Unit 1: Hello, nice to meet you! Introductions and family
My name is Lina. I’m twelve. I’m from Morocco. These three sentences introduce a person. In English 1AC Unit 1, Hello, nice to meet you!, you learn to ask for personal information, introduce a family and describe people and objects. Use am, is and are for identity and descriptions, and have or has for possessions.
By the end of this lesson, you can
- Ask and answer questions about a name, age and country
- Use am, is and are in statements, negatives and questions
- Introduce family members with possessive adjectives
- Describe a person or an object in simple English
- Write and present a short personal profile
Before you startGreetings and the English alphabet · Numbers from 0 to 20 and the expression My name is
How do you introduce yourself in English?
| Information | Question | Example answer |
|---|---|---|
| First name | What’s your first name? | My first name is Lina. |
| Family name | What’s your last name? | My last name is Amrani. |
| Spelling | How do you spell it? | A-M-R-A-N-I. |
| Age | How old are you? | I’m twelve years old. |
| Country | Where are you from? | I’m from Morocco. |
| School grade | What grade are you in? | I’m in seventh grade. |
Your first name is your personal name. Your last name is your family name. In this Moroccan school context, seventh grade refers to the first year of lower secondary school, 1AC. Learn the whole phrase I’m in seventh grade.
Remember
Use be to give an age: I am twelve years old. Do not say I have twelve years. You can also simply say I’m twelve.
| Country | Nationality |
|---|---|
| Morocco | Moroccan |
| Spain | Spanish |
| Senegal | Senegalese |
| Japan | Japanese |
| the United Kingdom | British |
| the United States | American |
Say I’m from Morocco or I’m Moroccan. From introduces the country here. Country names and nationality words start with capitals. Keep the in I’m from the United Kingdom.
Meet someone at a reading club
Nour: Hi! I’m Nour. What’s your name? Kenji: My name is Kenji. Nour: Where are you from? Kenji: I’m from Japan. Nour: Nice to meet you! Kenji: Nice to meet you too!
- Nour asks one question at a time.
- Kenji answers with a name, then a country.
- Practise again using different names and countries.
When do you use am, is and are?
Definition
The verb be : Use be to talk about identity, age or a description. In the present, its forms are am, is and are. Choose the form that matches the subject.
| Subject | Full form | Short form | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| I | I am | I’m | I’m twelve. |
| you | you are | you’re | You’re my friend. |
| he | he is | he’s | He’s tall. |
| she | she is | she’s | She’s Moroccan. |
| it | it is | it’s | It’s blue. |
| we | we are | we’re | We’re students. |
| they | they are | they’re | They’re happy. |
He can replace a boy’s or man’s name; she can replace a girl’s or woman’s name. It often replaces the name of a thing. We includes the speaker. They refers to more than one person or thing. You can mean one person or several people and always takes are.
How do you make negatives and questions with be?
| Statement | Negative | Question | Short answer |
|---|---|---|---|
| She is tall. | She isn’t tall. | Is she tall? | Yes, she is. / No, she isn’t. |
| They are students. | They aren’t students. | Are they students? | Yes, they are. / No, they aren’t. |
| I am twelve. | I’m not twelve. | Are you twelve? | Yes, I am. / No, I’m not. |
Add not after be for a negative. Is not becomes isn’t; are not becomes aren’t. For a question, put be before the subject: She is… becomes Is she…? In a positive short answer, keep the full verb: Yes, she is.
How do you introduce your family?
| Family word | Simple meaning |
|---|---|
| mother / father | Your female / male parent |
| sister / brother | A girl / boy with the same parent or parents as you |
| grandmother / grandfather | A parent of your mother or father |
| aunt / uncle | A sister / brother of a parent, or their spouse |
| cousin | A child of your aunt or uncle |
Start with This is…: This is my mother. Her name is Amal. Or introduce two people: These are my grandparents. You may describe a real or invented family and choose the people you want to include.
