is needed in order to mark the object as being plural.