Study sets
English

English Grammar Basics | Be and Main Verb Questions

1 / 100.0s

Problem 1

Choose the best word for the blank so that the sentence means "My older brother is a nurse." My brother ____ a nurse.

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The linking verb "is" connects the subject "My brother" with the occupation "a nurse." "Does" is an auxiliary used to form questions and negatives with main verbs, so it does not fit this affirmative sentence.

Problem 2

Choose the best word for the blank. Aya and Ken ____ to school together every morning.

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"Every morning" indicates a habit, so the present simple of a main verb is needed. The subject "Aya and Ken" is plural, making "walk" correct. "Walks" is used with a third-person singular subject such as "he" or "she."

Problem 3

Choose the option that completes the sentence with the meaning that Mika plays tennis but does not play soccer. Mika plays tennis, but she ____ soccer.

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To make a present-simple main verb negative with "she," use "doesn't play." Because "doesn't" already marks the third-person singular, the verb remains in its base form; "doesn't plays" is incorrect.

Problem 4

You cannot find the keys on the table and ask whether they are in the bag. Choose the word for the blank: ____ your keys in the bag?

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This question uses "be" to ask about the state of being in the bag. Because "your keys" is plural, "Are" goes before the subject. "Do" is used to form questions with main verbs and does not fit here.

Problem 5

You are asking about a weekly habit. Choose the word for the blank: ____ your father cook dinner on Fridays?

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This is a present-simple question with the main verb "cook." Because "your father" is third-person singular, use "Does," followed by the base form "cook." "Is" forms questions with the verb "be."

Problem 6

Choose the best short affirmative answer to the question "Is your room quiet at night?"

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A question beginning with "Is" takes the subject "it" and the form "is" in the answer: "Yes, it is." "Does" answers a question with a main verb. In an affirmative short answer, the subject and "be" are not contracted as in "Yes, it's."

Problem 7

Choose the grammatically correct sentence meaning that the speaker is not busy today.

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"Busy" is an adjective, so the linking verb "am" is needed with the subject "I." A negative with "be" places "not" directly after it: "am not." "Don't" cannot directly negate an adjective such as "busy."

Problem 8

Choose the best word for the blank. At nine every weekday, the librarian ____ the front door.

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The subject "the librarian" performs the action of opening the door, so the main verb "open" is needed. The subject is third-person singular, making "opens" correct. "Is open" would unnaturally say that the librarian, rather than the door, is open.

Problem 9

Choose the best word for the blank. The children ____ tired after the long walk yesterday.

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"Yesterday" places the situation in the past, and "be" links the subject to the state "tired." Because "The children" is plural, "were" is correct. "Did" does not directly link a subject to the adjective "tired."

Problem 10

Choose the option that completes the sentence with the meaning that the speakers did not go to the park. We planned a picnic, but it rained. We ____ to the park.

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To make the past action "go" negative, use "didn't go." Because "didn't" already marks the past, the following verb takes the base form "go," not "went." "Weren't" is the past negative of "be" and cannot be combined with the main verb "go" in this structure.