U3W2 Verb Tenses

Verb Tenses
U3W2

A verb has three basic tenses:

• Past-Tense

• Present-Tense

• Future-Tense

Present-Tense Verbs

• I jog around the lake.

• I swim up the river.

A present-tense verb shows that an action is happening now or over and over.

Present Progressive Form

• I am jogging around the lake.

• We are swimming up the river.

To make the present progressive form, use am, are, or is and the -ing form of a main verb

Multiple Choice

Select the correct Present Progressive Form for the sentence.

"We _____ making a cake."

• Am

• Are

• Is

Multiple Choice

Select the correct Present Progressive Form for the sentence.

"He _______ fixing his bicycle."

• Am

• Are

• Is

Multiple Choice

Select the correct Present Progressive Form for the sentence.

"I _______ working on my science project."

• Am

• Are

• Is

Multiple Choice

Select the correct Present Progressive Form for the sentence.

"They ______ going to the beach."

• Am

• Are

• Is

Multiple Choice

Select the correct Present Progressive Form for the sentence.

"I ______ waiting for the bus."

• Am

• Are

• Is

Multiple Choice

Select the correct Present Progressive Form for the sentence.

"He _____ bringing his instrument for practice."

• Am

• Are

• Is

Past-Tense Verbs

• She drove home.

• He wrote a letter.

A past-tense verb shows an action has already happened.

Past Progressive Form

• She was driving home.

• We were writing a letter.

To make past progressive, use was or were and the -ing form of a main verb

Multiple Choice

Select the correct Past Progressive Form for the sentence.

"He _______ playing with Legos yesterday."

• Was

• were

Multiple Choice

Select the correct Past Progressive Form for the sentence.

"We ______ shopping for new shoes at the mall."

• Was

• were

Multiple Choice

Select the correct Past Progressive Form for the sentence.

"I _____ happy to finish my assignment on time."

• Was

• were

Multiple Choice

Select the correct Past Progressive Form for the sentence.

"We ______ studying for our spelling test this week."

• Was

• were

Future-Tense Verbs

• She will drive home.

• He is going to study later.

A verb in the future-tense shows action that will happen.

Future Progressive Form

• She will be driving home.

• He will be studying later.

To make the future progressive form, use will be and the -ing form of a main verb.

Mechanics and Usage

• A single subject must have a singular verb.

  • The student does her best.

Mechanics and Usage

• With a singular third person subject, add -s or -es to most verbs to show the present tense.

  • Jasmine smiles

Mechanics and Usage

• If the subject is I or you, then do not add -s or -es to a present tense verb.

  • I smile.

Mechanics and Usage

• If a subject is a plural noun or pronoun, do not add -s or -es.

  • The girls smile.

  • We smile.