Lesson video

Hi, I'm Mr. Buckingham, and thank you so much for joining me for today's lesson about tenses.

Now this is going to be a revision lesson where we review some really important knowledge and I think you're going to find it really helpful.

I'm certainly looking forward to it.

So let's make a start.

Today's lesson is called, Simple and Progressive Tense Revision from our unit called Review, including word, class sentence types, tense, commas, and columns.

By the end of today's lesson, we'll be able to practise simple and progressive tense test questions.

So we're going to focus today on two really important types of tenses and look at how we need to use the correct tense in order to maintain the sense of our sentences.

And we'll also look at how we can tackle some test questions that relate to these tense types.

Let's make a start.

Here are our keyword for today's lesson.

My turn, your turn.

Standard English, tense, simple tense, progressive tense, and auxiliary verb.

Well done.

So Standard English is the formal form of language that we often use when we're writing.

And the tense tells the reader when something happens as I'm sure you know.

A simple tense is a tense that does not use an auxiliary verb in addition to the main verb except in the future tense, and we'll talk more about that in a moment.

A progressive tense is a tense that denotes or shows ongoing action and uses an auxiliary verb based on 'to be'.

And we call that the infinitive 'to be', the to form of the verb.

And an auxiliary verb is the helping verb that's always paired with the main verb.

So here's the lesson outline for today.

We're going to start off by looking at simple tenses and then move on to progressive tenses.

First of all though, let's quickly talk about Standard English.

When we speak, we often use informal forms of verb or slang, but when we write, we often try to use Standard English, the formal way of speaking and writing our language.

So in non-Standard English, we might say things like, you ain't listening.

I were getting hungry, you was rude to me.

Or I ain't even heard of her.

But in Standard English we would say, you aren't listening.

Instead, if you ain't listening, we'd say, I was getting hungry, not I were getting hungry.

You say you were rude to me, not you was rude to me.

And we'd say, I haven't even heard from her.

Not, I ain't even heard from her.

So here we've changed the verbs to make them into the Standard English forms and this makes the writing more formal.

So in each of these sentences, can you change one word to make the sentence more formal by using Standard English? Pause the video and see if you can identify the word that's in non-Standard English and change it to Standard English, have a go.

Well done great effort.

So in A, hopefully you spotted, we wouldn't say she were hungry.

We'd say she was hungry in Standard English.

In B, instead of we was already, we'd say we were already and instead in C, we would say, I can't believe you haven't seen it before, instead of ain't.

So those are the Standard English words we use when we're trying to write formally in English.

Great job.

Now let's talk about tenses.

The verbs in the sentence carry the tenses.

They tell us when that verb is happening.

And one type of tense is a simple tense and we can have the simple past tense, the simple present tense, and the simple future tense.

So in the simple past tense, we might say he flew a fighter jet, it's happening in the past.

In the simple present we'd say, he flies a fighter jet and the simple future, he will fly a fighter jet.

So that's telling us something which is yet to happen.

So let's try it with another sentence.

We could say it was extraordinary.

It is extraordinary and it will be extraordinary.

So you can say them with me.

We could say I had a great time, in the simple past, I have a great time, in the simple present and I will have a great time, in the simple future.

Well done.

We could say we thought about it, we think about it and we will think about it.

Now you might have spotted something about these verbs I've highlighted in purple.

In the simple passion, the simple present, we just have a main verb, one verb, but in the simple future we have the main verb and then an auxiliary verb as well, a helping verb.

And in this case, that's will.

And that auxiliary verb will helps to show that the main verb is happening in the future.

It's yet to happen.

So mostly in the simple tenses, we don't use auxiliary verbs, we only use them in the simple future tense and we only use that auxiliary verb, will.

So can you tick one box in each row to show which simple tense has been used in the sentence? Pause the video and have a try.

Well done.

Good job.

So for the first one, we said she tried her best and eventually she succeeded.

We've got those verbs tried and succeeded.

Those are in the simple past.

And the second one we've got, we do this every day and it's always the same.

So we've got do and hidden in that contracted form it's, we've got is.

Do and is are in the simple present.

And then we've got you'll and you'll in this one.

