Study Materials Available

Access summaries, videos, slides, infographics, mind maps and more

View Materials

PRIMARY AUXILIARIES - Questions & Answers

A Fill in the blanks with the correct auxiliary verbs. Also, in your notebook, write what function each of them performs.

1. It was a great trip, wasn't? 

2. Let's go swimming, shall we?

3. Are you attending the party tomorrow?

4. If you have no time for your child, who has?

5. Q: Do you like to read poetry?
A: Yes, I do.

6. Q: Have you applied for the job?
A: Yes, I have.

7. Hema looks unwell, doesn't she?

8. Raman played superbly yesterday, didn't he?

B Make sentences as instructed and underline the auxiliaries in them.

1. Form a declarative sentence in the past continuous tense.

The students were studying in the library.

2. Form a question in the simple present.

Do you like to play football?

3. Form a declarative sentence in the passive voice.

The letters were delivered by the postman.

4. Form a declarative sentence in the past perfect tense.

She had finished her homework before dinner.

5. Form a negative sentence in the simple present.

He does not play the piano.

6. Form a question in the present perfect tense.

Have they completed the project?

7. Form a question using a question word.

Where did you buy this dress?

8. Form a negative sentence in the simple past.

I did not see the movie last night.

9. Form a question tag in the simple past.

Rohan arrived late, didn't he?

10. Form a question in the simple past.

Did you enjoy the trip?

11. Illustrate the use of an auxiliary to show emphasis.

I do believe that honesty is the best policy.

12. Show the use of an auxiliary to avoid repetition.

Sita loves dancing and so does Geeta.

13. Show the use of an auxiliary to form short responses.

Are you coming to the market? Yes, I am.

14. Form a question tag in the present perfect.

You have finished your work, haven't you?

Quick Navigation:
Quick Review Flashcards - Click to flip and test your knowledge!
Question
What is another name for an auxiliary verb?
Answer
Helping verb.
Question
What is the primary role of an auxiliary or helping verb?
Answer
They are used together with main verbs to perform various functions.
Question
Do auxiliary verbs have meaning of their own?
Answer
No, they only become meaningful when used together with the main verbs.
Question
What are the three primary auxiliary verbs?
Answer
The primary auxiliary verbs are be, have, and do.
Question
Why are 'be', 'have', and 'do' referred to as 'primary' auxiliaries?
Answer
Because they are the most frequently used in forming tenses, negatives, and questions.
Question
To form continuous tenses, the verb 'be' is used with the _____ form of the main verb.
Answer
-ing
Question
What is the function of 'was' in the sentence 'The cuckoo was chirping in the garden'?
Answer
It combines with 'chirping' to make the past continuous tense.
Question
What is the function of 'is' in the sentence 'He is working on his new book'?
Answer
It combines with 'working' to make the present continuous tense.
Question
To form the passive voice, the verb 'be' is used with the _____ of a verb.
Answer
past participle
Question
What is the function of 'were' in the sentence 'They were asked to wait in the hall'?
Answer
It combines with the past participle 'asked' to make the passive voice.
Question
What is the function of the auxiliary 'have'?
Answer
It is used to form perfect tenses.
Question
What is the function of 'have' in the sentence 'The children have made beautiful clay models'?
Answer
It combines with 'made' to make the present perfect tense.
Question
Which auxiliary verb is used to form questions in the simple present and simple past tenses?
Answer
The auxiliary verb 'do'.
Question
What is the function of 'did' in the sentence 'What did you just say'?
Answer
It is used to ask a question in the simple past tense.
Question
Which auxiliary verb is used to make a negative statement in the simple present and simple past tenses?
Answer
The auxiliary verb 'do'.
Question
What is the function of 'do' in the sentence 'I do not agree with him on many things'?
Answer
It is used with 'not' to make a negative statement in the simple present.
Question
How do auxiliary verbs typically form questions?
Answer
They change places with the subject.
Question
How can the statement 'Varun is reading a recipe book' be turned into a question using an auxiliary verb?
Answer
Is Varun reading a recipe book?
Question
What is the purpose of using auxiliary verbs to form short answers like 'Yes, I do'?
Answer
They help to form short responses where the main verb is omitted.
Question
How do auxiliary verbs help to avoid repetition in a sentence like 'If you have no clue about Suman's whereabouts, who has?'?
Answer
The auxiliary 'has' is used alone, omitting the repeated main verb and its object.
Question
What is the purpose of a question tag?
Answer
To check or reinforce information, or sometimes to make a point or create a dramatic effect.
Question
Complete the sentence with the correct question tag: 'Alisha is looking pretty in her pink suit, _____?'
Answer
isn't she?
Question
When a statement has a simple present or simple past verb, which auxiliary is used in the question tag?
Answer
The auxiliary 'do' or 'did'.
Question
Complete the sentence with the correct question tag: 'Raza resigned, _____?'
Answer
didn't he?
Question
When using 'do' to form a question after a question word, what form must the main verb always be in?
Answer
Its base form.
Question
What special function can the auxiliary 'do' be used for in a sentence?
Answer
It can be used to show emphasis.
Question
What is the function of 'did' in the sentence 'She did play really well'?
Answer
It shows emphasis.
Question
Can primary auxiliaries like 'be', 'have', and 'do' ever function as main verbs?
Answer
Yes, they can also act as main verbs in a sentence.
Question
In the sentence 'I have my French class in the evening,' is 'have' acting as an auxiliary verb or a main verb?
Answer
It is acting as a main verb.
Question
What are the two broad categories that auxiliary verbs fall into?
Answer
Primary auxiliary verbs and modal auxiliary verbs.