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Helping Verbs

Is, Am, Are: Copula and Auxiliary

When "be" is the whole verb, and when it is helping another verb.

Mastered by
Brown places the uncontractible copula ("yes, he is") at roughly 2;3 to 3;3 and the contractible copula ("he's happy") a little later, at 2;5 to 4;0, with the auxiliary forms in the same window
Practice items
41
Sections
5

What this skill is

The verb "be" does two different jobs. Sometimes it IS the verb, with nothing else to help - "she is happy", "they are hungry". That use is called the copula: it links the subject to a description. Other times it is helping another verb along - "she is running", "they are eating". That use is called the auxiliary, and you can spot it because there is always another verb with -ing right behind it.

What to expect

Both forms get left out early on: "she happy", "he running". A useful thing to listen for is whether the child drops the form that can be shortened or the one that cannot. "He's happy" can contract; the "is" in "Yes, he is" cannot, because there is nothing after it to attach to. The uncontractible forms are typically produced correctly first, which is why a child may answer "Is he sleeping?" with a clear "he is" while still saying "he sleeping" in running speech.

Try this at home

Yes/no questions create an obligatory context for the uncontractible forms. "Is the dog sleeping?" invites "He is." Then follow with a description question - "What is he doing?" - to pull the auxiliary back out in a full sentence.

When to refer

Still omitting is, am and are in running speech after about 4, or using a single form for everything ("I is", "they is") past 4;6.

Print it

Is, Am, Are: Copula and Auxiliary worksheet41 items across 5 sections, with answer key · PDF

Be as the Whole Verb (Copula)

10 items

There is no other verb in these sentences. Fill in the blank with is, am or are.

  1. 1.The soup ____ hot.is
  2. 2.I ____ six years old.am
  3. 3.My shoes ____ muddy.are
  4. 4.That dog ____ friendly.is
  5. 5.We ____ ready to go.are
  6. 6.You ____ my best friend.are
  7. 7.The sky ____ cloudy today.is
  8. 8.My hands ____ cold.are
  9. 9.I ____ hungry.am
  10. 10.The twins ____ in the same class.are

Be Helping Another Verb (Auxiliary)

10 items

Each sentence has another verb ending in -ing. Fill in the blank with is, am or are.

  1. 1.The baby ____ sleeping.is
  2. 2.I ____ building a tower.am
  3. 3.The kids ____ running outside.are
  4. 4.My dog ____ barking at the door.is
  5. 5.We ____ making cookies.are
  6. 6.You ____ standing on my foot.are
  7. 7.Dad ____ washing the car.is
  8. 8.The birds ____ singing.are
  9. 9.I ____ waiting for my turn.am
  10. 10.My sister ____ reading in bed.is

Which Job Is It Doing?

8 items

Say whether "be" is the whole verb or is helping another verb.

  1. 1.She is tired.the whole verb
  2. 2.She is skating.helping another verb
  3. 3.They are hungry.the whole verb
  4. 4.They are eating.helping another verb
  5. 5.I am cold.the whole verb
  6. 6.I am shivering.helping another verb
  7. 7.The cat is asleep.the whole verb
  8. 8.The cat is purring.helping another verb

Short Answers

6 items

Answer each question with a short answer. These are the forms that cannot be shortened.

  1. 1.Is the dog sleeping? (yes)Yes, he is.
  2. 2.Are you ready? (yes)Yes, I am.
  3. 3.Is your sister home? (yes)Yes, she is.
  4. 4.Are the cookies done? (no)No, they are not.
  5. 5.Am I next? (yes)Yes, you are.
  6. 6.Are they coming with us? (yes)Yes, they are.

Shorten It

7 items

Say each sentence again using the shortened form.

  1. 1.She is my sister.She's my sister.
  2. 2.They are at the park.They're at the park.
  3. 3.I am almost finished.I'm almost finished.
  4. 4.He is running fast.He's running fast.
  5. 5.We are going home.We're going home.
  6. 6.It is raining.It's raining.
  7. 7.You are being silly.You're being silly.