Essential Am Is Are Worksheet | Grade 1 English Practice

This Grade 1 simple present tense worksheet provides a focused approach to mastering the primary forms of the verb "to be." Students practice with 25 distinct sentences to identify correct subject-verb agreement for am, is, and are. This printable resource ensures early learners build a strong grammatical foundation through consistent application.

At a Glance

• Grade: 1 · Subject: English Language Arts
• Standard: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.1 — Use am, is, and are correctly in basic present tense sentences
• Skill Focus: Subject-Verb Agreement (am/is/are)
• Format: 2 pages · 25 problems · Answer key included · PDF
• Best For: Early grammar practice and formative assessment
• Time: 15–25 minutes

What's Inside

This two-page PDF includes a practice sheet and a full answer key. The first page features 25 sentences with blanks for "am," "is," or "are." Using high-frequency words, the worksheet keeps the cognitive focus on grammar. The answer key allows for quick grading or student self-correction during independent work sessions.

Skill Progression

• Guided Practice: 10 sentences focused on singular pronouns (I, he, she, it) with high-frequency scaffolding.
• Supported Practice: 8 sentences introducing plural subjects (we, you, they) and common nouns to expand agreement rules.
• Independent Practice: 7 sentences mixing all forms to verify mastery of irregular "to be" verb conjugations.

This worksheet follows the gradual-release model, moving from I Do to We Do and finally You Do to ensure student confidence.

Standards Alignment

The primary alignment for this resource is CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.1, which requires students to demonstrate command of standard English grammar conventions. It specifically targets matching verbs with singular and plural nouns. Additionally, it supports CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.1.J through simple sentence production. Both standard codes can be copied directly into lesson plans, IEP goals, or district curriculum mapping tools.

How to Use It

Use this during guided practice after introducing "to be" verbs. It works well as an individual task or a pair activity. For a formative assessment tip, check for consistent errors with the plural "are." The 20-minute completion time makes it an ideal exit ticket or morning work staple.

Who It's For

Designed for Grade 1, this also serves as an intervention for Grade 2 or an ELL support tool. The clear layout benefits students needing visual structure. Pair it with an anchor chart or a short story to see the verbs in a natural reading context for better retention.

The use of discrete, sentence-level grammar practice is a recognized strategy for developing syntactic fluency in early writers. According to Fisher & Frey (2014), the gradual release of responsibility model is most effective when students are provided with high-volume, low-stakes opportunities to apply grammatical rules in context. This worksheet satisfies that requirement by providing 25 targeted opportunities for students to engage with the CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.1.1 standard. By focusing specifically on "am," "is," and "are," the resource isolates the variable of subject-verb agreement, allowing teachers to pinpoint specific misconceptions in student understanding. Research indicates that frequent, short bursts of grammar instruction are more effective than isolated units, and this activity fits perfectly into a balanced literacy block. This citation-ready summary highlights the worksheet's role in bridging the gap between rule memorization and functional writing application in the primary classroom.