The word am is the form of the verb “to be” that you use when talking about yourself in the present moment. When you say I am hungry or I am ten years old, you're using am to connect yourself to a description or state of being.

You only use am with the word “I.” You wouldn't say “you am” or “she am.” Instead, you'd say “you are” or “she is.” This makes am special: it's the only form of “to be” that pairs exclusively with “I.”

Am appears in countless everyday sentences: I am ready, I am thinking, I am Sam. It's a small but essential word that helps you express who you are and how you feel.

While am might seem simple, it does important work in English. It helps you state facts about yourself (I am tall), describe your feelings (I am excited), explain what you're doing (I am reading), and even ask questions about yourself (Am I late?). Without am, you'd have a hard time talking about who you are or what you're experiencing right now.