Use of is are am was and were

English Speaking Practice Exercise No. 1 Use of is, are, am, was, were 

In Simple Present Tense, we use

'is' with the Third Person Singular (he, she, it and  Singular Noun)

For Example:

• He is a driver.
• He is not a bad driver.
• She is a teacher.
• Is she a good teacher?
• It is a good piece of advice.
• Is it not a good piece of advice?

'am' is used with the first person singular, 'I'

• I am a player.
• I am not sure about the result.
• Am I a good student?
• Am I not a good teacher? 

'are' with the Third Person Plural (They) and the Second Person Singular and Plural (You) 

For Example:

• They are players.
• Are you there at the meeting?
• You are a driver.
• Are you sure about your success?

In Simple Past Tense, we use

'was' with the Third Person Singular (I, he, she, it and  Singular Noun)

For Example:

• He was a clerk in the office.
• She was not at the office yesterday.
• She was a school teacher.
• It was a grand building.
• Was it a good plan?

'were' is used with the third person plural (They), the first person plural, (We) and the second person (You)

• They were good masters.
• They were not ready to play. 
• We were in the hall. 
• Were we not your neighbours?
• You were not there in school.
• Were you not present in the class?

Choose the correct option of the following:

1. She ___ my best friend in school.   

A) am 
B) is
C) are 
D) were 

ANSWER= (B) 
Explanation: She is my best friend in school. 

2. She ____ a very hardworking lady.  

A) is
B) are
C) am 
 D) were

ANSWER= (A) is 
Explanation: She is a very hardworking lady. 

3. They ___  very good teachers.   

A) is
B) are 
C) am
D) was

ANSWER= (B) are
Explanation: They are very good teachers.  

5. He ____ my best friend. 

A) were
B) are
C) is
D) am

ANSWER= (C) is 
Explanation: He is my best friend. 

6. There ____ a man on the roof. 

A) were 
B) is
C) am 
D) are  

ANSWER= (B) is 
Explanation: There is a man on the roof.  

7.  It ___ very difficult to carry a lot of things on a bicycle

A) were
B) are 
C) am
D) is 

ANSWER= (D) 
Explanation: It is very difficult to carry a lot of things on a bicycle. 

8. Yes, there ___ something in my bag. 

A) is 
B) are
C) am
D) were

ANSWER= (A) is
Explanation: There is something in my bag.

9. Sara  ____ a good girl.

A) are 
B) is
C) am 
D) were  

ANSWER= (B) is 
Explanation: Sara is a good girl. 

10.  Children ____ in the hall 

A) is 
B) are 
C) am 
D) be 

ANSWER= (B) are 
Explanation: Children are in the hall. 

11.  What ____ that building? It is a school.    

A) be
B) are 
C) is 
D) am 

ANSWER= (C) is 
Explanation: What is that building? It is a school. 

12. He ____ not at home. He was out. 

A) am 
B) are 
C) was
D) be

ANSWER= (C) was 
Explanation: If he was not at home. He was out.

13. There ___ a few restaurants here.

A) is 
B) are
C) was 
D) been 

ANSWER= (B) are 
Explanation: On Monday we went to watch a movie. (simple Past Tense). 

14. There ___ full moon in the sky today. 

A) are 
B) is 
C) was 
D) am 

ANSWER= (B) is
Explanation: There is a full moon in the sky today. 

15. I ____ ready to go with him yesterday.  

A) am
B) was 
C) is 
D) were 

ANSWER= (B) was 
Explanation: I was ready to go with him yesterday. 

16. She ___ not willing to come to the party.

A) are
B) is 
C) am 
D) be 

ANSWER= (B) is
Explanation: She is not willing to come to the party. 

17. No, I ___ not afraid of dogs. 

A) be 
B) are
C) is 
D) am 

ANSWER= (D) am 
Explanation: No, I am not afraid of dogs. 

18. There ____ a strong wind yesterday. 

A) is 
B) was 
C) were 
D) are 

ANSWER= (B) was 
Explanation: There was a strong wind yesterday. 

19. Everybody ____ very nice at work.  

A) be
B) were 
C) is 
D) are 

ANSWER= (C) is 
Explanation: Everybody is very nice at work.

20. Sara ___ interested in joining the club.  

A) be
B) am
C) is 
D) are

ANSWER= (C) is
Explanation: Sara is interested in joining the club.

21. We ___ locked up in the lift. 

A) is 
B) were
C) be 
D) was 

ANSWER= (B) were 
Explanation: We were locked up in the lift. 

22. I ___ interested to go to the party tonight. 

A) were not
B) am not
C) is not
D) be not

ANSWER= (B) am 
Explanation: I am not interested to go to the party tonight. 

23. ___ your elder brother sick yesterday? 

A) Are 
B) Is 
C) Was 
D) Were 

ANSWER= (D) Were 
Explanation: Were your elder brother sick yesterday?

24. ___ there many fish in the river? 

A) Be 
B) Is
C) Were 
D) Was

ANSWER= (C) Were 
Explanation: Were there many fish in the river? 

25. There ____ a mirror on the wall. 

A) were 
B) is 
C) are 
D) am 

ANSWER= (B)  is 
Explanation: There is a mirror on the wall. 

26. Her house ____ at the end of the street.

A) am 
B) are 
C) is 
D) be

ANSWER= (C) is 
Explanation: Her house is at the end of the street. 

27. Your name ____ at the bottom of the list. 

A) are
B) was
C) am
D) were

ANSWER= (B) was 
Explanation: Your name was at the bottom of the list. 

28. There ___ some clouds in the sky. 

A) are 
B) is
 C) am
D) been

ANSWER= (A) are 
Explanation: There are some clouds in the sky. 

29. She ___ on the way home when I met her. 

A) is
B) were
C) was
D) be

ANSWER= (C) was 
Explanation: She was on the way home when I met her. 

30. I am sorry I ____ late a bit.

A) were 
B) is 
C) am
D) was

ANSWER= (C) am
Explanation: I am sorry I was late a bit

31. ____ you to submit the form?

A) is  
B) are 
C) am
D) was

ANSWER= (B) Are
Explanation: Are you to submit the form?