Video A : Introduction to asking questions with “Be present + noun”

Hello and welcome

to your MES eLesson.
I'm Virginia.

Today you’re going

to learn the what and
the how of asking
“Be present + noun” questions.

Let’s start with “WHAT.” What are these questions used for?

They can be used to ask about jobs.

For example,

“Are you a nurse?”

Good. Now, let’s learn “HOW.” How do you use these questions?

First, know how to

conjugate “Be present”.

If you want to ask about yourself, please repeat:

Am I
-
-
If you want to ask about me,
Are you
-
-
If you want to ask about a man, for example, Louis,
Is Louis
-
-
If you want to ask about a woman, for example, Emily,
Is Emily
-
-
If you want to ask about you and me,
Are we
-
-
If you want to ask about other people,
Are they
-
-
It’s very important to memorize this conjugation fluently before you start practicing
Video B.
Next, you need to
study your vocabulary to know a variety of nouns, for example,

Are you:
a mailman?
an artist?
the manager?

Remember, be sure
to pronounce the
“an” before nouns
that begin with vowel
sounds. For example,
“Are you a mailman?”
“Are you an artist?”

Keep in mind that native speakers ask questions in

friendly ways –
your facial expression
is very important.
Watch me –
for example,

“Are you a cook?” “Are you an author?”

“Are you the boss?”

Let’s try saying

those three questions!
Please repeat after me:

“Are you a cook?”

-
-
Great job! Remember to think about your facial expression!

Let’s do another. Please repeat after me:

“Are you an author?”

-
-
Good! Remember to follow my intonation!

Let’s do one more! Please repeat after me:

“Are you the boss?”

-
-
Excellent!
We’ll practice these examples and
more in Video B.

<Quick Review>

Now, let’s review!

First, what are

“Be present + noun” questions used for?
They can be used to ask about jobs.

Second, how do you use these questions?

You use them by

knowing the conjugation
of “Be present,” and
building a more specific question with the vocabulary.

Well done! Let’s move

on to Video B to really practice making your own questions!
Remember to keep
on reviewing your vocabulary.

I'm Virginia! See you next time!

Video B : Practicing asking with “Be present + noun”

Hi and welcome back to your MES eLesson.

I’m Virginia.
Now that you
understand the
concept of asking
questions with
“Be present + noun”,
let’s practice.
Before we begin,
let's review the
conjugation that
you learned in Video A.

Please repeat after me.

Am I
-
-
Please repeat:
Are you
-
-
Please repeat:
Is Jacob
-
-
Please repeat:
Is Laura
-
-
Please repeat:
Are we
-
-
Please repeat:
Are they
-
-
Good, let’s do that conjugation again, faster!
Please repeat after me.
Am I
-
-
Are you
-
-
Is Jacob
-
-
Is Laura
-
-
Are we
-
-
Are they
-
-
Excellent! That’s
the speed you
should use in order
to speak English fluently!

Now that you’ve

memorized this
conjugation, let’s
build a full question
with the noun "a worker".
Please repeat:

“A worker”
-
-
Good, now please repeat after me:
Am I a worker?
-
-
Are you a worker?
-
-
Is Jacob a worker?
-
-
Is Laura a worker?
-
-
Are we workers?
-
-
Remember, it’s
important to pronounce
the “s” when you talk
about more than
one noun.
Let’s do that one again:

Are we workers?
-
-
Good! Please repeat:

Are they workers?

-
-
Exactly.
Now, let’s practice
making your own
questions with other
nouns, using the
indefinite article “a”.

Please listen to the noun first, then repeat after me:

a surgeon
-
-
Good! Now ask me if I’m a surgeon:
-
-
Nice! Please repeat. Are you a surgeon?
-
-
Now ask me if Greg is a surgeon:
-
-
Nice! Please repeat:
Is Greg a surgeon?
-
-
Good! Let’s do another!

Please repeat.
a clerk
-
-
Good! Now ask me if I’m a clerk:
-
-
Good! Please repeat:
Are you a clerk?
-
-
Now ask me about Brenda:
-
-
Good! Please repeat:
Is Brenda a clerk?
-
-
Please repeat:
a receptionist
-
-
Good. Now ask me:
-
-
Very nice! Please repeat:
Are you a receptionist?
-
-
Now ask me about James:
-
-
Excellent! Please repeat:
Is James a receptionist?
-
-
Great! Now let’s
practice using the
indefinite article “an.”

Please repeat after me:

an announcer
-
-
Good! Now ask me:
-
-
Good! Please repeat:
Are you an announcer?
-
-
Now ask me about Sylvia:
-
-
Excellent! Please repeat:
Is Sylvia an announcer?
-
-
Good! Let’s do another example.
Please repeat.
an athlete
-
-
Nice. Now ask me:
-
-
Good! Please repeat:
Are you an athlete?
-
-
Now ask me about Sam:
-
-
Please repeat:
Is Sam an athlete?
-
-
Very nice!
Please repeat:
an optician
-
-
Good! Now ask me:
-
-
Nice! Please repeat:
Are you an optician?
-
-
Now ask me about Ivan and Lou:
-
-
Great! Please repeat:
Are they opticians?
-
-
Excellent!

Now let’s practice using the definite article “the.”

Please repeat after me:

the advisor
-
-
Good. Now ask me:
-
-
Good! Please repeat:
Are you the advisor?
-
-
Now ask me about Ted:
-
-
Nice! Please repeat:
Is Ted the advisor?
-
-
Nice! Please repeat
after me:
the counselor
-
-
Good! Now ask me:
-
-
Very good! Please repeat:
Are you the counselor?
-
-
Now ask me about Ed:
-
-
Nice! Please repeat:
Is Ed the counselor?
-
-
Excellent!
Please repeat after me:
the curator
-
-
Good! Now ask me:
-
-
Nice! Please repeat:
Are you the curator?
-
-
Good. Now ask me about Mary:
-
-
Very nice! Please repeat:
Is Mary the curator?
-
-
Well done!

Please practice
with this video until
you are able to
ask questions fluently!

Remember it’s
important to practice
this video as much as possible until you feel comfortable!