That's the contracted form of you will.

And that's got that auxiliary verb will telling us this is the simple future, really good job.

So let's try another one.

Can you change the highlighted verb in each sentence to the simple past tense? So some of these are in the simple present and some are in the simple future.

I want to change the highlighted verbs to the simple past.

Post the video and have a try.

Well done.

Great job.

So in A, you would say every day she did her homework and read her book as soon as she got home.

In B, we would say during the service, Year 6 sang a hymn, and Year 4 carried the wreath to the altar while the rest of us watched.

Those are all now in the simple past tense with one verb.

And in C, we would say, before we saw the doctor, we had a blood test and we took our temperature.

So notice how in the simple past tense, we don't have any auxiliary verbs, it's just that main verb in its past tense form.

Fantastic job, we're changing all those to the simple past tense well done.

So we need to make sure that we use the correct tense in our sentences.

We can't say next, we practise our times tables.

We would say next, we will practise our times tables in the simple future tense.

We don't say, yesterday we find a new artefact.

We'd say, yesterday we found a new artefact.

So we've got to get the verb form right as well.

So sometimes we use verbs in different tenses in the same sentence.

So in this one we've said, when it finishes, simple present tense, we will go outside, simple future tense.

We've used those two tenses in the same sentence and it works.

In this sentence we've written, it seems like you knew already, seems is in the simple present and new is in the simple past.

We've combined them and it makes sense.

So we choose the right tense each time we write a verb to maintain the sense of the sentence, to keep it making sense.

So in each of these sentences, the sentence starts with a fronted adverbial, last year, tomorrow and every time she teaches this.

I want you to choose the correct verb form from each pair in bracket to match the verbs to the tense of that fronted adverbial to what it shows us about when this action is happening.

So you're going to have to think which verb form which tense sounds right in these sentences? Pause the video and choose the right option.

Have a go.

Great work.

Well done.

So in A we would say, last year Miss.

O'Neill taught us grammar and Mr. Martinez helped us with our spelling because these are both in the past.

Last year, Ms. O'Neill taught us and Mr. Martinez helped us.

B is talking about tomorrow in the future.

So we would say tomorrow Aisha will come to my house and we will play on her console.

They're both happening in the future.

And C, we're talking about every time she teaches us.

So we could say every time she teaches us, we practise writing sentences but we never improve.

So I'm sure that's not true, but those verbs are happening in the simple present because we're talking about something that happens every time she teaches us.

Well done for finding the correct tense for each verb.

So let's do our first task for this lesson.

I'm going to show you some sentences which have a verb missing.

I want you to complete each sentence with the correct simple, tense, verb form using the infinitive, the 'to' form that I've given to you.

And then I want you to write which simple tense you've used.

Let's look at our sentences.

The first one says, when the storm began we, to shelter, in the depth of the cave.

So we've got our verb there in its infinitive it's 'to' form, to shelter.

You need to choose the right verb form to complete that sentence.

And then decide have you used the simple past, the simple present or the simple future tense.

So pause the video and complete these sentences with a simple tense verb to replace that 'to' form.

Have a go.

Well done, great job.

Let's take a look at how these should look.

For A we'd write, when the store began, we sheltered in the depth of the cave.

For B we'd write, I will draw the pictures and you will colour them in.

For C, I'd say my friend Ali, who is from Pakistan, is an incredible cook for D, I'd write, she felt her heart pounding as she raced through the trees.

For E, I'd write, Mr. Martinez interrupts whenever we are there.

And for F at the end of the year, you will receive your school report.

So let's see what simple tenses we use there.

Sheltered is the simple past.

Will colour has the auxiliary verb, will.

So it's the well done simple future is the simple present felt is the simple past.

Are is the simple present and will receive auxiliary verb again is the simple future.

Great job if you've got the correct verb forms and you've identified those simple tenses, good work.

Now we've talked about simple tenses.

Let's move on to talking about another type of tense, the progressive tenses.

So another type of tense is a progressive tense.

And the progressive tenses help to share actions that are in progress over a period of time in the past, the present or the future.

For instance, my pulse was racing.

It was racing for a period of time.

His heart is pounding.

