is

"Is" is one of the most fundamental words in English — you will use it in almost every conversation! It is a form of the verb "to be," and while it looks simple, it does several important jobs in a sentence. Here are its most common uses.

1verbdescribing a state or condition

When you want to say what something or someone is like right now, you use 'is'. Think of it as a bridge connecting a subject to its description. It tells us about a current state — how something feels, looks, or exists at this moment.

everyday language · Modern, universally used

The soup is hot, so be careful.

She is very talented at painting.

The sky is clear today.

2verbidentifying or defining something

You use 'is' to say what something or someone actually is — their identity, role, or category. It answers the question 'What is this?' or 'Who is this?'

everyday language · Modern, universally used

Paris is the capital of France.

A dolphin is a mammal, not a fish.

My father is a doctor.

3verbshowing location or existence

You can use 'is' to say where something is located or that something exists. It simply points to the presence of something in a place.

everyday language · Modern, universally used

The book is on the table.

There is a problem with the plan.

My phone is in my bag.

4verbforming continuous tenses

When you want to talk about something happening right now or around this time, 'is' teams up with another verb (ending in -ing) to form the present continuous tense. It shows that an action is in progress.

everyday language · Modern, universally used

She is studying for her exam.

The team is working on a new project.

It is raining outside.

5verbforming the passive voice

When the subject of a sentence receives an action rather than doing it, 'is' helps build that passive structure. It pairs with a past participle (like 'made', 'written', 'sold') to show this.

everyday language, formal writing · Modern, widely used

This car is made in Germany.

The letter is written in French.

Dinner is served at 7 o'clock.