Studying English abroad

Exercise 1

Read the description of the Rodriguez family. Complete with the correct form of the
verb be.

Every summer the Rodriguez family go to England where they improve their

English. The children stay with the Evans family while they do their course.

Mr and Mrs Rodriguez (1) ................ both in their fifties and (2)

................ very tall and elegant. They’ve got three children: two girls

and one boy. The two girls, Carmen and Lisa, look like twins, but they (3)

................ . Carmen (4) ............. eighteen and Lisa (5) ..............

nineteen. Pablo (6) .............. twenty and he (7) ................ very happy

because he (8) ................ shorter than his two sisters! Carmen and Lisa

(9) ................ both students at college and Pablo (10) ................ the

manager of an electronics shop. Mr and Mrs Rodriguez (11) ................

retired but they (12) ................ still very busy!

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 Studying English abroad

Exercise 2

The Rodriguez family are now in England. Complete the dialogue with the correct
form of the verb be.

Mrs Evans: Come in, come in, everyone. It (1) ................ lovely to see you all! You

(2) ................ a bit late but never mind. The fish and chips (3)................ still hot.

Pablo: Great! I (4)................ really hungry!

Mrs Evans: (5)................ you hungry or thirsty, Mr and Mrs Rodriguez?

Mrs Rodriguez: No, thank you, we (6) ............... fine, Mrs Evans. We’ll go to our

hotel now, I think.

Mrs Evans: Oh, alright, then. So, what do you think of the horrible weather? It (7)

................ very warm for the time of year, is it? But the beds (8) ................ nice

and cosy with their duvets on and I (9) ................ sure the young people will be

comfortable.

(Lisa yawns loudly.)

Mr Rodriguez: (10)................ you tired, Lisa?

Lisa: Yes, I (11) ................ . I’ll go to bed early – but after the fish and chips,

of course!

Carmen: I (12)................ hungry at all but I (13) ................ very happy to be

here again, Mrs Evans!

Mrs Evans: Oh, that (14) ................ wonderful! You (15) ................ always

welcome in my home, you know that.

Mrs Rodriguez: Well, goodbye everyone. We (16) ................ off now!

Mrs Evans, Carmen, Lisa and Pablo: Good night!

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 Studying English abroad

Exercise 3

Pablo is at the English School. The secretary is asking Pablo questions so that she
can make his school ID card. Write out the questions, using the correct form of the
verb be.

Secretary: So, (1) ................................................ (what/name), please?

Pablo: Pablo Rodriguez.

Secretary: (2) ................................................ (where/from)?

Pablo: Spain.
Secretary: And (3) ................................................ (how old/you)?

Pablo: Twenty.
Secretary: (4) ................................................ (how/tall), please?

Pablo: One metre 80.

Secretary: (5) ................................................ (what/address) here?

Pablo: 12, Greenhill Drive.

Secretary: (6) ................................................ (you / student), Pablo?

Pablo: No, I’m not. I’m the manager of a shop.

Secretary: (7) ................................................ (what/level of English)?

Pablo: Intermediate, I think.

Secretary: And (8) ................................................ (how long/course) here?

Pablo: Two weeks.

Secretary: Thank you, Pablo. I hope you enjoy the course. Do you have any
questions?
Pablo: Well, how many lessons are there every day? (9)

................................................ (I) in the same class as my sisters?

Are there trips to London and Oxford? (10)

................................................ (What/the name) of my teacher?

And …
Secretary: Er, … I’m sure the teachers will tell you everything tomorrow, Pablo. Now
could I have the next student, please?

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 Studying English abroad
TEACHER’S NOTES

Aim: To revise the verb be when talking about physical conditions emotions and
personal information.

Topics: Studying English; staying with a host family

Lesson timings: Exercise 1: 10 minutes, Exercise 2: 10 minutes, Exercise 3:10 minutes.

Total: 30 minutes.

Note: Where two forms are possible for short answers: ‘We aren’t’ or ‘We’re not’, etc
both options are given below.

Exercise 1

This exercise practises the affirmative and negative forms of the verb be.

1. are 7. isn’t
2. are 8. is / ’s
3. aren’t 9. are
4. is / ’s 10. is / ’s
5. is / ’s 11. are
6. is / ’s 12. are / ’re

Exercise 2

This exercise extends the practice through affirmative and negative to the simple
question form (without question words) in the form of an everyday dialogue.

1. is / ’s 9. am / ’m
2. are / ’re 10. are
3. are 11. am
4. am / ’m 12. am not / ’m not
5. are 13. am / ’m
6. are / ’re 14. is / ’s
7. isn’t 15. are / ’re
8. are 16. are / ’re

Exercise 3

This exercise increases the practice of the question form through the use of question
words, in a context with which students should be familiar. This is useful for students
who can often answer questions easily but need practice in forming them correctly.

1. What’s your name? 6. Are you a student?

2. Where are you from? 7. What is your level of English?
3. How old are you? 8. How long is your course?
4. How tall are you? 9. Am I…?
5. What’s your address? 10. What is the name…?

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