Basics. Present and Past Forms of Be, Do, and Have: correct answers
Jump to answers ↓The Big Three: Be, Do, and Have
The verbs be, do, and have are the foundation of English grammar. They are unique because they frequently act as both main verbs (showing a state or possession) and auxiliary (helper) verbs used to build questions, negatives, and other tenses.
Because they are irregular, their forms change based on two things: the time of the action (present or past) and the subject of the sentence (I, you, he/she/it, we, they).
Matching the Subject and Time
To use these verbs correctly, you must match them to their subject. This is called subject-verb agreement.
The verb "to be" is the only English verb with three present forms and two past forms:
- Present: am (I), is (he/she/it), are (you/we/they)
- Past: was (I/he/she/it), were (you/we/they)
✅ The band members were completely out of tune last night. ❌ The band members was completely out of tune last night. (The subject "band members" is plural, so we must use "were".)
The verbs "to have" and "to do" change based on the subject in the present tense, but they are identical for all subjects in the past tense:
- Present: has / does (he/she/it), have / do (I/you/we/they)
- Past: had / did (all subjects)
✅ Before the storm, Captain Redbeard had a magnificent ship. ❌ Before the storm, Captain Redbeard has a magnificent ship. (The context is in the past, so the present tense "has" is incorrect.)
Forming Negatives and Questions
When making negative statements or asking questions in the present and past simple tenses, do and have usually need help. We use the helper verb do/does/did + not + the base verb.
✅ My fancy new cat doesn't like the salmon treats. ❌ My fancy new cat don't like the salmon treats. (A cat is a singular "it", so we need "doesn't".)
The verb to be is independent. It does not need a helper verb to form questions or negatives. You simply swap the subject and the verb, or add not directly after it.
✅ Were you in the kitchen this morning? ❌ Did you be in the kitchen this morning?
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The "Double Past" Error When you use did to ask a question or make a negative sentence in the past tense, did already shows the past time. The main verb that follows must stay in its base form. A very common mistake is putting both verbs in the past tense.
✅ Did you take my chocolate donut yesterday? ❌ Did you took my chocolate donut yesterday?
The "You Was" Trap Even though the pronoun you can refer to just one single person, it always takes the plural verb forms. Never use was, has, or does with you.
✅ Where were you last night? ❌ Where was you last night?
Correct answers
Question 1
Yesterday, I had a giant dinosaur bone buried in the garden. Right now, I only have a squeaky rubber chicken in my bed. My human, Dave, has no idea where I hid the real bone!
had: The word "Yesterday" shows this action happened in the past. The past tense of "have" is "had" for all subjects.
have: "Right now" means this is happening in the present. The subject is "I", which takes the base form "have".
has: Dave is a single person (he), so we use the third-person singular form "has" in the present tense.
Question 2
Drag the correct verbs to complete this funny text message to a friend.
My silly cat does not usually like water at all. But yesterday, he did not run away from the bathtub! I am still laughing about his surprised face.
My silly cat does not usually like water at all.
We use the singular present auxiliary "does" because "My silly cat" is a singular subject (he/she/it) and this is a general fact.
But yesterday, he did not run away from the bathtub!
We use the past tense auxiliary "did" to make a negative statement about "yesterday."
I am still laughing about his surprised face.
We use the present tense "am" because the subject is "I" and the action is happening right now ("still laughing").
Question 3
The correct answers are Did you take my chocolate donut yesterday?, Were you in the kitchen this morning?, and Do you have a donut in your pocket right now?.
"Did you take..." correctly uses the past auxiliary "did" with the base verb "take".
"Were you..." correctly uses the past tense of "be" for the pronoun "you".
"Do you have..." correctly uses the present auxiliary "do" with the main verb "have".
Incorrect Options:
"Was you" is incorrect because "you" always takes "were" in the past tense.
"Did you took" is incorrect because after the auxiliary "did", we must use the base form of the verb ("take"), not the past tense.
Question 4
Complete the disappointed fan's review.
The band members ______ completely out of tune during the entire concert last night.
The correct answer is were.
Because "band members" is a plural subject and the concert happened "last night" (past tense), we use the past plural form of the verb to be, which is "were".
Question 5
The correct answers are I am a normal human teenager., I do my homework every night., and We had a great time at the Earth dance yesterday.
"am" is the correct present tense form of "be" for the subject "I".
"do" is the correct present tense form for "I".
"had" is the correct past tense form of "have" for all subjects.
Incorrect Options:
"I has" is incorrect because "I" takes "have", not "has".
"Earth students is" is incorrect because "students" is plural and requires the verb "are".
Question 6
Why do humans drink hot bean water every morning? My human subject, Bob, does not like waking up early at all. In fact, yesterday he did absolutely nothing all day!
do: "Every morning" indicates a present habit. "Humans" is plural (they), so we use the auxiliary verb "do" to form the question.
does: Bob is a single person (he), so we use "does" to form a present tense negative sentence ("does not").
did: "Yesterday" tells us this happened in the past. The past form of "do" is "did", used here as the main verb.
Question 7
The correct answers are The cat is very hungry today., We do not have any milk left., and I did my chores before I left.
"is" correctly matches the singular subject "The cat".
"do not have" correctly uses the auxiliary "do" for the pronoun "we".
"did" is the correct past tense of "do" for all subjects.
Incorrect Options:
"I does" is incorrect; the pronoun "I" always takes "do" in the present tense.
"The dishes was" is incorrect; the plural subject "dishes" requires the plural past tense verb "were".
Question 8
Complete the pet owner's chaotic forum post by dragging the correct verbs into the spaces.
Right now, I have three extremely loud parrots in my apartment. Last year, I only had one, but he was too lonely by himself!
Right now, I have three extremely loud parrots in my apartment.
We use the present tense "have" because the subject is "I" and the time is "Right now."
Last year, I only had one,
We use the past tense "had" because the sentence is talking about "Last year."
but he was too lonely by himself!
We use the singular past tense "was" because the subject is "he" (the single parrot from last year).
Question 9
Yesterday, the food was absolutely terrible. However, today the chef and I are best friends! Because of this wonderful change, I am very happy right now.
was: "Yesterday" tells us this is in the past, and "food" is a singular uncountable noun, so we use "was".
are: "Today" tells us this is in the present. "The chef and I" is a plural subject (we), so we use "are".
am: "Right now" tells us this is in the present. The subject is "I", which always takes "am" in the present tense.
Question 10
Help the detective complete her interview notes by dragging the correct verbs into the blanks.
"Where exactly were you last night?" the detective asked.
"I am usually at home on Tuesdays," the suspect replied, "but yesterday I did not go straight home."
"Where exactly were you last night?" the detective asked.
We use the past tense plural form "were" because the subject is "you" and the time is "last night."
"I am usually at home on Tuesdays," the suspect replied,
We use the present tense "am" because the subject is "I" and "usually" shows this is a present habit or routine.
"but yesterday I did not go straight home."
We use the past tense auxiliary "did" to form a negative past tense sentence about "yesterday."
Question 11
Choose the correct word to complete the pirate's tale.
Before the terrible storm, Captain Redbeard ______ a magnificent ship with black sails.
The correct answer is had.
To show possession in the past, we use "had", which is the past tense form of the main verb to have. It is the same for all subjects!
Question 12
Help the confused pet owner finish their complaint.
My fancy new cat ______ like the expensive salmon treats I bought for him.
The correct answer is doesn't.
We use the auxiliary verb "does not" (doesn't) to form negative present tense sentences for third-person singular subjects (like "my cat", which can be replaced by "he", "she", or "it").