{"id":1403,"date":"2022-12-15T13:06:18","date_gmt":"2022-12-15T13:06:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.21kschool.com\/blog\/?p=1403"},"modified":"2025-12-11T05:54:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T05:54:15","slug":"use-of-is-are-am-was-were-and-has-have-had","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.21kschool.com\/za\/blog\/use-of-is-are-am-was-were-and-has-have-had\/","title":{"rendered":"Confused about Where To Use &#8220;Is \/ Are \/ Am \/ Was \/ Were&#8221; And &#8220;Has \/ Have \/ Had&#8221;? We Are Here To Help!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Imagine you are a superhero. You are entrusted with immense power, but to accomplish any mission, you would always need an allegiant sidekick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Likewise, in the ever-befuddling universe of English grammar, the auxiliary verbs are the faithful companions who precede the main verb and save the day by making sentences meaningful and persuasive. The <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.21kschool.com\/za\/blog\/the-importance-of-grammar-in-english-language\/\">importance of grammar in the English language<\/a>\r\n cannot be overstated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Grammar is the foundation upon which any <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.21kschool.com\/za\/blog\/importance-of-language-skills\/#What_are_Language_Skills\">language skill<\/a>\r\n is built, helping to ensure effective communication. Learn&nbsp;<a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.21kschool.com\/za\/blog\/importance-of-communication-skills\/\">importance of communication skills<\/a>\r\n.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Language is a powerful tool, and in a world where everything is so connected and fast, language is the only thing that goes by the rule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even the new digital world is connected to language, but modernisation has created a very different puzzle in terms of grammar and vocabulary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read on to learn <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.21kschool.com\/za\/blog\/how-to-improve-students-vocabulary\/\">how to improve students vocabulary<\/a>\r\n.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now these puzzles are not something that can be learnt or memorised, they are something that can only be understood. When talking about language they are to be introduced with all their elements and nuances.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For various reasons, English grammar and spelling were never fully standardized, making the language uniquely complex. Explore <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.21kschool.com\/za\/blog\/how-to-improve-spelling-mistakes-in-english\/\">how to improve spelling mistakes in english<\/a>\r\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&nbsp;Among some of the most <strong>frequently misused elements of English are the auxiliary verbs<\/strong>&nbsp; like <strong>\u201cis,\u201d \u201care,\u201d \u201cam,\u201d \u201cwas,\u201d \u201cwere,\u201d \u201chas,\u201d \u201chave,\u201d and \u201chad.\u201d<\/strong> These words may appear to be insignificant , but they have significant consequences when not constructed well in a sentence. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These auxiliary verbs indicate the tense, mood, or voice of the sentence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They play a crucial role in the language. Whether you are writing an essay, composing an email, or engaging in conversation, these auxiliary verbs are essential for elevating English skills and <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.21kschool.com\/za\/blog\/how-to-build-confidence-in-children\/\">boosting confidence<\/a>\r\n.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So what is the mystery behind these verbs? And what is their relation with tenses?&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s unravel the mystery of auxiliary verbs and master their effective and accurate use through clear explanations and practical examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Understanding the Basics: What Are Auxiliary Verbs?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.21kschool.com\/ae\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/12\/Understanding-the-Basics-What-Are-Auxiliary-Verbs.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10880\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Auxiliary verbs are known as helping verbs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These helping verbs combine with main verbs to express aspects of time, condition, and aspect in language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>They can also stand alone in certain sentences.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Consider an example: <strong>&#8220;Sreeja is embroidering.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Here in this sentence, &#8220;is&#8221; supports the main verb &#8220;embroidering&#8221;. So, \u201cis\u201d will be considered as an auxiliary verb.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Similarly,&nbsp;<strong>&#8220;My parents&nbsp; were ecstatic.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In this case, the sentence is framed in a way that&nbsp; &#8220;were&#8221; functions as a standalone verb indicating a past state of being. And here, \u201cwere\u201d will also be considered as an auxiliary verb in the sentence.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>While framing a sentence or working with grammar \u201cAuxiliary Verbs\u201d can be broadly categorised&nbsp; into two groups:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Be-verbs<\/strong>, under which we consider terms like: \u201cis, are, am, was, were\u201d<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Have-verbs<\/strong> which include terms like: \u201chas, have, had\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s try <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.21kschool.com\/za\/blog\/importance-of-learning\/#What_is_Learning\">learning<\/a>\r\n about these in detail.