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Helping Verbs: is, are, was, were, has and have — Answers

Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the Year 5 verbs & tenses worksheet.

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Success TutoringWorksheetsAnswer sheetYear 5 · English · Verbs & Tenses

Helping Verbs: is, are, was, were, has and have — Answers

Part A: Find the verb group

A helping verb works with a main verb to make a verb group: is running, has finished. Underline the helping verb and circle the main verb. Write them both.

1.The dog is barking.

Answer: helping verb: is; main verb: barking

2.The children were playing outside.

Answer: helping verb: were; main verb: playing

3.She has finished her book.

Answer: helping verb: has; main verb: finished

4.We are making pancakes.

Answer: helping verb: are; main verb: making

5.I have seen that film.

Answer: helping verb: have; main verb: seen

6.Dad was cooking dinner.

Answer: helping verb: was; main verb: cooking

Part B: am, is, are, was or were?

Use am, is or are for now and was or were for the past. Circle the helping verb that fits.

7.The birds (answer space) singing right now.
  1. Ais
  2. Bare

Answer: are

Birds is plural and it is happening now, so use are.

8.My friend (answer space) reading a comic right now.
  1. Ais
  2. Bare

Answer: is

One friend, happening now: is.

9.Yesterday we (answer space) walking home when it rained.
  1. Awas
  2. Bwere

Answer: were

We goes with were in the past.

10.Last night the baby (answer space) crying.
  1. Awas
  2. Bwere

Answer: was

One baby, in the past: was.

11.I (answer space) waiting for the bus right now.
  1. Aam
  2. Bis
  3. Care

Answer: am

I always goes with am in the present.

12.You (answer space) laughing at the end of the show yesterday.
  1. Awas
  2. Bwere

Answer: were

You always goes with were in the past, even for one person.

Part C: has or have?

Write has or have in each gap.

13.She (answer space) lost her pencil.

Answer: has

She, he, it and one person or thing use has.

14.They (answer space) finished the puzzle.

Answer: have

They uses have.

15.I (answer space) eaten my lunch.

Answer: have

I uses have.

16.The cat (answer space) knocked over the vase.

Answer: has

One cat uses has.

17.We (answer space) visited the museum twice.

Answer: have

We uses have.

18.My brother (answer space) broken his arm.

Answer: has

One brother uses has.

Part D: Fix the mistake

Rewrite each sentence correctly.

19.The boys is running fast.

Answer: The boys are running fast.

  1. Boys is plural, so use are.
20.She have finished her homework.

Answer: She has finished her homework.

  1. She uses has.
21.We was watching a film.

Answer: We were watching a film.

  1. We uses were in the past.
22.He has went home.

Answer: He has gone home.

  1. After has or have, use gone, not went.

Part E: Your turn

23.Your turn: write four sentences about your classroom. Write two about what is or are happening right now, and two about what has or have happened today. Underline each helping verb.

Model answer: Our teacher is writing on the board. Two students are reading quietly. We have finished our spelling. Ella has helped me with a tricky word.

Success criteria:

  • Four complete sentences
  • Two sentences with is or are and an -ing verb
  • Two sentences with has or have
  • Helping verbs match their subjects
  • Helping verbs underlined
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