Understanding "To Be" and "To Have" When Talking About Age

When you're learning English, it's really important to know how to talk about age. Two common words we use are "to be" and "to have." Let’s look at how these words work when we want to express someone's age.

Using "To Be"

In English, we mostly use the verb "to be" to say how old someone is. It's pretty simple and directly tells us a person's age.

Here's the Rule:

• Subject + to be + age

Example Sentences:

1. "I am 15 years old."
2. "She is 12 years old."
3. "They are 17 years old."

Word Help:

• Am: This form of "to be" is used with "I."
• Is: This is for one person or thing (like he, she, or it).
• Are: This is used for more than one person (like we or they).

Using "To Have"

On the other hand, "to have" is not usually used to say someone's age directly. It might be used in special cases where we talk about experiences or things that happen because of age.

Here's the Rule:

• Subject + to have + a specific experience related to age (this is less common)

Example Sentences:

1. "I have my 16th birthday next week." (talking about an upcoming age)
2. "He has a driver's license at 18." (showing an age-related event)

Main Differences

1. Directness:

   • "To be" is the clear choice for saying how old someone is.
   • "To have" talks about something related to age but doesn’t state age itself.

2. Context:

   • Use "to be" when you want to say someone's age.
   • Use "to have" when discussing experiences or events related to age.

Summary

So, remember this: "to be" is the best word to use when you talk about age in English. For example, saying "I am 15 years old" is clear and easy to understand. Meanwhile, "to have" can be used for sentences about age-related experiences but doesn’t directly tell age.

Practice

Try making sentences about your age using both verbs. For example:

• "I am ___ years old."
• "I have my birthday next month."

Practicing these sentences will help you feel more confident in sharing your age in English!