Where to use “is / are / am / was / were” and “has / have / had"

Where to use “is / are / am / was / were” and “has / have / had"

-Published on 04th Feb 2022 by Oxford School of English-

“is / are / am / was / were” and “has / have / had” have always been a challenge for quite a few. Today, we will learn where they are used. “is / are / am / was / were” are called “helping verbs”. As the name suggests, they are verbs that help convey the tense and meaning of a sentence. “was/were” in the past form.

Whereas, “has/have,” tells “ownership” in the present and “had” in the past. Let us have a look at them in detail:

 

1. Use of “is / are / am / was / were”

To describe what a person or thing is, like:

 

My uncle is a businessmanThey are not upstairsThe weather is so pleasant todayHe was very short-temperedWere you shocked when you saw that?

 

With “Verb_1+ing” to make continuous tense, like:

She is studying upstairsThey were not playing wellHe was not watching TV when the doorbell rangWhy were you playing so bad yesterday?How was he commuting yesterday?

 

To emphasize an action, in passive forms, like:

These rooms are cleaned twice a dayShe was not told to leavePlants are not watered regularlyWhy are the cars parked here?Where were the chairs kept?

 

 

2. Use of “has / have / had “

To possess or hold something, like:

 

I have (got) some old coinsHe has (got) two kidsThey have not (got) much money. (or, they don’t have much....)She hasn’t got a job in an MNC. (or, she doesn’t have a job….)They had a posh house in the colony.

 

Note: “got” is optional and used mostly in spoken English

To show compulsory actions, like:

I have to leave nowYou don’t have to stay hereShe has to complete this task as soon as possibleDoes he have to fill out this form right now?

 

With Present Perfect or Present Perfect Continuous tense like:

I have delivered the parcelNobody has applied for the job.She has found the car keysHave they lodged an FIR?We have been waiting here since morningHas she been doing the dishes for half an hour?

0