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Grammar Basics: Unit 24 – Be, Have, and Do (Solutions)

Posted on 2012/03/09
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Exercises: Complete the sentences by choosing a verb from the list, and using its correct form.

Example:

The library was (build) in 1956. ==> The library was built in 1956.

1. Where are you going?
2. John was waiting for the bus when his phone battery went dead.
3. They don’t have any bananas at the supermarket today.
4. The doctor didn’t do the operation today – he’ll do it tomorrow.
5. Was it raining when you woke up this morning?
6. He didn’t think that Katy was telling the truth.
7. When was the room painted?
8. Ice cream is made from milk.
9. Jack was injured when he was in the army.
10. Everybody was expecting the bad weather to come last night.

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Grammar Basics: Unit 24 – Be, Have, and Do

Posted on 2012/03/08
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In English there are three important “helper” verbs: be, have, and do. These verbs generally are not used alone, but they are usually used together with other verbs in various forms.

be (am / is / are // was / were) + V-ing:

“be” + V-ing is used for the present continuous form.
“was / were” + V-ing is used for the past continuous form.

We’ve already looked at this some, so here we’ll just give a few examples as a quick review:

Examples:

It’s snowing right now.
Shhh! The baby’s sleeping!
Where’s Uncle John? He’s weeding in the garden.

It was snowing yesterday when we walked to school.
The baby was sleeping, until you woke him up – thanks a lot!
Last time I saw him, Uncle John was painting the garage.

be (am / is / are // was / were) + past participle:

“be” + past participle is used for the simple present passive.
“was / were” + past participle is used for the simple past passive.

We’ve also just looked at these cases. Here are a few more examples:

Examples:

The beds are made each morning by the hotel’s cleaning staff.
Janey is excited to go on her first train trip.
I’m exhausted from running up and down the stairs.

When we checked into our room, we saw that the beds were not made.
Peter was depressed to find out that he couldn’t go to summer camp this year.
When were you married?

have / has + past participle:

Recall that this is used for the present perfect:

Examples:

I’ve completed all my assignments, and done all the laundry.
He has always gone to Florida for Christmas vacation.
She’s lost her keys again!
Have you ever crossed the equator?

do / does / did + V (dictionary form):

“do / does” + V (dictionary form) is used for the simple present negative, and for questions.
“did” + V (dictionary form) is used for the simple past negative, and for questions.

Examples:

Do you often eat pizza?
He likes classical and jazz, but he doesn’t like rap.
What kind of movies do you usually watch?
I don’t think he will win the competition.
Did you ever see such a sight in your life as three blind mice?
What did you do last night?
I didn’t know that you were in the navy.

Exercises: Complete the sentences by choosing a verb from the list, and using its correct form.

Example:

The library was (build) in 1956. ==> The library was built in 1956.

do
expect
go
have
injure
make
paint
rain
think
wait

1. Where are you ______ ?
2. John ______ for the bus when his phone battery went dead.
3. They (not) ______ any bananas at the supermarket today.
4. The doctor (not) ______ the operation today – he’ll do it tomorrow.
5. Was it ______ when you woke up this morning?
6. He (not) ______ that Katy was telling the truth.
7. When was the room ______?
8. Ice cream is ______ from milk.
9. Jack was ______ when he was in the army.
10. Everybody was ______ the bad weather to come last night.

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Grammar Basics: Unit 2 – The Verb “Be” – Questions (Solution)

Posted on 2011/12/23
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Exercises: Write questions, using the proper form of the verb “be.”

1. Is the homework difficult?
2. Is John sick?
3. Is the baby hungry?
4. Are you cold?
5. Am I sleepy?
6. Is she a doctor?
7. Are we late?
8. Are they married?
9. Where are my keys?
10. What is the temperature?
11. Who is that man?
12. How are you?
13. Why are you sick?
14. How old is he?
15. Where is the dog?

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Grammar Basics: Unit 2 – The Verb “Be” – Questions

Posted on 2011/12/22
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To form questions with the verb “be,” the verb and subject are inverted (switch places in the sentence):

1st person singular:
Positive – I am
Question – am I?

2nd person singular:
Positive – you are
Question – are you?

3rd person singular:
Positive – he / she / it is
Question – is he / she / it?

1st person plural:
Positive – we are
Question – are we?

2nd person plural:
Positive – you are
Question – are you?

3rd person plural:
Positive – they are
Question – are they?

The answer to these “be” questions should be either Yes or No.

