Simple and progressive tense
I can write a sentence in the simple present, past or future tense and the progressive present, past or future tense.
Simple and progressive tense
I can write a sentence in the simple present, past or future tense and the progressive present, past or future tense.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Both the simple tense and progressive tense can denote present, past or future action.
- The verb carries the tense of a sentence.
- The simple tense is a tense that does not use an auxiliary verb in addition to the main verb except in the future.
- The progressive tense always makes use of an auxiliary verb from the infinitive 'to be' paired with the main verb.
- The progressive tense denotes ongoing action.
Keywords
Auxiliary verb - the helping verb that is always paired with the main verb
Infinitive - any verb preceded by the word 'to'
Progressive tense - a tense that denotes ongoing action
Ongoing - continuous or still happening
Simple tense - a tense that does not make use of an auxiliary verb in addition to the main verb in the present and past
Common misconception
Pupils might think they have used the progressive tense simply by using a being verb like 'am'.
'I am happy today.' Ask pupils why this is not written in the progressive tense. The being verb must help the main verb that ends in -ing.
To help you plan your year 3 english lesson on: Simple and progressive tense, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 3 english lesson on: Simple and progressive tense, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 english lessons from the Tense forms: simple, progressive and perfect unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
simple present tense
simple past tense
simple future tense
progressive past tense
progressive present tense
Exit quiz
6 Questions
The ducks were eating the breadcrumbs.
The rain is pouring down today!
I will be cleaning my boots after this muddy walk.