What is the difference between my, your, his and her?
| Person | Possessive adjective | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I | my | my book |
| you | your | your bag |
| he | his | his mother |
| she | her | her father |
| we | our | our family |
| they | their | their parents |
A possessive adjective goes before a noun. Choose his or her by looking at the person the noun belongs or relates to. Adam’s mother is his mother. Lina’s father is her father. The mother’s or father’s gender does not choose the possessive.
Remember
My and I are different: I am Lina, but This is my book. Do not write This is I book. Lina’s brother and her brother refer to the same person when her refers to Lina.
When do you use have and has?
| Subject | Statement | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|---|
| I / you / we / they | I have a brother. | I don’t have a brother. | Do you have a brother? |
| he / she / it | She has a sister. | She doesn’t have a sister. | Does she have a sister? |
Use has in a positive statement with he, she or it. After does or doesn’t, use have: Does he have a book? Yes, he does. He doesn’t have a book. You may also meet have got in other materials. Practise one pattern at a time and do not mix them into Do you have got…?
How do you describe people and objects?
| Description | Useful words | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Height | tall / short | My brother is tall. |
| Age | young / old | My cousin is young. |
| Feeling | happy / tired | We are happy. |
| Colour | red, blue, green, yellow | She has a green pencil. |
| More colours | black, white, orange, brown | He has an orange bag. |
Put a colour adjective before the noun: a blue book. Adjectives do not take plural s: two blue books. Use a before a consonant sound and an before a vowel sound: a bag, an orange bag. Choose useful and respectful descriptions of people.
Reading: meet Rayan and his family
My name is Rayan. I’m thirteen and I’m from Morocco. I have a sister. Her name is Ines. She is ten. My father’s name is Karim. He is tall. My mother’s name is Amal. She has a blue bag. I have a green notebook. We are a happy family.
Step by step
Find evidence in a profile
- For an age question, find a number: Rayan is thirteen.
- For a name question, find a name: his sister is Ines.
- For a possession question, find have or has: Amal has a blue bag.
- Check who each pronoun refers to before answering.
Writing and speaking: introduce a person
Write five or six sentences about yourself or an invented student. Include a name, age, country, family member and possession. Model: I’m Aya. I’m twelve. I’m Moroccan. I have a brother. His name is Sami. I have a red bag. Read your profile to a partner, then answer two questions without looking. Check am/is/are, have/has and capitals.
Frequently asked questions
What does English 1AC Unit 1 cover?
How do I choose am, is or are?
What is the difference between his and her?
Should I say I am twelve or I have twelve?
Why is it Does she have and not Does she has?
Quiz: 20 questions
20 questions are randomly selected from this lesson’s 24-question bank. Choose one answer for each question and get an immediate explanation.
Q1Complete: I … twelve.
Incorrect answer
Use am with I when giving your age.
Correct answer: am
Use am with I when giving your age.
Q2Complete: She … my sister.
Incorrect answer
She takes is in the present of be.
Correct answer: is
She takes is in the present of be.
Q3Complete: They … students.
Incorrect answer
They takes are because it is a plural subject.
Correct answer: are
They takes are because it is a plural subject.
Q4Choose the correct age sentence.
Incorrect answer
English uses be to give an age: I am thirteen.
Correct answer: I am thirteen.
English uses be to give an age: I am thirteen.
Q5Where are you from?
Incorrect answer
The question asks for a place or country.
Correct answer: I’m from Morocco.
The question asks for a place or country.
Q6Complete: I’m from … .
Incorrect answer
Morocco is a country; Moroccan is a nationality.
Correct answer: Morocco
Morocco is a country; Moroccan is a nationality.
Q7Which question matches She is tall?
Incorrect answer
Put is before the subject to form this question.
Correct answer: Is she tall?
Put is before the subject to form this question.
Q8Choose the negative of They are tired.
Incorrect answer
Are not contracts to aren’t with they.
Correct answer: They aren’t tired.
Are not contracts to aren’t with they.
Q9Are you a student? Yes, …
Incorrect answer
Use the full verb in a positive short answer.