It's pounding right now over a period of time and her spirits will be falling in the future.

Her spirits are going to fall over a period of time.

So we form each progressive tension a special way.

We use an auxiliary verb from the verb 'to be.

along with the form of the main verb that has an -ing suffix.

Let's look at that in more detail.

We've got an auxiliary verb from 'to be' in each case we've got was, is and will be.

Now auxiliary verbs based on 'to be' could take many forms. These are all verbs that come from the infinitive 'to be' am, are, is, aren't, isn't, will be, won't be, was, were, weren't.

All of them linked to that verb to be.

And we need one of those and look as an auxiliary verb for the progressive tenses.

And then we have an -ing form of the main verb.

So we've got racing and pounding and falling and together the auxiliary verb and the -ing verb make the progressive tense.

So whenever you see those two things together, you're going to be looking at a progressive tense verb, the auxiliary verb based on the 'to be' and the -ing form of your main verb.

So let's see if we can tick all the sentences that are in a progressive tense and explain how you know.

So remember you're looking for an auxiliary verb based on 'to be' and an -ing form of the main verb.

And you need both for it to be a progressive tense.

So which of these are progressive tenses? Pause the video and decide.

Well done.

Good job.

So at A, you've probably spotted, no, it's not a progressive tense because we don't have an auxiliary verb based on 'to be'.

This is just a simple present tense without auxiliary verb.

Now there is that word jingling, but here that's an adjective.

It's not acting as a progressive tense -ing verb.

And it doesn't have an auxiliary verb based on 'to be' in front of it.

So that is not telling us it's a progressive tense.

B is a progressive tense we've got, was causing.

So we've got that -ing verb causing.

And then we've got was our auxiliary verb based on 'to be'.

Good job.

And then C, we've got a progressive tense again 'cause we've got will be sacrificing.

We've got that -ing verb sacrificing and we've got will be, which is an auxiliary verb based on 'to be'.

So both of those features are needed for it to be a progressive tense.

Good spot.

Well done.

So let's try another one.

We've said that progressive tenses have a slightly different meaning to simple tenses.

They tell us about action going on over a period of time.

So can you match each sentence through its description? What is it telling us about the action? When does it take place? And is it taking place over a period of time? Pause the video and see if you can match these sentences up.

Have a go.

Well done.

Good effort.

So A, says Aisha swam.

That's in the past, isn't it? But it's just action in the past.

It's not saying it took place over a period of time.

Maybe Aisha only swam once.

But if I said, Aisha was swimming.

That's action in progress in the past.

So maybe on Monday, a long time ago, Aisha was swimming.

So she was swimming over a period of time in the past.

It was in progress when we were writing about it.

For Aisha is swimming.

That's action in progress in the present.

And then Aisha swims is action that's happening in the present.

So there's a slight differences in there between the progressive tenses, Aisha was swimming and Aisha is swimming and the simple tenses, Aisha swam and Aisha swims. So that's something we got to spot as well.

Great work if you manage to match those up.

Now we can tell which progressive tense a sentence is using by looking at the auxiliary verb and not the main verb.

Remember in the progressive tenses, the main verb will be in its -ing form.

So we need to look at those auxiliary verbs instead to see which progressive tense we've got.

So if they said that they were standing outside the restaurant.

I've got were as my auxiliary verb and that is telling us it's in the progressive past.

But if I said we are hoping to be chosen for the team, I've got are as my auxiliary verb.

So that's the progressive present.

And if I said Mr. Martinez will be selecting the winner.

I've got will be as my auxiliary verb.

So this is the progressive future.

Notice how the main verb is in every case in its -ing form standing, hoping, selecting.

So that doesn't help us to identify the tenses, it's just telling us that this is a progressive tense sentence because we've got that auxiliary verb and that main verb in it's -ing form.

So we can change from simple tenses to progressive tenses by adding and changing the auxiliary verbs.

So in the simple past tense I could write, we moved to the rhythm.

In the progressive past I'd write, we were moving to the rhythm.

Look, I've added that auxiliary verb, were, and I've changed, moved to moving the -ing form.

I could say in the simple present, he looks marvellous.

In the progressive present, I'd say he is looking marvellous.

