Let's solve
Exercise 1 from the worksheet titled *"The Present Simple - verb-to-be & has/have"*. The goal is to
circle the correct verb — either
"is / has",
"am / have", etc. — based on grammar rules for the present simple tense.
We need to understand the difference between:
-
"to be" verbs (is, am, are): used to describe
state of being, identity, location, or characteristics.
-
"have/has": used to indicate
possession,
ownership, or
characteristics that are not states of being.
---
✔ Let's go through each sentence one by one:
---
1. There (is / has) an orange on the table.
→ "There is" is the correct structure for existence.
✔ is
---
2. I (am / have) two younger sisters.
→ "I have" is correct because you
possess siblings.
✔ have
---
3. My favorite subject (is / has) English.
→ This describes identity: *English* is the favorite subject.
✔ is
---
4. Tammy (is / has) a Primary 1 pupil.
→ Describing what Tammy
is (a student).
✔ is
---
5. My parents (are / have) office workers.
→ Describing their job/identity.
✔ are
---
6. Mrs Chan (is / has) a son.
→ She
has a son → possession.
✔ has
---
7. Our school (is / has) in Kowloon Tong.
→ Location → use "is".
✔ is
---
8. Meredith (is / has) lots of toys.
→ She
owns toys → possession.
✔ has
---
9. Sharks (are / have) sharp teeth.
→ Describing a characteristic: sharks
have sharp teeth.
✔ have
---
10. There (are / have) more than 100 people in the school hall.
→ "There are" is correct for plural subjects.
✔ are
---
11. You (are / have) my best friend.
→ Describing a relationship/state: "You are" my best friend.
✔ are
---
12. Jill and Jim (are / have) siblings.
→ They
are siblings (identity).
✔ are
---
13. Hong Kong (is / has) an interesting city.
→ Describing what it
is → a city.
✔ is
---
14. The restaurant (is / has) crowded with people at night.
→ "Is crowded" is correct — this is a state of being.
✔ is
---
15. There (is / has) some juice in the fridge.
→ "There is" for singular uncountable noun ("juice").
✔ is
---
16. Our dog (is / has) white fur.
→ The dog
has fur → possession.
✔ has
---
17. The baby (is / has) crying loudly.
→ This is a present continuous action: "is crying".
✔ is
---
✔ Final Answers:
1.
is
2.
have
3.
is
4.
is
5.
are
6.
has
7.
is
8.
has
9.
have
10.
are
11.
are
12.
are
13.
is
14.
is
15.
is
16.
has
17.
is
---
🔍 Summary Tips:
- Use
"is/are" for:
- Identity: *She is a teacher.*
- Location: *It is on the table.*
- State: *The room is quiet.*
- Use
"has/have" for:
- Possession: *He has a car.*
- Features (when talking about ownership): *The cat has blue eyes.*
Note: In sentence 17, even though "crying" is a verb, the sentence uses
"is" as part of the
present continuous tense ("is crying"), which is acceptable here. The choice is still "is", not "has".
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Let me know if you'd like a printable version or explanation for kids! 😊
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of present tenses worksheet.