Correct answer: I am.
Use the full verb in a positive short answer.
Q10Your mother’s mother is your…
Incorrect answer
A parent of your mother or father is a grandparent.
Correct answer: grandmother.
A parent of your mother or father is a grandparent.
Q11Adam has a sister. She is … sister.
Incorrect answer
His refers to Adam, the person related to the sister.
Correct answer: his
His refers to Adam, the person related to the sister.
Q12Lina has a father. He is … father.
Incorrect answer
Her refers to Lina, not to the father.
Correct answer: her
Her refers to Lina, not to the father.
Q13Complete: This is … book. It belongs to me.
Incorrect answer
My is the possessive adjective used before book.
Correct answer: my
My is the possessive adjective used before book.
Q14Complete: She … a brother.
Incorrect answer
Use has in a positive statement with she.
Correct answer: has
Use has in a positive statement with she.
Q15Complete: They … two pencils.
Incorrect answer
I, you, we and they take have.
Correct answer: have
I, you, we and they take have.
Q16Choose the correct question.
Incorrect answer
Use does with he and the base form have.
Correct answer: Does he have a bag?
Use does with he and the base form have.
Q17Choose the negative.
Incorrect answer
After doesn’t, the verb returns to have.
Correct answer: She doesn’t have a book.
After doesn’t, the verb returns to have.
Q18Choose the correct description.
Incorrect answer
The adjective comes before the noun and stays unchanged.
Correct answer: two blue books
The adjective comes before the noun and stays unchanged.
Q19Complete: She has … orange bag.
Incorrect answer
Orange begins with a vowel sound, so use an.
Correct answer: an
Orange begins with a vowel sound, so use an.
Q20Which words describe a feeling?
Incorrect answer
Happy and tired describe how someone feels.
Correct answer: Happy and tired
Happy and tired describe how someone feels.
Q21What is the short form of We are?
Incorrect answer
We’re is the contraction of We are.
Correct answer: We’re
We’re is the contraction of We are.
Q22What does last name mean?
Incorrect answer
Your last name is your family name.
Correct answer: Family name
Your last name is your family name.
Q23Does he have a book? Yes, …
Incorrect answer
Use does in the short answer to a does question.
Correct answer: he does.
Use does in the short answer to a does question.
Q24Choose the correctly written nationality.
Incorrect answer
Nationality words start with a capital letter.
Correct answer: Moroccan
Nationality words start with a capital letter.
Your score
0/20
Start with the worked examples
Read the lesson in small sections. Write your own example for each rule and try the Easy exercises before returning to the quiz.
Review: 20 missed questions
Complete: I … twelve.
Correct answeram
Use am with I when giving your age.
Complete: She … my sister.
Correct answeris
She takes is in the present of be.
Complete: They … students.
Correct answerare
They takes are because it is a plural subject.
Choose the correct age sentence.
Correct answerI am thirteen.
English uses be to give an age: I am thirteen.
Where are you from?
Correct answerI’m from Morocco.
The question asks for a place or country.
Complete: I’m from … .
Correct answerMorocco
Morocco is a country; Moroccan is a nationality.
Which question matches She is tall?
Correct answerIs she tall?
Put is before the subject to form this question.
Choose the negative of They are tired.
Correct answerThey aren’t tired.
Are not contracts to aren’t with they.
Are you a student? Yes, …
Correct answerI am.
Use the full verb in a positive short answer.
Your mother’s mother is your…
Correct answergrandmother.
A parent of your mother or father is a grandparent.
Adam has a sister. She is … sister.
Correct answerhis
His refers to Adam, the person related to the sister.
Lina has a father. He is … father.
Correct answerher
Her refers to Lina, not to the father.
Complete: This is … book. It belongs to me.
Correct answermy
My is the possessive adjective used before book.
Complete: She … a brother.
Correct answerhas
Use has in a positive statement with she.
Complete: They … two pencils.
Correct answerhave
I, you, we and they take have.
Choose the correct question.
Correct answerDoes he have a bag?
