AUXILIARY VERBS EXERCISE 1 (BE, DO, HAVE) (ESL)
level: Beginner/Intermediate (A2/B1)
✓ Useful for TOEFL
✓ Useful for TOEIC
Auxiliary verbs — be, do, and have — do a lot of the structural work in English, forming tenses, questions, negatives, and passive constructions. Knowing which one a sentence needs is a fundamental skill at every level.
Grammar review
Auxiliary verbs: be, do, have — what each one does
Be, do, and have are the three main auxiliary (helping) verbs in English. Each one pairs with a main verb to create a specific tense or meaning.
BE — forms continuous tenses and the passive voice
“She is working late tonight.” (present continuous)
“They were sleeping when I arrived.” (past continuous)
“The letter was written by him.” (passive)
HAVE — forms perfect tenses
“I have finished my homework.” (present perfect)
“She had already left when he called.” (past perfect)
“They will have arrived by noon.” (future perfect)
DO — forms questions and negatives in simple tenses; adds emphasis
“Do you like coffee?” (question) “I don’t know.” (negative)
“I do agree with you.” (emphasis)
The key question: Which tense does the sentence need? The tense determines which auxiliary is correct.
Be, do, and have are the three main auxiliary (helping) verbs in English. Each one pairs with a main verb to create a specific tense or meaning.
BE — forms continuous tenses and the passive voice
“She is working late tonight.” (present continuous)
“They were sleeping when I arrived.” (past continuous)
“The letter was written by him.” (passive)
HAVE — forms perfect tenses
“I have finished my homework.” (present perfect)
“She had already left when he called.” (past perfect)
“They will have arrived by noon.” (future perfect)
DO — forms questions and negatives in simple tenses; adds emphasis
“Do you like coffee?” (question) “I don’t know.” (negative)
“I do agree with you.” (emphasis)
The key question: Which tense does the sentence need? The tense determines which auxiliary is correct.
Choose the correct auxiliary verb — be, do, or have — to complete each sentence.
1.________ he changed much over the years?
Correct answer: Has — Has + past participle forms the present perfect — asking about change over a period of time.
2.________ she speaking Polish?
Correct answer: Is — Is forms the present continuous question — is she speaking.
3.________ he like to drive at night?
Correct answer: Does — Does forms present simple questions for third-person singular — does he like.
4.________ you normally read before you go to bed?
Correct answer: Do — Do forms the present simple question for second person — do you normally read.
5.________ I look tired?
Correct answer: Am — Am is the correct auxiliary for first-person state questions — am I tired.
6.________ you seen that movie several times already?
Correct answer: Have — Have + past participle = present perfect — asking about a completed action with current relevance.
7.P1: Do you like him? P2: Yes, I ________!
Correct answer: do — short answer to a do you question uses do — Yes, I do.
8.________ she been to Greece before?
Correct answer: Has — Has + past participle = present perfect — asking about past experience.
9.________ they going to the shopping center?
Correct answer: Are — Are forms the present continuous question with plural subjects — are they going.
10.________ they always cheat?
Correct answer: Do — Do is the correct auxiliary for third-person plural present simple questions.
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER AUXILIARY VERB EXERCISES:
Auxiliary verbs (be, do, have) 1 (A2/B1)
Auxiliary verbs (be, do, have) 2 (A2/B1)
Auxiliary verbs (be, do, have) 3 (A2/B1)
More grammar exercises
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Auxiliary verbs (be, do, have) 1 (A2/B1)
Auxiliary verbs (be, do, have) 2 (A2/B1)
Auxiliary verbs (be, do, have) 3 (A2/B1)
More grammar exercises
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