Recognize verb time

Supplied materials

• Paper and pencil, or a browser text area. All named people/events/records are fictional learning inputs.
• Worked case: Subject bird; use run. Blank: ___ sings, referent Ana, singular she. Verb: jumped. Speech: "Come here," Ana said.
• Primary check: Subject birds; use run. Blank: I saw ___, referent Ana, singular she. Verb: jumps. Speech: ANA: Come here.

Learn the idea

Verb phrases can distinguish completed past action, a current regular action, future action and an action continuing now. The helping verb belongs with the main verb.

Read the entire verb phrase, including will or is. Identify its time and whether -ing marks continuing action.

Example to read or listen to: Subject bird; use run. Blank: ___ sings, referent Ana, singular she. Verb: jumped. Speech: "Come here," Ana said. The answer is simple past. The relevant input states: Verb: jumped. This fits simple past. Verb phrases can distinguish completed past action, a current regular action, future action and an action continuing now. The helping verb belongs with the main verb. Ignoring the helper changes the time meaning.

1. Read or listen to the worked example. Say what the reading or writing task asks you to find. An adult can help with unfamiliar words.
2. Read the entire verb phrase, including will or is. Identify its time and whether -ing marks continuing action.
3. Check the worked solution: simple past. The relevant input states: Verb: jumped. This fits simple past. Verb phrases can distinguish completed past action, a current regular action, future action and an action continuing now. The helping verb belongs with the main verb. Ignoring the helper changes the time meaning.
4. Try the question and the practice questions. Point to the words that helped you choose before checking the feedback.

Check your reasoning

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Take it further

Optional extra practice: Correct: The birds runs. Expected: The birds run. Add They are flying to show ongoing action. Write one prose dialogue line: "Look up," Jo said. Then turn it into a speaker-labeled script line without pretending the punctuation forms are identical. Practice this lesson’s skill as you complete the task. Use this idea to check your work: Verb phrases can distinguish completed past action, a current regular action, future action and an action continuing now. The helping verb belongs with the main verb.

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