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Read on to know more about <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.21kschool.com\/za\/blog\/importance-of-english-language\/\">importance of English language<\/a>\r\n and why it matters?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Use of \u201cIs \/ Are \/ Am \/ Was \/ Were\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.21kschool.com\/ae\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/12\/The-Use-of-Is-Are-Am-Was-Were.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10882\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Be verbs are used across all three primary tenses-present, past and future.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">For Present Tense:&nbsp; We have &#8220;Is \/ Are \/ Am&#8221;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>\u201cIs\u201d<\/strong> is used with <strong>singular third-person subjects<\/strong> i.e. <strong>he, she, it and other singular nouns&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Consider examples as :&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Mohit is perusing a document.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Soha is composing a melody.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dhruv is baking a pie.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is a widely accepted fact.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>\u201cAre\u201d<\/strong> is used with <strong>plural subjects and the pronouns<\/strong> i.e&nbsp; <strong>\u201cyou,\u201d \u201cwe,\u201d and \u201cthey\u201d<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Example<strong>:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The orchids are on the mantelpiece.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The cousins are visiting their native place.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Harpreet is thriving in the new job.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thestudent leaders are managing the excursion.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>\u201cAm\u201d<\/strong> is used exclusively with the <strong>first-person singular pronoun<\/strong> \u201c<strong>I.<\/strong>\u201d<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Example:&nbsp; I am solving a puzzle.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">For Past Tense: We use &#8220;Was \/ Were&#8221;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>\u201cWas\u201d<\/strong> is used with <strong>singular subjects in the past tense<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Example :&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>He was hobbling due to an injury.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>She was nudging me to spare some change.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The task was completed a couple of days ago.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The kitten was playing on the floor.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>\u201cWere\u201d<\/strong> is used with<strong> plural subjects and the pronoun \u201cyou\u201d in the past tense<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Example<strong>:&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The classics were on the top shelf.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Manny and her daughter were going to the dance class.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You were singing really well.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The teachers were arranging the table for the exhibition.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common Mistakes and Exceptions:&nbsp;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Some common mistakes are often made with the use of auxiliary verbs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, people always use statements such as : \u201c<em>I <\/em><strong><em>were<\/em><\/strong><em> late.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The&nbsp;correct statement is: \u201c I <strong>was <\/strong>late.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>An exception to this rule occurs in conditional sentences and the subjunctive mood. In such cases, &#8220;were&#8221; is used with singular subjects to express hypothetical situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Consider: If I <strong>were <\/strong>rich, I would travel the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To explore the detailed <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.21kschool.com\/za\/blog\/benefits-of-learning-english\/\">benefits of learning English<\/a>\r\n, check out the article from here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Use of \u201cHas \/ Have \/ Had\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.21kschool.com\/ae\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/12\/The-Use-of-Has-Have-Had.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-10881\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">We use &#8220;Has \/ Have&#8221; &#8211; For Present Perfect Tense<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Where <strong>\u201chas\u201d <\/strong>&nbsp;is used with <strong>singular third-person subjects.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Example :&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>&nbsp;Mark has completed the portrait.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Leticia has given me her consent.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The mission has been accomplished.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The wet mop has been lying on the floor for a long time.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>Similarly \u201c<strong>have\u201d <\/strong>is used with <strong>plural subjects <\/strong>and the pronouns <strong>\u201cI,\u201d \u201cyou,\u201d \u201cwe,\u201d and \u201cthey<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example :&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The jewels have been kept in a treasure box.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>They have been nursing their ailing aunt.