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Year 4

Sentences in the simple present, past and future tense

I can write a range of sentence types in the simple present, past or future tense.

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Share activities with pupils
New
New
Year 4

Sentences in the simple present, past and future tense

I can write a range of sentence types in the simple present, past or future tense.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. The verb carries the tense of a sentence.
  2. Sentences can be formed in the first, second or third person.
  3. The simple tense can denote present, past or future action.
  4. The simple tense is a tense that does not make use of an auxiliary verb in addition to the main verb.
  5. Tense is often maintained within sentences.

Common misconception

Pupils may believe that there can only be one verb in a sentence.

Auxiliary verbs are 'helping' verbs that connect to the main verb to help change the tense or meaning.

Keywords

  • Verb - a doing, being or having word

  • Tense - tells the reader when something happens

  • Simple tense - a tense that does not make use of an auxiliary verb in addition to the main verb in the present and past

  • Auxiliary verb - the helping verb that is always paired with the main verb

  • Maintain - keep or stay the same

Adapt some of the lesson sentences to reflect your current topics and books you're reading in class.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following describes a verb?
a person, place or thing
a word that describes a noun
Correct answer: a being, doing or having word
a word that joins clauses, phrases or words together
Q2.
Which word in the following sentence is a verb? 'Who is Jun?'
who
Correct answer: is
Jun
Q3.
Which sentence is happening in the past?
Tomorrow, we will go to the shops.
I am doing my best!
Correct answer: We walked up the steep hill.
Q4.
Which sentence is happening in the future?
That morning, we packed our bags quickly.
Correct answer: We will walk as far as possible today!
I'm so hungry!
Q5.
Tick the sentences that make sense.
Jacob like running.
Correct answer: Aisha loves walking.
Jun and Andeep wants to go swimming.
Correct answer: Sofia and Laura need to practice.
Q6.
Which is the correct pair of verbs to complete the gaps: 'I didn't ___________ what to do when it __________'.
knew, happened
know, happen
Correct answer: know, happened
knows, happened

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Tick the sentence written in the first person.
They don't know what to do.
Correct answer: I'm trying my best!
You should give up already.
Q2.
Match each sentence to the tense it is written in.
Correct Answer:simple past,We sang our hearts out.

We sang our hearts out.

Correct Answer:simple present,We sing beautifully.

We sing beautifully.

Correct Answer:simple future,We will sing like angels.

We will sing like angels.

Q3.
Which word in this sentence tells us what the tense is? 'Lucas and Sam waited patiently in the corridor'.
and
Correct answer: waited
patiently
corridor
Q4.
Which word in this sentence is the auxiliary verb? 'Andeep will try his best today'.
Andeep
today
try
Correct answer: will
Q5.
What is the tense of this sentence: 'You'll have a great time here'.
simple past tense
simple present tense
Correct answer: simple future tense
Q6.
Which verb in this sentence needs to be changed to maintain the tense? 'Jun rushed up the stairs, crashed into Miss Ofoedu and slams into the ground'.
rushed
crashed
Correct answer: slams