Examples:

  • Am I late?
    • Yes (you are).
    • Yes (, the show started ten minutes ago).
  • Are you hungry?
    • Yes (I am).
    • Yes (, I haven’t eaten since breakfast).
  • Is it raining?
    • No (, it’s sunny).
  • Is he crazy?
    • No (, but he sure acts like it sometimes).
  • Are we leaving now?
    • No (, we still have a half hour before the train comes in).
  • Are you ready?
    • Yes (we are).
    • Yes (, let’s take the test now).
  • Are they home?
    • No (, the lights are off).

Short negative answers may be contracted, but positive ones may not be:

  • Am I late?
    • No / No, you aren’t / No, you’re not.
  • Are you hungry?
    • No / No, I’m not.
  • Is it raining?
    • No / No, it isn’t / No, it’s not.
  • Is he crazy?
    • No / No, he isn’t / No, he’s not.
  • Are we leaving now?
    • No / No, we aren’t / No, we’re not.
  • Are you ready?
    • No / No, we aren’t / No, we’re not.
  • Are they home?
    • No / No, they aren’t / No, they’re not.

Wh-questions use the verb “be,” but cannot use Yes/No for an answer:

  • Where is / Where’s the restaurant?
    • It’s next to the bank.
  • What is / What’s the time?
    • It’s two o’clock.
  • Who is / Who’s coming to the party?
    • John and Sally are.
  • How tall is Sam?
    • He’s six feet tall.
  • Why are you crying?
    • I lost my puppy.

Exercises: Write questions, using the proper form of the verb “be.”

Solutions tomorrow.

1. the homework / difficult?

2. John / sick?

3. baby / hungry?

4. you / cold?

5. I / sleepy?

6. she / a doctor?

7. we / late?

8. they / married?

9. where / my keys?

10. what / the temperature?

11. who / that man?

12. how / you?

13. why / you / sick?

14. how / old / he?

15. where / the dog?

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Grammar Basics: Unit 1 – The Verb “Be” (Solutions)

Posted on 2011/12/21
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Answers:

1. That TV show is old.

2. Miss Smith is a lawyer.

3. The cats are hungry.

4. I’m positive I locked the door.

5. It’s eight o’clock – we must leave now.

6. They are the biggest seller of running shoes in the country.

7. You’re early for your appointment.

8. The playground isn’t open today.

9. No thank you, I’m not thirsty.

10. They’re not Americans.

11. John’s not on the team this year.

12. You’re not quiet enough.

13. We’re not afraid of you!

14. She’s not busy right now.

15. It’s not too late to place your order for Christmas.

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Grammar Basics: Unit 1 – The Verb “Be”

Posted on 2011/12/20
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The verb “be” is used to describe a quality or state of existence for a noun. Its form depends on “person” and count. (Contracted forms are in parentheses):

1st person singular:
Positive – I am (I’m)
Negative – I am not (I’m not)

2nd person singular:
Positive – You are (You’re)
Negative – You are not (You’re not / You aren’t)

3rd person singular:
Positive – He / She / It is (He’s, etc.)
Negative – He / She / It is not (He’s not / He isn’t, etc.)

1st person plural:
Positive – We are (We’re)
Negative – We are not (We’re not)

2nd person plural:
Positive – You are (You’re)
Negative – You are not (You’re not / You aren’t)

3rd person plural:
Positive – They are (They’re)
Negative – They are not (They’re not / They aren’t)

Examples:

I’m worried. The baby is sick.
If you’re cold, put on a sweater.
He is a doctor.
We are the number one manufacturer of erasers in the world.
They’re tired and hungry.

I’m not sure if we have enough food.
You aren’t bored, are you?
She’s not a very patient person.
We’re not late for dinner, are we?
They’re not members of the orchestra.

Note –
For tag questions, “I am not” has an irregular contraction:
I’m a clever student, aren’t I? (not amn’t I?)

===============================

For the following exercise, write complete sentences. Use the appropriate form of “be.”

Example:

(keys bag my in not) – My keys are not in my bag.

Solutions tomorrow.

1. (old show that TV)
____________________________________________________________________________

2. (a lawyer Miss Smith)
____________________________________________________________________________

3. (cats hungry the)
____________________________________________________________________________

4. (door I I locked positive the)
____________________________________________________________________________

5. (eight it leave must now o’clock we)
____________________________________________________________________________

6. (biggest country in of running seller shoes the the they)
____________________________________________________________________________

7. (appointment early for you your)
____________________________________________________________________________

8. (not open playground the today)
____________________________________________________________________________

9. (I no not thank thirsty you)
____________________________________________________________________________

10. (Americans not they)
____________________________________________________________________________

11. (this team John the not on year)
____________________________________________________________________________

12. (enough not quiet you)
____________________________________________________________________________

13. (afraid not of we you)
____________________________________________________________________________

14. (busy not now right she)
____________________________________________________________________________

15. (Christmas for it late not order place to too your)
____________________________________________________________________________

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