How to Use Is, Am, Are, Was, Were, Has, Have, and Had Correctly in English Grammar

To use is, am, are, was, were, has, have, and had correctly, match them with the subject (singular/plural, person) and tense (present/past/perfect). Use am with “I,” is/was with singular subjects (he/she/it), are/were with plural subjects (we/they/you). Has/have indicate present possession or present perfect (has for he/she/it), and had shows past possession or past perfect. These verbs function as auxiliaries or linking verbs, helping form continuous, perfect, negative, and question structures. Mastering them ensures accurate grammar, clear expression, and confident writing and speaking.

English grammar can feel tricky at times, especially when it comes to auxiliary verbs like is, am, are, was, were, has, have, and had. These small yet powerful words are the backbone of proper sentence formation, helping you express time, possession, ongoing actions, and moods with clarity.

Want to get it right every time? You can explore their usage further through trusted resources like the Cambridge Dictionary. But before you do, dive into this English grammar guide for beginners to master auxiliary verbs with clear explanations, practical examples, comparisons of past and present perfect tenses, common mistakes to avoid, and actionable tips to use them confidently in everyday English.

Grammar is the foundation upon which any language skill is built, helping to ensure effective communication.

Understanding Auxiliary Verbs In English Grammar

Auxiliary verbs, also known as helping verbs that work alongside main verbs to show tense, mood, voice, or a state of being. Words like is, am, are, was, were, has, have, and had are all auxiliary verbs.

The most common auxiliary verbs include:

-Be-verbs: is, am, are, was, were

-Have-verbs: has, have, had

-Do-verbs: do, does, did

B-Verbs, Have-Verbs & Do-Verbs in English Grammar

B-verbs, have-verbs, and do-verbs serve different functions but work together to express tense, mood, possession, and emphasis. Let’s understand!

1. B-Verbs (Be-Verbs)

Definition: B-verbs are forms of the verb “to be” – am, is, are, was, were.
Function: They describe a state of being, existence, or identity and are used to form continuous tenses and the passive voice.
Examples:
-She is happy. (state of being)
-They are playing football. (present continuous)
-The cake was baked by my mother. (past passive)

2. Have-Verbs

Definition: Have-verbs are forms of the verb “to have” – have, has, had.
Function: They express possession or form perfect tenses (actions completed at a certain time).
Examples:
-She has a new book. (possession)
-I have finished my homework. (present perfect)
-We had left before the party started. (past perfect)

3. Do-Verbs

Definition: Do-verbs are forms of the verb “to do” – do, does, did.
Function: They are used to form questions, negatives, and emphatic statements in English.
Examples:
-Do you like ice cream? (question)
-I do not understand this. (negative)
-I did finish my work! (emphasis)

Quick Tip: -B-verbs – state, identity, continuous, passive. -Have-verbs – possession, perfect tenses. -Do-verbs – questions, negatives, emphasis.

The Use of Is / Am / Are / Was / Were – Common Auxiliary Verbs

These verbs belong to the be-verb family and are used to describe a state of being, existence, or ongoing actions. They are also key in forming continuous tenses.

Present Forms: Is / Am / Are

-Am – used only with I

-Is – used with he, she, it, or singular nouns

-Are – used with you, we, they, or plural nouns

Examples:

-I am a student.

-She is a doctor.

-They are friends.

Continuous Tense Examples (Ongoing Actions):

-I am studying English.

-They are playing football.

Past Forms: Was / Were

-Was – used with I, he, she, it

-Were – used with you, we, they, or plural nouns

Examples:

-He was late yesterday.

-They were at the park.

Past Continuous Examples (Ongoing Past Actions):

-She was reading when I called.

-They were watching a movie all evening.

Special Case: In hypothetical situations, use were for all subjects: If I were rich, I would travel the world.

The Use of “Has / Have / Had”

Verbs like Has, Have, and Had come from the verb “to have” and are used to express possession or perfect tenses, indicating completed actions.

Present Perfect / Possession: Has / Have

-Has – used with he, she, it

-Have – used with I, you, we, they

Examples of Possession:

-She has a new car.

-We have finished our homework.

Present Perfect Tense Examples:

-She has completed her project.

-We have traveled to many countries.

Past Perfect: Had

Had – used with all subjects to describe an action completed before another past action

Example:

-They had left before the party started.

Understanding The Use of Auxiliary Verbs at a Glance

Now quickly identify Auxiliary verbs’ roles in English grammar and use them correctly in everyday writing and speech. Now quickly identify auxiliary verbs’ roles in English grammar and use them correctly in everyday writing and speech. 

To strengthen your overall English skills, check out our guide on reasons to learn the English language, which explains why mastering English can open doors to global opportunities.

Verb Type	Tense/Form	Example	Note
Be-Verbs	Present	I am happy. / She is a teacher. / They are friends.	“Am” only with I; singular/plural distinction
	Past	He was late. / We were at the park.	Singular / plural past
	Present Continuous	I am studying / She is reading / They are playing	Ongoing actions
	Past Continuous	She was reading / They were watching	Past Ongoing actions
Have-Verbs	Present Perfect	She has completed / We have finished	Completed actions; singular/plural distinction
	Past Perfect	They had left before the meeting	Action completed before another past event
Be + Past Participle (Passive)	Present Passive	The cake is baked	Passive voice
	Past Passive	The letters were delivered	Past passive

Negative Sentences Using Is, Am, Are, Was, Were, Has, Have, Had

Negative sentences are formed by adding “not” after the auxiliary verb.

