Is Am Are Quiz: Test Do/Does/Did and Was/Were
Quick, free auxiliary verbs quiz with instant feedback and a score.
Use this quiz to practice auxiliary verbs: am, is, are, was, were, and do, does, did, and spot common mistakes fast. If you want extra be-verb practice, try our is or are quiz and the verb to be quiz. For more verb work beyond helpers, check out an action verbs quiz.
Study Outcomes
- Understand auxiliary verbs in context -
Recognize how is, am, are, was, were function as helping verbs to form various tenses and sentence structures.
- Differentiate present and past forms of "to be" -
Distinguish between am, is, are and was, were in sentences to accurately convey time and agreement.
- Apply do, does, did in fill-in-the-blank exercises -
Complete targeted fill in the blanks verbs activities to practice subject - verb agreement and question formation.
- Analyze verb tense usage -
Examine sentences in this verb tense test to identify and correct misuse of auxiliary verbs in different contexts.
- Evaluate your grammar proficiency -
Use the scored do does did quiz and am is are quiz to measure your mastery and track improvement over time.
Cheat Sheet
- Present vs. Past Forms of "To Be" -
Understanding when to use am, is, or are versus was or were is key to acing any verb tense test. A handy mnemonic is "I AM, She IS, We ARE" to recall present forms and "I WAS, They WERE" for past. Practice with a was were quiz to see how these forms play out in everyday contexts.
- Subject-Verb Agreement with "To Be" -
Every subject must match its auxiliary: he is, she is, it is, but we are and they are. According to Purdue OWL, consistent agreement ensures clarity - mistakes can confuse readers about who's doing the action. Try filling in the blanks verbs in sentences to reinforce correct pairings.
- Using Do, Does, and Did for Questions and Negatives -
When forming questions or negatives, English relies on do (I/we/you/they), does (he/she/it), and did (all subjects in past). For example: "Do you like pizza?" or "She doesn't play chess" (present), and "Did they arrive on time?" (past). Taking a do does did quiz sharpens your ability to flip statements into questions.
- Contextual "Fill in the Blanks" Practice -
Context clues help you choose the right auxiliary verb - am is are were was do does did - in sentences. Cambridge English research shows that contextualized exercises improve retention by 30%. Incorporate a daily fill in the blanks verbs drill to boost both speed and accuracy.
- Spotting Common Pitfalls and Irregularities -
Watch out for tricky cases like "There is" vs. "There are" and "Where was she?" vs. "Where were they?" Oxford University Press notes that learners often overuse is and was; counter this by practicing targeted am is are quiz and was were quiz drills. Regular review helps turn mistakes into mastery.