Is, are and am are tiny words that do a big job: they have to match who or what the sentence is about. On Is & Are Island, Year 1 writers learn to hear which one sounds right — and why.
What your child will learn
- Use “is” for one person, animal or thing
- Use “are” for more than one, and with “you”, “we” and “they”
- Use “am” with “I”
- Choose has or have, and was or were, to match the sentence
One or more than one?
Look at who the sentence is about. One cat is black. Two cats are black. “I” is special and takes am: I am six. “You” always takes are, even for one person: you are my friend.
Has and have, was and were
The same idea works for other words. One thing has and was: the rabbit has long ears; the sky was grey. More than one have and were: the rabbits have long ears; the stars were bright. “I” and “you” use have: I have a kite.
Example questions
Here are a few questions like the ones in the first quest. Can you solve them?
1. Which word fits? “She ___ my sister.”
- am
- are
- is
Show answer
Answer: is. “She” is one person, so we use is.
2. Which word fits? “You ___ my best friend.”
- are
- am
- is
Show answer
Answer: are. After “you” we always use are.
3. Which word fits? “The dogs ___ barking.”
- is
- are
- am
Show answer
Answer: are. There is more than one dog, so we say the dogs are barking.
Tips for grown-ups
- Say both versions aloud — “the dogs is” or “the dogs are”? — and listen for the one that sounds right.
- Play “one or many”: point at things and make an is or are sentence about them.
- When reading together, spot is, are and am and ask who the sentence is about.