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ESL forum > Ask for help > Two questions that I need help with!    

Two questions that I need help with!



miesies muis
Namibia

Two questions that I need help with!
 
Could you please explain the following? 

1. am, is, are are referred to as "to be verbs"? I don �t understand why.

2. I always correct my children when they use did and a verb.
 Example. "I did eat my food" I then correct them and say, "I ate my food" 

Is this right, because I hear lots of people talk like the children do. "I did go to the movies." "She did play outside" Have I been teaching them wrongly?

Your help will be greatly appreciated.
Love
Elanie

23 Jan 2011      





Apodo
Australia

The verb to be is an irregular verb - so irregular that the parts sound different. It takes its name from the past partiple.
 
am is are
was were
been
being
 
It is the verb that describes our state of being. He is  ....... I am  .................
 
It is incorrect to say �I did eat my food � EXCEPT if did is used for emphasis, after being wrongly accused for example. It�s often used as a response to didn�t.
It sounds completely wrong if not being used for emphasis in this way.
 
Mother to child: You didn �t eat all your food.
Child: Yes I did. I did eat my food.
 
Child 1. I didn �t touch it.
Child 2. She did touch it. I saw her.

23 Jan 2011