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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

  1. Mixing up singular and plural forms:
    • Incorrect: She do her homework.
    • Correct: She does her homework.
  2. Using “was” instead of “were” with plural subjects:
    • Incorrect: They was happy.
    • Correct: They were happy.
  3. Forgetting the correct verb form for “has” and “have”:
    • Incorrect: He have a car.
    • Correct: He has a car.

Summary Table

Verb GroupSingularPlural
Is/Are/AmI am, He/She/It isWe/You/They are
Do/DoesHe/She/It doesI/We/You/They do
Was/WereI/He/She/It wasWe/You/They were
Has/HaveHe/She/It hasI/We/You/They have

Practice Exercises

  1. 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.
  2. Rewrite the following sentences correctly:
    • He do not like apples.
    • You was late for the meeting.
    • They has a big house.
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