Advanced Grammar for IELTS: Master Auxiliaries, Have, Got & Do

Nehasri Ravishenbagam

5 min read

Updated On Jun 25, 2025

Struggling with advanced grammar for IELTS? Learn how to use auxiliaries like have, got, and do with accuracy in IELTS Speaking and Writing. This guide covers grammar rules, contracted forms, and practice exercises to boost your score.

Why Use Auxiliaries in IELTS?
Types of Auxiliary Verbs and Their Functions
Have and Have Got: What's the Difference?
Contracted Forms in IELTS Speaking and Writing
Emphasis with Auxiliaries
Have and Do as Main Verbs
Grammar Rules Summary for IELTS
Practice Exercises for Advanced Grammar in IELTS
Exercise 2: Sentence Rearrangement
Exercise 3: Paraphrasing Using Key Verbs
Exercise 4: Replace Formal Phrases with Natural Auxiliaries
Exercise 5: Multiple Choice – Choose the Correct Auxiliary
Common Mistakes to Avoid in IELTS

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Grammatical accuracy is a crucial component of your IELTS score. Advanced grammar for IELTS, especially involving auxiliary verbs such as have, got, and do, helps demonstrate fluency and flexibility in Writing and Speaking. This blog will walk you through the usage, functions, and distinctions of these auxiliaries, as well as provide diagnostic and practice exercises tailored for IELTS success.

Why Use Auxiliaries in IELTS?

In the IELTS Writing and Speaking tests, candidates are assessed on their use of grammar under the Grammatical Range and Accuracy criterion. This includes:

Appropriate verb forms (e.g., tenses, voice)
Correct question and negative structures
Natural use of contractions and emphasis
Accurate use of auxiliary verbs and modals

Mastering auxiliary verbs like have, be, and do not only helps construct grammatically correct sentences but also improves clarity and tone.

Types of Auxiliary Verbs and Their Functions

Here are the types of auxiliary verbs and their functions in the IELTS exam:

1. Primary Auxiliaries: Have, Be, Do

These are used to create perfect tenses, continuous forms, passive voice, questions, and negatives.

Auxiliary	Function	Example
Have	Perfect tenses	I have finished my essay.
Be	Continuous tenses & passive voice	He is reading. / The book was written.
Do	Questions, negatives, emphasis	Do you like it? / I don’t know. / I did finish it!

2. Using Do in IELTS

The auxiliary do is used for:

Negatives: I don’t understand the question.
Questions: Do you agree with this statement?
Emphasis: I do believe she’s right.

Common Mistake:

✘ Do we must wear uniforms?
✔ Must we wear uniforms? (Don’t combine modal verbs with do.)

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Have and Have Got: What's the Difference?

Here is the difference between Have and Have Got:

1. Have as an Auxiliary vs. Main Verb

Auxiliary: I have seen the movie.
Main Verb: I have a new phone.

2. Have Got in British and American English

British English: I’ve got a car. (Common in speech)
American English: I have a car. (Have got used less frequently)

3. Do You Have or Have You Got?

Both are correct but vary in formality and region:

Formal: Do you have any questions?
Informal/UK: Have you got any questions?

Contracted Forms in IELTS Speaking and Writing

Contractions are often used in IELTS Speaking and informal writing, but not in academic writing.

Full Form	Contracted
I have	I’ve
She has not	She hasn’t
They are	They’re
Do not	Don’t

Avoid incorrect contractions:
✘ I’ven’t seen her.
✔ I haven’t seen her.

IELTS Tip: Use the form that suits your tone in the IELTS Speaking test. For essays, stick to standard written English (have, not have got).

Emphasis with Auxiliaries

1. Stress the Auxiliary

Used to strengthen a point: You do look tired today.

2. Emphatic Imperatives

Used to offer or insist:

Do sit down.
Do help yourself.

3. Inserting ‘Do’ for Emphasis in Statements

I do understand your concerns.
They did manage to finish the task on time.

Have and Do as Main Verbs

1. Examples:

I don’t have any siblings. (Have as a main verb)
What do you do for work? (Do = perform an action)

2. Multi-word Verbs

Have someone over
Do up the house

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Grammar Rules Summary for IELTS

Tabulated below are the IELTS Grammar rules summary:

Rule	Correct Example	Notes
Don’t use auxiliaries with modals	Must we go now?	Avoid Do we must…
Don’t repeat subject + auxiliary	He was watching TV and laughing.	Not He was watching and he was laughing…
Use ‘do’ for emphasis	I do care!	Useful in Speaking
‘Have got’ is for possession	She’s got a cat.	Not used in passive or continuous
Use full forms in formal writing	Do not exceed word limits.	Avoid contractions in IELTS Writing Task 2

Practice Exercises for Advanced Grammar in IELTS

The following are practice exercises for advanced grammar in IELTS:

Exercise 1: Insert the Missing Auxiliary

Q1. I not received your payment yet.
Correct: I have not received your payment yet.
Explanation: Present perfect tense requires "have/has."

Q2. She applying for university abroad.
Correct: She is applying for university abroad.
Explanation: Use auxiliary "is" for present continuous.

Q3. We not told him the results.
Correct: We have not told him the results.
Explanation: Present perfect is used for past action with present relevance.

Exercise 2: Sentence Rearrangement

Q1. do/at/yourself/make/home
Correct: Do make yourself at home.
Category: Suggestion/Offer

Q2. promise/did/he/help/out
Correct: He did promise to help out.
Category: Emphatic Sentence

Q3. do/stay/please/quiet
Correct: Do stay quiet, please.
Category: Imperative

Exercise 3: Paraphrasing Using Key Verbs

Q1. He has been deceived.
Using had: He had been had.
Explanation: Informal expression for being tricked or cheated.

Q2. She is planning to renovate the flat herself.
Using do up: She’s going to do up the flat herself.

Q3. I need a holiday desperately.
Using do with: I could do with a holiday.

Exercise 4: Replace Formal Phrases with Natural Auxiliaries

Q1. The organisation possesses extensive experience in the sector.
Correct: The organisation has extensive experience in the sector.

Q2. We received permission to access the archives.
Correct: We got permission to access the archives.

Q3. Applicants must obtain an appointment before arrival.
Correct: Applicants must have an appointment before arrival.

Exercise 5: Multiple Choice – Choose the Correct Auxiliary

Q1. They __________ returned from their trip when the storm hit.
A) had
B) have
Correct Answer: A

Q2. He really __________ enjoy the conference despite the delays.
A) did
B) was
Correct Answer: A

Q3. She __________ better about the test after the review session.
A) felt
B) was feeling
Correct Answer: B

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Common Mistakes to Avoid in IELTS

Mistake	Correction
We used to have got a house.	We used to have a house.
She has always wanted to have got a dog.	She has always wanted to have a dog.
He’s watching TV when she arrived.	He was watching TV when she arrived.

Mastering advanced grammar for IELTS, especially auxiliaries like have, got, and do, can dramatically improve your IELTS Band Score by showcasing grammatical range and accuracy. Use this guide to avoid common mistakes, express ideas more naturally, and handle a variety of IELTS question types with confidence. For those aiming for top scores, following IELTS Exam Preparation Tips for Band Score of 8+ can further enhance your vocabulary and overall test performance.

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