desu is used to express the "copula",the verb to be in english.
example:
"Christy-san wa ii desu."(Christy is fine,is good,okay.)
"Christy-san wa ii desu ka?"(this ka means a question,so all the things turn into a question like : Is Christy fine?)
"imasen"(negative) "imasu"(affirmative)
imasu is a verb which means to exist(only for living things like,a cat,dog,persons and etc)
"koko wa neko ga imasu ka?" (Is an cat there?)
I`m a japanese learner like you,but i think this is the right answer,if someone(native speaker) see this,and say that is wrong,please point why!! thanks!