This set of English Grammar Exercises (MCQs) focuses on “Auxiliary and Modal Verbs – Be”.
1. Which of the following is the present participle of the auxiliary ‘be’?
a) Be
b) Was
c) Being
d) Been
View Answer
Explanation: Being is the present participle or gerund form of be. Be, was and been are known as the principal parts of the auxiliary.
2. Use the correct form of ‘be’.
The Garden City ______________ ruined by the cutting down of trees.
a) is being
b) is to be
c) have been
d) are
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Explanation: ‘Is being’ is the present continuous tense which is the correct tense to be used. ‘Is to be’ is used to indicate a plan and have been is in the past tense. ‘Are’ is not the correct form to be used here.
3. Choose the correct sentence verb agreement.
a) The Prime Minister is being address the country tonight
b) The Prime Minister is to be addressing the country tonight.
c) The Prime Minister is to be address the country tonight.
d) The Prime Minister is to address the country tonight.
View Answer
Explanation: Sometimes, in headlines, the auxiliary verb ‘be’ is omitted in order to save space. But it still conveys a plan or arrangement.
4. In which of the following cases is the verb ‘be’ not used?
a) As an ordinary verb
b) To convey orders or instructions
c) To convey a plan
d) With a period of future time
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Explanation: The auxiliary ‘be’ is not used for a period of future time. ‘Have’ is used in that case.
5. Fill in the correct form of ‘be’.
He said that he ______________ a little late to the party.
a) has been
b) will be
c) is being
d) is to be
View Answer
Explanation: This sentence requires the usage of simple future tense. Hence, ‘will be’ is the correct form of the auxiliary.
6. Choose the correct form of passive statement.
a) The burglar was caught by the police.
b) The burglar being caught by the police.
c) The burglar been caught by the police.
d) The burglar to be caught by the police.
View Answer
Explanation: The auxiliary ‘be’ is used in forming the passive. It can be used in the form of ‘was’ or ‘is’.
7. Choose the correct form of auxiliary.
I ______________ going to the Sunday market to buy some vegetables.
a) be
b) is
c) am
d) been
View Answer
Explanation: The auxiliary verb ‘be’ has several forms. They can be used in the formation of continuous tenses.
8. Fill in the blank with the correct choice of helping verb.
You ______________ stay here and take care of the dogs while we are away for the weekend.
a) were to be
b) is to be
c) was to be
d) are to
View Answer
Explanation: The helping verb ‘be’ is used give a command or order. It can also be used to indicate a plan or an arrangement.
9. Choose the correct choice of verb.
They ______________ have gone to Malaysia last month but had to postpone the trip till January.
a) were to
b) are to
c) was to
d) have to
View Answer
Explanation: ‘Be’ is used in the past tense along with the perfect infinitive to depict a plan. More specifically, it is used to express an arrangement that was made but not completed.
10. What is the correct verb form?
Teena ______________ awarded her master’s degree at the end of the month.
a) was to be
b) is to be
c) am to be
d) was being
View Answer
Explanation: Helping verb ’be’ is used to indicate an agreement or arrangement. In this case, it is followed by the infinitive.
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