Use of Auxiliary BE/DO/HAVE

The verb forms ofbe, do, and havecan be used either as a main (full) verb or an auxiliary verb. The following examples show these verbs used as auxiliary verbs.

1. "Be" as an auxiliary verb

a. Used in progressive sentences: I am taking a bath.

She is preparing dinner for us.

They have been studying all night.

b. Used in passive sentences: I was given a free meal.

He was seen by fans at the airport.

This song has been sung by all nations.

2. "Do" as an auxiliary verb

a. Used in negative sentences: I do not know the truth.

She doesnt agree with me.

They didnt arrive here yet.

b. Used in questions: Do you want to have another one?

Did he finish his homework?

Do we need to keep going straight

3. "Have" as an auxiliary verb

a. Used in perfect sentences: I have been following you for a mile.

We have done a lot so far.

She had been queen of the town.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Auxiliary verbs are also known as 'helping verbs'.

The three most common auxiliary verbs are: be,doandhaveI am leaving=Leavingis the main verb.Amis the auxiliary. Present ContinuousDo you smoke?=Smokeis the main verb.Dois the auxiliary. Present SimpleShe has arrived=Arrivedis the main verb.Hasis the auxiliary. Present Perfect Do / does / did

Dois common for forming questions and making negatives.

Didis used fordoanddoesin the past tense.Doanddoesis never used for the past.

In statements

I domy homework.

You dothe laundry.

We dothe washing up.

They doyoga.

He/she doesthe cleaning.

In questions

Do Iknow you?

Do youlive here?

Do wehave time?

Do theycome from Vietnam?

Does he/shedrive to work?

In negative sentences

I do not.(I don't)You do not.(you don't)We do not.(we don't)They do not.(they don't)He/she does not.(he/she doesn't)

Be = am / is / are

Becan be used as an auxiliary verb or the main verb in a sentence.

Istells us that an action is happening now or is going to happen in the future.

Beis also used to make passives.

Areis used fortheyandwe.

Wasis used for the past tense ofamandis.

Wereis used for the past tense ofyou,weandthey.

In statements

I am21.

You areIndian.

We arewaiting.

They areexcited

He/she iscool.

In questions

Am Iin the right place?

Are youmy new boss?

Are wenearly there?

Are theythe best players on the team?

Is he/sheold enough to go to bars?

In negative sentences

I am not.(I aren't)You are not.(you aren't)We are not.(we aren't)They are not.(they aren't)He/she is not.(he/she isn't)Have = has / had

Haveis used to make thepresent perfect tense(it is always followed by the past participle).

Hasis used for thethird person singular.

Hadis used for past tenses especially thepast perfect tense. It describes an action that began in the past and continues into the present or that occurred in the recent past.

In statements

I havea dog.

You havesomething on your shirt.

We haveseen it before.

They havecalled me three times.

He/she haslived in America.

In negative sentences

I have not.(I haven't/ I've not)You have not.(you haven't/you've not)We have not.(we haven't/we've not)They have not.(they haven't/they've not)He/she has not(he/she hasn't)*Fill in all the gaps with Present continuous or present simple form.It is a Friday evening. Tim and Oliver____________ (play)football against Mike and John. They____________(often/play) football against Mike and John.On nice Sunday mornings the Millers____________ (have)breakfast in the garden. But today it____________ (rain).So they____________(have) breakfast in the kitchen.It is three oclock. Mr Hill____________ (take) Sebastiansfood into the garden. He____________ (always/take)Sebastians food into the garden. It is Monday morning. A coach full of children____________(drive) to the youth hostel in Bexhill. The pupils atSarahs school____________ (go) on a trip every spring.Sandra____________ (often/listen) to Jessica Simpsonssongs in the afternoon. But today she and her friendPatricia____________ (listen) to the Backstreet Boys.* Put the verbs in the correct forms, present continuousorpresent simple.1. Let's go out. It____________ (not/rain) now.2. Julia is very good at languages. She____________ (speak) four languagesvery well.3. Hurry up! Everybody____________ (wait) for you.4.____________ (you/listen) to the radio?No, you can turn it off.5.____________ (you/listen) to the radio every day? No, just occasionally.6. The River Nile____________ (flow) into the Mediterranean.7. Look at the river. It____________ (flow) very fast today - much fasterthan usual.8. We usually____________ (grow) vegetables in our garden but this year we ____________ (not/grow) any.9. How is your English? Not bad. It____________ (improve) slowly.10. Ron is in London at the moment. He____________ (stay) at the ParkHotel. He____________ (always/stay) there when he's in London.11. Can we stop walking soon? I____________ (start) to feel tired.12. Can you drive?I____________ (learn). My father____________ (teach) me.13. Normally I____________ (finish) work at 5.00, but this week I____________ (work) until 6.00 to earn a bit more money.14. My parents____________ (live) in Bristol. They were born there and have never lived anywhere else. Where____________ (your parents/live)?15. Sonia____________ (look) for a place to live. She____________ (stay) with her sister until she finds somewhere.