I've got my auxiliary verb is and my -ing form of that main verb, looks.

So which option completes each of these sentences using the progressive present? The author who also illustrates his work, blank a new book.

And when we blank to Miss.

O'Neill, she expects our full attention.

In each case, can you pause the video and choose the right option in the progressive present tense? Have a go.

Well done.

Nice work.

So in A, in the first one, hopefully you spotted that we need is writing.

We'd say the author who also illustrates his work is writing a new book.

And in the second one we'd say are listening.

When we are listening to Miss.

O'Neill, she expects full attention.

Notice how both of those have is and are, the auxiliary verbs in the present tense.

And then they have writing and listening, the main verb in its -ing form that tells us this is the progressive present tense.

Good work.

Now let's see if we can change between these tenses.

Can you change the simple tense verb I've highlighted in green to the equivalent progressive tense? What I mean is if it's in the simple past, make it the progressive past.

If it's the simple present, make it the progressive present.

Pause the video and change those verbs to this progressive tense.

Have a go.

Well done.

Nice work.

So in A we would say, she was interrupting the lesson constantly.

We've constant simple past to progressive past.

B says will learn.

That's the simple future.

So we would say we will be learning the language before we visit the country.

We've got will be as our auxiliary verbs.

And then learning in the -ing form.

We've got, he suggests and see that's the simple present.

So we're gonna say he is suggesting that we grow some vegetables.

Is is our auxiliary verb and suggesting is our -ing form of our main verb.

Amazing job if you're meant to change those to the progressive tense.

Nice work.

Now let's try another, let's see if we can tick one box in each row to show which tense has been used in the sentence.

Is it the simple past or the progressive past? And you know that if we see a progressive tense, we'll see an auxiliary verb based on 'to be' and the -ing form of the main verb.

Pause the video and see if you can tell the difference.

Well done.

Good try.

So in the first one we've said we were waiting, I could see an auxiliary verb were and the -ing form.

So that's the progressive past.

In the second one, we've got Aisha suggested.

That's just one verb, no auxiliary verb, not in its -ing form, so that's a simple past.

In the third one we've got caused, it's just one verb, no auxiliary verb, no -ing form, so it's simple past.

And then the last one we said we were checking, there's no auxiliary verb and an -ing form of the main verb.

It's the progressive past tense.

Really good job for spotting those.

Okay, let's try our final task for this lesson.

I'm going to show you some sentences which have a verb in the wrong tense.

I'd like you to correct the highlighted verb in each sentence so that the sense of the sentence is maintained so that it sounds right.

And you can use either simple or progressive tenses to do that.

So here are the sentences within green, the verbs I'd like you to change.

Let's just see how they sound wrong.

If we look at C, it says, once the competition ended, we are very relieved, that does not sound right.

We need to change that are to a different form.

So you can choose a simple tense or a progressive tense to make that sound right, to maintain the sense.

So pause the video and see if you can fix these sentences.

Have a go.

Okay, brilliant work.

Let's take a look.

Here are the sentences with the verb in the correct tense.

We would say we were visiting parliament when we met our MP.

Not were meeting, we'd say they arrived when we were queueing for the restaurant and that's a progressive tense.

We would say once the competition ended, we were very relieved, that's a simple past tense.

For D, we'd say she was taking my temperature when the nurse burst in agitated.

That's the progressive past.

For E, we'd say, I knew you were exaggerating when you said that, again, the progressive past tense.

And for F we'd say when he regains consciousness, he will be very confused.

That is in the simple present tense now.

Really well done for changing those tenses to different forms in order to make these sentences work.

Great job.

So let's review our learning in this lesson.

We've said that we often write using Standard English, which is more formal than the way we usually speak.

We've said that we look at verbs in order to find the tense of a clause and they tell us when the action is happening.

We've learned that simple tenses only use auxiliary verb in the future tense.

And we've learned that progressive tenses all use auxiliary verb based on 'to be' and an -ing form of the main verb.

If you've done a really good job in this lesson to learn more about these different tenses and to do some great practise of some test questions that we might see, really well done.

And I hope to see you again in a future lesson.

Goodbye.