Sentences in the simple present, past and future tense
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can write a range of sentence types in the simple present, past or future tense.
Key learning points
- The verb carries the tense of a sentence.
- Sentences can be formed in the first, second or third person.
- The simple tense can denote present, past or future action.
- The simple tense is a tense that does not make use of an auxiliary verb in addition to the main verb.
- Tense is often maintained within sentences.
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
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.
Teacher tip
Adapt some of the lesson sentences to reflect your current topics and books you're reading in class.
Licence
Lesson video
Loading...
Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following describes a verb?
Q2.Which word in the following sentence is a verb? 'Who is Jun?'
Q3.Which sentence is happening in the past?
Q4.Which sentence is happening in the future?
Q5.Tick the sentences that make sense.
Q6.Which is the correct pair of verbs to complete the gaps: 'I didn't ___________ what to do when it __________'.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Tick the sentence written in the first person.
Q2.Match each sentence to the tense it is written in.
Q3.Which word in this sentence tells us what the tense is? 'Lucas and Sam waited patiently in the corridor'.
Q4.Which word in this sentence is the auxiliary verb? 'Andeep will try his best today'.
Q5.What is the tense of this sentence: 'You'll have a great time here'.
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'.
To help you plan your 4 English lesson on: Sentences in the simple present, past and future tense, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 4 English lesson on: Sentences in the simple present, past and future 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.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
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 consolidation unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.