AUXILIARY VERBS EXERCISE 3 (BE, DO, HAVE) (ESL)
A2–B1 · IntermediateA third exercise on be, do, and have, focusing on two areas where choosing the right form really matters: question formation and short answers.
Exercise 1 · Exercise 2 · Exercise 3
Need a refresher? Review the grammar ↓Choose the correct auxiliary verb to start each question or complete each short answer.
1.________ your brother ever been to Manchester?
Correct answer: Has — Has forms the present perfect — has been = at any point up to now.
2.________ she Scottish?
Correct answer: Is — Is is the correct present-tense form of be for this question about nationality.
3.________ Thomas drink a lot of coffee?
Correct answer: Does — Does forms the present simple question for third-person singular — does he like.
4.________ your neighbor have a dog?
Correct answer: Does — Does not Has — have a dog in the sense of ownership uses do/does, not the perfect.
5.________ you going to take a bath?
Correct answer: Are — Are forms the present continuous question — are you going.
6.________ you spoken to the mail carrier today?
Correct answer: Have — Have forms the present perfect question — have you spoken.
7.Q: Do you enjoy reading? A: Yes, I ________!
Correct answer: do — question with do gets a short answer with do — Yes, I do.
8.________ your cousin sold his bicycle yet?
Correct answer: Has — Has + past participle = present perfect — the action happened at some unspecified point before now.
9.________ your friends coming over to watch the game?
Correct answer: Are — Are forms the present continuous — are they coming.
10.________ your parents live far from here?
Correct answer: Do — Do forms the present simple question for plural subjects — do they want.
Grammar review
Auxiliary verbs — forming questions and short answers
This exercise focuses on questions — choosing the right auxiliary to start each one and matching it in short answers.
Question formation:
Auxiliary + subject + main verb:
Does Karen drink a lot of tea? (simple present, 3rd person)
Are you going to paint the fence? (present continuous / going to)
Have you spoken to him today? (present perfect)
Has your uncle fixed the car yet? (present perfect, 3rd person)
Short answers mirror the auxiliary:
“Do you play chess?” → “Yes, I do.”
“Is she Scottish?” → “Yes, she is.”
How to identify which auxiliary to use:
• Action in simple present/past → do/does/did
• Continuous action or state with be → am/is/are
• Perfect tense → have/has/had
• Future with going to → am/is/are (it’s present continuous in structure)
This exercise focuses on questions — choosing the right auxiliary to start each one and matching it in short answers.
Question formation:
Auxiliary + subject + main verb:
Does Karen drink a lot of tea? (simple present, 3rd person)
Are you going to paint the fence? (present continuous / going to)
Have you spoken to him today? (present perfect)
Has your uncle fixed the car yet? (present perfect, 3rd person)
Short answers mirror the auxiliary:
“Do you play chess?” → “Yes, I do.”
“Is she Scottish?” → “Yes, she is.”
How to identify which auxiliary to use:
• Action in simple present/past → do/does/did
• Continuous action or state with be → am/is/are
• Perfect tense → have/has/had
• Future with going to → am/is/are (it’s present continuous in structure)
KEEP PRACTICING — MORE EXERCISES FOR YOU:
Do or does? 1
Do or does? 2
Do, does, is, or are?
To be or to have?
To be (present)
To have (present)
Browse all grammar exercises →
Do or does? 1
Do or does? 2
Do, does, is, or are?
To be or to have?
To be (present)
To have (present)
Browse all grammar exercises →
