A2business

Present Simple "Wh" Questions- Business English "to be"

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The verb "to be" is the first verb you need in English, because it links a subject to a description, a job, a place, or a feeling. In the present simple it has three forms: I am, he/she/it is, and you/we/they are. Use it to say who someone is, what something is like, or where things are: "I am the new accounts manager," "She is in a meeting until eleven," "Our offices are in Lyon." In speech and informal writing we usually contract it: I'm, you're, he's, she's, it's, we're, they're, as in "We're ready to start" or "He's available this afternoon." A key point: "to be" does not need "do" or an extra verb. To make a question, move "be" in front of the subject ("Are you free on Tuesday?"); to make a negative, add "not" after it ("I am not sure" / "She isn't here today"). The most common pitfall for learners is matching the wrong form to the subject, or adding "do": say "She is busy," never "She are busy" or "She does be busy." Notice too that English often uses "to be" where some other languages use "have", we say "I am thirty" and "I am cold," not "I have thirty."

Let's practise. Type each answer and press Enter, I'll check it with you.

  1. Why the report not ready for submission?
  2. When the meeting scheduled to start?
  3. Where the new office located?
  4. Who responsible for this task?
  5. What the main objective of the project?
  6. What your thoughts on the presentation?
  7. Why the documents not in order?
  8. When we expected to complete this task?
  9. Where she supposed to be right now?
  10. Who the point of contact for this client?
  11. What the status of the current project?
  12. How the results of the survey?
  13. Why the team not informed about the change?
  14. When the new policy coming into effect?
  15. Where he holding the meeting?
  16. Who responsible for attending the conference next week?
  17. What the budget for this project?
  18. How the development progress on the new software?
  19. Why the client unhappy with the service?
  20. When the report due?
  21. Where we storing the files?
  22. Who in charge of the marketing campaign?
  23. What the timeline for the deliverables?
  24. How the performance of the new system?
  25. Why the meeting room not booked?

Common questions

What is the difference between am, is, and are in the present simple?

They are the three present forms of "to be", chosen by the subject. Use "am" only with I (I am ready). Use "is" with he, she, it, and singular nouns (She is the manager; the report is late). Use "are" with you, we, they, and plural nouns (You are early; the clients are here).

How do I make negatives and questions with the verb to be?

Do not use "do". For a negative, put "not" after the verb: "I am not free," "He is not (isn't) in the office," "They are not (aren't) ready." For a question, put the verb before the subject: "Am I late?", "Is she the new director?", "Are you available on Friday?" Short answers reuse the verb: "Yes, I am." / "No, they aren't."

When do I use contractions like I'm, he's, and we're?

Contractions join the subject and "be" (I'm, you're, he's, she's, it's, we're, they're) and are normal in conversation, emails, and most everyday writing: "I'm pleased to meet you," "We're delighted with the results." Use the full forms (I am, she is) in formal documents or for emphasis: "I am certain this is correct." Negatives contract too: isn't, aren't.