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Year 3

Progressive and perfect tense

I can write a sentence in the progressive present tense or the perfect present tense.

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New
New
Year 3

Progressive and perfect tense

I can write a sentence in the progressive present tense or the perfect present tense.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Both the progressive tense and perfect tense can denote present, past or future action.
  2. The verb carries the tense of a sentence.
  3. The progressive tense is a tense that makes use of an auxiliary verb from the infinitive 'to be' with the main verb.
  4. The perfect tense is a tense that makes use of an auxiliary verb from the infinitive 'to have' with the main verb.
  5. The perfect tense often refers to action that has finished whilst the progressive tense denotes ongoing action.

Common misconception

Pupils may think that using a being or having verb means they've written a sentence in each tense.

Being verbs as auxiliary verbs are for progressive tenses; having verbs as auxiliary verbs are for perfect tenses.

Keywords

  • Progressive tense - a tense that denotes ongoing action

  • Perfect tense - made using an auxiliary verb based on the infinitive ‘to have’ and a past tense form of the main verb

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

  • Infinitive - any verb preceded by the word 'to'

Use a display board to showcase many examples of sentences in the simple present, progressive present and perfect present tenses. Refer to this display board continually to ensure that pupils can see, hear and use the different tenses.
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 word tells us the tense of a sentence?
adjective
noun
Correct answer: verb
adverb
Q2.
Which of the following sentences is written in the second person?
Correct answer: You all need to wrap up warm.
He has forgotten his coat.
They are late for the concert.
We've finished!
Q3.
Which sentences are written in the simple tense?
You are being very cheeky today!
Correct answer: I ran to the supermarket as fast as I could.
They were putting the toys away.
The puppy is starting to grow as big as its siblings.
Correct answer: The shark stalks its prey.
Q4.
Which sentence is written in the progressive tense?
I have started my homework.
Correct answer: I am starting my homework.
I start my homework at 5 o'clock every day.
Q5.
Match each part of a progressive tense sentence with their job.
Correct Answer:noun,the person, place or thing that does the main verb

the person, place or thing that does the main verb

Correct Answer:auxiliary verb,paired with the main verb and tells us the tense

paired with the main verb and tells us the tense

Correct Answer:main verb,always ends with -ing and doesn't change when the tense does

always ends with -ing and doesn't change when the tense does

Correct Answer:punctuation,marks the beginning and end of the sentence

marks the beginning and end of the sentence

Q6.
Which sentence is written in the progressive future tense?
We were looking at the map closely.
Correct answer: They will be wondering where we are.
You weren't concentrating properly.
I am looking for the station.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which word is the auxiliary verb in this sentence? 'They have finished all their work.'
they
Correct answer: have
finished
all
their
Q2.
Which word is the auxiliary verb in this sentence? 'I am brushing my hair.'
I
Correct answer: am
brushing
my
hair
Q3.
Which suffix does the main verb in the progressive tense always end with?
-ly
Correct answer: -ing
-ed
Q4.
The main verb in the perfect tense is always in which tense?
present
Correct answer: past
future
Q5.
Match the tense to the sentence.
Correct Answer:perfect present tense,I have tidied my room.

I have tidied my room.

Correct Answer:progressive present tense,I am tidying my room.

I am tidying my room.

Correct Answer:simple present tense,I tidy my room.

I tidy my room.

Q6.
Which of the following sentences is written in the perfect present tense?
She has curly hair.
Correct answer: They have carried it all the way here.
I have a friend.
We are helping each other.