Progressive and perfect tense
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can write a sentence in the progressive present tense or the perfect present tense.
Key learning points
- Both the progressive tense and perfect tense can denote present, past or future action.
- The verb carries the tense of a sentence.
- The progressive tense is a tense that makes use of an auxiliary verb from the infinitive 'to be' with the main verb.
- The perfect tense is a tense that makes use of an auxiliary verb from the infinitive 'to have' with the main verb.
- The perfect tense often refers to action that has finished whilst the progressive tense denotes ongoing action.
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'
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.
Teacher tip
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.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which word tells us the tense of a sentence?
Q2.Which of the following sentences is written in the second person?
Q3.Which sentences are written in the simple tense?
Q4.Which sentence is written in the progressive tense?
Q5.Match each part of a progressive tense sentence with their job.
the person, place or thing that does the main verb
paired with the main verb and tells us the tense
always ends with -ing and doesn't change when the tense does
marks the beginning and end of the sentence
Q6.Which sentence is written in the progressive future tense?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which word is the auxiliary verb in this sentence? 'They have finished all their work.'
Q2.Which word is the auxiliary verb in this sentence? 'I am brushing my hair.'
Q3.Which suffix does the main verb in the progressive tense always end with?
Q4.The main verb in the perfect tense is always in which tense?
Q5.Match the tense to the sentence.
I have tidied my room.
I am tidying my room.
I tidy my room.
Q6.Which of the following sentences is written in the perfect present tense?
To help you plan your 3 English lesson on: Progressive and perfect tense, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 3 English lesson on: Progressive and perfect 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 unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.