Understanding Is/Are/Am, Do/Does, Was/Were, and Has/Have
Mastering the basics of English verbs is essential for ESL students and English learners. This lesson will enable you to understand the basic four verb groups: is/are/am, do/does, was/were, and has/have, as these verbs are fundamental in constructing sentences to be used in different tenses and contexts.
This article will help you understand four fundamental verb groups: is/are/am, do/does, was/were, and has/have. These verbs are crucial for constructing sentences in different tenses and contexts.
1. Is/Are/Am
These verbs are forms of the verb “to be” and are used in the present tense. Their usage depends on the subject:
- I am
- You are
- He/She/It is
- We are
- They are
Examples:
- I am a student.
- They are playing soccer.
- She is reading a book.
2. Do/Does
“Do” and “does” are auxiliary verbs used in the present tense for questions, negatives, and emphatic sentences. “Does” is used with singular third-person subjects (he, she, it), while “do” is used with all other subjects.
- I/You/We/They do
- He/She/It does
Examples:
- Do you like coffee?
- He does not understand the problem.
- We do our homework every evening.
3. Was/Were
“Was” and “were” are past tense forms of the verb “to be.” Use “was” with singular subjects (except “you”) and “were” with plural subjects and “you.”
- I/He/She/It was
- You/We/They were
Examples:
- I was at the park yesterday.
- They were excited about the trip.
- She was learning English last year.
4. Has/Have
“Has” and “have” are forms of the verb “to have” and are used in the present tense. “Has” is used with singular third-person subjects, while “have” is used with all other subjects.
- I/You/We/They have
- He/She/It has
Examples:
- I have a new book.
- She has a beautiful garden.
- They have been working hard.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Mixing up singular and plural forms:
- Incorrect: She do her homework.
- Correct: She does her homework.
- Using “was” instead of “were” with plural subjects:
- Incorrect: They was happy.
- Correct: They were happy.
- Forgetting the correct verb form for “has” and “have”:
- Incorrect: He have a car.
- Correct: He has a car.
Summary Table
Verb Group | Singular | Plural |
---|---|---|
Is/Are/Am | I am, He/She/It is | We/You/They are |
Do/Does | He/She/It does | I/We/You/They do |
Was/Were | I/He/She/It was | We/You/They were |
Has/Have | He/She/It has | I/We/You/They have |
Practice Exercises
- Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb:
- She … (is/are) a teacher.
- They … (do/does) their chores every morning.
- I … (was/were) at home last night.
- He … (has/have) a pet dog.
- Rewrite the following sentences correctly:
- He do not like apples.
- You was late for the meeting.
- They has a big house.