Verb	Example	Negative Form
Is	She is happy.	She is not happy.
Am	I am ready.	I am not ready.
Are	They are students.	They are not students.
Was	He was late.	He was not late.
Were	We were on time.	We were not on time.
Has	She has finished her homework.	She has not finished her homework.
Have	They have gone to school.	They have not gone to school.
Had	I had eaten before lunch.	I had not eaten before lunch.

Tip: Contractions are often used in negative sentences:

-is not → isn’t

-are not → aren’t

-has not → hasn’t

-have not → haven’t

Question Forms Using Is, Am, Are, Was, Were, Has, Have, Had

Questions are formed by inverting the subject and auxiliary verb.

Verb	Statement	Question Form
Is	She is happy.	Is she happy?
Am	I am ready.	Am I ready?
Are	They are students.	Are they students?
Was	He was late.	Was he late?
Were	We were on time.	Were we on time?
Has	She has finished her homework.	Has she finished her homework?
Have	They have gone to school.	Have they gone to school?
Had	I had eaten before lunch.	Had I eaten before lunch?

Tip: Use auxiliary verbs “do/does/did” only when there is no auxiliary verb in the sentence (e.g., “I play football.” → “Do I play football?”).

Present vs Past vs Perfect Comparisons

Understanding the differences between present, past, and perfect tenses is essential for mastering English grammar. Each tense not only indicates when an action happens but also shows the relationship between events, helping learners construct accurate and meaningful sentences. 

Tense	Example	Usage
Present	She is reading a book.	Current actions or states
Past	She was reading a book yesterday.	Actions or states in the past
Present Perfect	She has read the book.	Actions completed in the past affecting the present
Past Perfect	She had read the book before class.	Actions completed before another past action

Tip: Use present perfect to connect past actions with the present, and past perfect to show sequence of past events.

Conditional Usage (“If I were…”)

Conditional sentences often use was/were and other auxiliary verbs to talk about hypothetical situations:

Conditional Type	Example
Unreal Present	If I were rich, I would travel the world.
Unreal Past	If he had studied, he would have passed the exam.
General Conditional	If she is free, she can join the class.

Tip: For hypothetical situations, “were” is used instead of “was” with I, he, she, it.

Easy Tips On How To Use Is/Are/ Am/ Was/ Were

Mastering auxiliary verbs in English grammar can be tricky, but following some simple tips can help you use is, am, are, was, were, has, have, and had correctly and confidently.

Tip 1: Singular subjects take singular verbs, plural subjects take plural verbs.

Example: He is happy vs They are happy. Remember am is only for I

Tip 2: Use is/am/are for present, was/were for past, has/have for present perfect, and had for past perfect
Example: She is reading a book, He was late yesterday,

Tip 3: Use -ing forms with be-verbs for ongoing actions.
Example: I am studying, They were playing

Tip 4: Use auxiliaries in passive voice, focus on the action rather than the subject.
Example: The cake is baked by my mother, The letters were delivered yesterday

Tip 5: Use have/has/had + past participle for perfect tenses showing completed actions.
Example: She has finished homework, They had left before the movie

Common Mistakes With Is/Are And Has/Have And Was/Were

Learning these common pitfalls helps you write and speak more accurately and confidently:

-Subject-Verb Mismatch: A very common error is using the wrong auxiliary for the subject. For example, saying “She have a pen” is incorrect. The correct form is “She has a pen.”

-Incorrect Past Form: Learners often confuse was and were, e.g., “I were tired” should be “I was tired.” Remember the subjunctive exception only applies in hypothetical situations: “If I were rich, I would travel the world.”

-Misusing Perfect Tenses: Avoid combining present perfect with specific past time expressions. For example, “I have eaten yesterday” is incorrect; it should be “I ate yesterday.”

-Overusing Continuous Tense: Not every action requires the continuous form. For example, “I am knowing the answer” is incorrect. The correct form is “I know the answer.”

-Ignoring Auxiliary Verbs in Questions and Negatives: Always include auxiliary verbs in questions and negatives for proper grammar. For instance, “She is not coming” and “Are they ready?”

-Confusing Possession and Tense: Sometimes learners confuse “has/have” for possession versus perfect tense. Example: “He has a car” (possession) vs. “He has bought a car” (perfect tense). Understanding context is key.

Final Thoughts

Mastering how to use is, am, are, was, were, has, have, and had is essential for building confident and accurate English sentences. Whether forming continuous or perfect tenses, expressing possession, or framing questions, these small but powerful words shape the clarity of your communication.

Remember, consistent practice and awareness of common mistakes will make the use of Auxiliary verbs second nature. At SunBeam World School, we emphasize strong English fundamentals and encourage students to explore grammar with practical examples and interactive learning, making language mastery both fun and effective.

Master Grammar, Enjoy Learning!

FAQs

1. When to use words like is, are, was, were, has, have?

Use is, am, are for present states or actions, was/were for past actions, and has/have for present perfect tense, expressing possession or completed actions in English sentences.

2. What type of verb is have has and had?

Have, has, and had are auxiliary verbs that help form perfect tenses and show possession, supporting main verbs in English grammar for clarity, tense, and accurate sentence construction.

3. What are the 24 auxiliary verbs in order?

The 24 auxiliary verbs include be-verbs (am, is, are, was, were), have-verbs (have, has, had), do-verbs (do, does, did), and modal verbs (can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must, ought to, dare, need).

4. What are the 12 rules of basic grammar?

The 12 basic grammar rules cover subject-verb agreement, tense consistency, punctuation, capitalization, articles, pronouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, conjunctions, sentence structure, and auxiliary verb usage.

5. What is the rule for using is or are?

Use is with singular subjects (he, she, it) and are with plural subjects (we, they, you), while am is only used with I, ensuring correct subject-verb agreement in sentences.