This document provides examples and explanations for using common verbs to be (is, are, was, were, does, do, has, have) in the present and past tense. It explains that 'is' is used for singular nouns, 'are' for plural nouns, 'was' and 'were' for actions in the past, and 'does'/'do' and 'has'/'have' distinguish between singular and plural subjects. The document includes exercises for readers to practice identifying the correct verbs based on whether the subject is singular or plural. It provides the answers to the exercises.

1. Let’s Learn
‘verbs to be’
By Haslinda Midy
SK St Mary Papar

2. Verbs to be
Present Tense
is
are
do / does
has / have
Past Tense
• was
• were
• did
• had

3. ‘is’
We use ‘is’ for singular noun or in continuous tenses.
For examples:
• Fatihah is a girl.
• Puan Suraya is teaching Mathematics.
• The old man is my grandfather.
• The man with a necktie is holding a briefcase.
• The woman wearing a baju kurung is my mother.
• The girl with a pony tail is riding a bicycle.
• The gentleman with a pair of spectacles is my
brother.
• The lady with plaited hair is wearing an apron.

4. ‘are’
We use ‘are’ for plural nouns or in continuous
tenses. For examples:
• The two boys are my cousins.
• The gardeners are planting some flowers.
• The old men are my neighbours.
• The pupils are having their English lesson now.
• The firemen are putting out the fire.
• They are swimming in the river.
• The women are weaving baskets at the verandah.
• The ladies are my sisters.

5. ‘was’
We use ‘was’ for actions which had been done
in the past for singular noun. For examples:
She was doing her homework just now.
The cat was eating some fish this morning.
Aminah was having some porridge for
breakfast this morning.
Audrey was absent yesterday.
My mother was talking on the phone when
the door bell rang.

6. ‘were’
We use ‘were’ for actions which had been done
in the past for plural nouns. For examples:
• They were playing football this morning.
• The ladies were dancing at the hall last
Wednesday.
• Our teachers were having their meeting at
the library yesterday.
• My sisters were baking some cakes yesterday.
• The pupils were singing in the class when
their teacher came in.

7. ‘does’ & ‘do’
We use ‘does’ for singular and ‘do’ for plural.
For examples:
She does her homework everyday.
We do our homework at home.
He does his house chores every morning.
They do their house chores every night.
Mary does her drawing every weekend.
Upin and Epin do their dancing lesson every
Saturday.

8. ‘has’ & ‘have’
We use ‘has’ for singular and ‘have’ for plural.
For examples:
She has a blue pencil case.
They have new red bicycles.
He has many toys at home.
We have a big house with a big garden.
The cat has ten newborn kittens.
The fishermen have big fishing boats.

9. Exercise 1
Fill in the blanks with the correct answers.
has/have, does/do, is/are, was/were
1. The
girl _____ a new blue bicycle.
2. The garbage collectors _____ collecting the
rubbish when a dog chased after them yesterday.
3. The lady with high heels __ the one who teaches us
Science at school.
4. The pupils ____ a lot of homework to do given by
their teachers.
5. My family and I ____ having our lunch at the
restaurant.
6. My sister ____ absent yesterday because she was
sick.

10. Exercise 2
Underline the correct answers
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Puan Norhayati (has, have) a son and two
daughters.
Nelson’s father (is, are) the headmaster of his
school.
The blind man (was, were) walking across the
road with the help of his guide dog.
They (was, were) sad to have lost the game.
Hashim (has, had) done his homework
yesterday.
Where (do, does) she keep her stamp?

11. Answers to Exercise 1
1. The
girl has a new blue bicycle.
2. The garbage collectors were collecting the rubbish
when a dog chased after them yesterday.
3. The lady with high heels is the one who teaches us
Science at school.
4. The pupils have a lot of homework to do given by
their teachers.
5. My family and I are having our lunch at the
restaurant.
6. My sister was absent yesterday because she was
sick.

12. Answers to Exercise 2
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Puan Norhayati (has, have) a son and two
daughters.
Nelson’s father (is, are) the headmaster of his
school.
The blind man (was, were) walking across the
road with the help of his guide dog yesterday.
They (was, were) sad to have lost the game.
Hashim (has, had) done his homework
yesterday.
Where (do, does) she keep her stamp?