Use does with he and the base form have.
Choose the negative.
Correct answerShe doesn’t have a book.
After doesn’t, the verb returns to have.
Choose the correct description.
Correct answertwo blue books
The adjective comes before the noun and stays unchanged.
Complete: She has … orange bag.
Correct answeran
Orange begins with a vowel sound, so use an.
Which words describe a feeling?
Correct answerHappy and tired
Happy and tired describe how someone feels.
Exercises with answers
14 exercises, from easy practice to challenges. Try each one yourself, then reveal the answer and explanation.
Exercise 1
EasyComplete: I … twelve. My name … Salma. We … students. You … my friend.
Answer and explanation
I am twelve. My name is Salma. We are students. You are my friend. Match each form to the subject.
Exercise 2
EasyUse Morocco or Moroccan: I’m from … . I’m … .
Answer and explanation
I’m from Morocco. I’m Moroccan. Use the country after from and the nationality directly after am.
Exercise 3
EasyName your mother’s father, your father’s sister and your aunt’s child.
Answer and explanation
Your grandfather, your aunt and your cousin. Follow the family relationship in each clue.
Exercise 4
EasyAdam says: This is … sister. Lina has a brother called Sami: … name is Sami. Adam has a sister called Sara: … name is Sara.
Answer and explanation
My; his; her. Adam uses my when speaking about his own sister. His refers to Sami and her refers to Sara.
Exercise 5
EasyComplete: I … a pencil. She … a book. They … two bags. My brother … a notebook.
Answer and explanation
Have; has; have; has. My brother can be replaced with he, so it takes has.
Exercise 6
IntermediateMake negative: She is twelve. They are tired. I am tall. He has a sister.
Answer and explanation
She isn’t twelve. They aren’t tired. I’m not tall. He doesn’t have a sister. After doesn’t, use have.
Exercise 7
IntermediateMake questions: She is Moroccan. They are students. He has a red bag.
Answer and explanation
Is she Moroccan? Are they students? Does he have a red bag? Move be before the subject; use does with have here.
Exercise 8
IntermediateAnswer as directed: Are you twelve? (yes) Is she tired? (no) Do you have a sister? (no) Does he have a book? (yes)
Answer and explanation
Yes, I am. No, she isn’t. No, I don’t. Yes, he does. Match the short answer to the verb in the question.
Exercise 9
IntermediateCorrect: I have twelve years. She have a brother. His bag is a blue. They are happys.
Answer and explanation
I am twelve years old. She has a brother. His bag is blue. They are happy. Use be for age; adjectives do not take plural s.
Exercise 10
IntermediateOrder: bag / orange / an ; books / blue / two. Use She has with the first group.
Answer and explanation
An orange bag; two blue books. She has an orange bag. The adjective comes before the noun; orange starts with a vowel sound.
Exercise 11
IntermediateUse the reading above. How old is Ines? Who is Karim? What colour is Amal’s bag? Who has a green notebook?
Answer and explanation
Ines is ten. Karim is Rayan’s father. Amal’s bag is blue. Rayan has a green notebook. Each answer is stated in the text.
Exercise 12
ChallengeAsk for a name, age, country and one possession. Write four questions and possible answers.
Answer and explanation
Model: What’s your name? I’m Noor. How old are you? I’m twelve. Where are you from? I’m from Morocco. Do you have a notebook? Yes, I do. Your partner’s details may differ.
Exercise 13
ChallengeWrite six sentences about a real or invented family. Include be, have or has, and two possessive adjectives.
Answer and explanation
Model: I’m Sami. I’m thirteen. This is my sister. Her name is Hiba. She has a blue book. We are happy. Check that each pronoun clearly refers to someone.
Exercise 14
ChallengeImprove this profile: i’m nour. i have twelve years. my brother are ten. her name is sami. he have a red bag.
Answer and explanation
I’m Nour. I’m twelve years old. My brother is ten. His name is Sami. He has a red bag. Check capitals, age with be, is for one brother, his for Sami and has with he.