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You have been an excellent performer.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>We have been managing the crowd for the past 2 hours.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">We use &#8220;Had&#8221; &#8211; For Past Perfect Tense<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;Had&#8221; is used to indicate the past perfect tense, as in: &#8220;She had finished her <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.21kschool.com\/za\/blog\/what-is-homework\/\">homework<\/a>\r\n before the class started.&#8221;\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>&#8220;Had&#8221; is the past tense form of both &#8220;has&#8221; and &#8220;have,&#8221; and is used with all subjects.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>She had helped me with my homework before the deadline.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>He had played football in the rain all day.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>They had walked to the park when it started to rain.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>I had forgotten to bring my lunch to school.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Common Mistakes and Exceptions in the case of \u201cHas \/ Have \/ Had\u201d<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Some of the most common mistakes&nbsp; to be seen with the use of \u201chave\u201d, \u201chas\u201d and \u201chad is using \u201chave\u201d with \u201csingular third person subjects\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>For example: she <strong>have <\/strong>completed her homework.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Where the correct statement is: she <strong>has <\/strong>completed her homework.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In some cases, \u201cHad\u201d is used in conditional sentences:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Example: If he <strong>had<\/strong> known, he would have not done it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Here you can check the <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.21kschool.com\/za\/blog\/creative-english-activities-for-students\/\">creative English activities for kids<\/a>\r\n that will definitely help improve their fluency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>And there you have it. Whether you are taking wobbly baby steps or taking confident strides through the maze called English grammar, mastering auxiliary verbs is absolutely imperative.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>These small words like <strong>\u201cis,\u201d \u201care,\u201d \u201cam,\u201d \u201cwas,\u201d \u201cwere,\u201d \u201chas,\u201d \u201chave,\u201d and \u201chad\u201d<\/strong> have a great impact and carry significant weight in expressing time mode and actions in a sentence.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is essential to remember that language is a journey, and each step <a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.21kschool.com\/za\/blog\/how-to-build-confidence-in-children\/\">builds confidence for students<\/a>\r\n, enabling better learning, practice, and improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, next time you are pouring your thoughts in your journal or having a hearty chat over a hot cup of coffee, remember to use these tiny verb wizards to express yourself with confidence and aplomb.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Imagine you are a superhero. You are entrusted with immense power, but to accomplish any mission, you would always need&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.21kschool.com\/za\/blog\/use-of-is-are-am-was-were-and-has-have-had\/\" class=\"read-more\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":1405,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[344],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1403","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-language"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.3 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Uses of &quot;Is \/ Are \/ Am \/ Was \/ Were&quot; And &quot;Has \/ Have \/ Had&quot;<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Still struggling with the use of is are am was were has have had? The past tense in English is a common complaint from students. Here&#039;s a simple guide!\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Uses of &quot;Is \/ Are \/ Am \/ Was \/ Were&quot; And &quot;Has \/ Have \/ Had&quot;\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Still struggling with the use of is are am was were has have had? The past tense in English is a common complaint from students. Here&#039;s a simple guide!\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.21kschool.com\/za\/blog\/use-of-is-are-am-was-were-and-has-have-had\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"21K School South Africa\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/21Kschool\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2022-12-15T13:06:18+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-12-11T05:54:15+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.21kschool.com\/za\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/23\/2022\/12\/uses-of-is-are-am-was-were-and-has-have-had.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1000\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Shradha Raj\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@21kschool\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@21kschool\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Shradha Raj\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.21kschool.com\/za\/blog\/use-of-is-are-am-was-were-and-has-have-had\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.21kschool.com\/za\/blog\/use-of-is-are-am-was-were-and-has-have-had\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Shradha Raj\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.21kschool.com\/za\/#\/schema\/person\/e69713438260c1d5fb98bbb39d3c72ac\"},\"headline\":\"Confused about Where To Use &#8220;Is \/ Are \/ Am \/ Was \/ Were&#8221; And &#8220;Has \/ Have \/ Had&#8221;? 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