Writing 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 the past and present forms.
- Tense is maintained at both sentence and whole text level (although verbs within sentences may vary in tense).
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
Auxiliary verb - the helping verb that is always paired with the main verb
Maintain - keep or stay the same
Common misconception
Pupils may believe all verbs in a sentence are always in the same tense.
Use the examples in the lesson to draw out the point that to maintain sense, we sometimes vary the tense of verbs in a sentence.
Teacher tip
When modelling writing after this lesson, narrate the tense of verbs you are using to embed this learning. Similarly, when reading aloud, encourage pupils to 'tune in' to the tense - e.g. simple present is much more common in non-fiction.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What are verbs?
Q2.Which word in this sentence is the verb? 'I love these poems!'
Q3.Which word in this sentence is the verb? 'They are very kind.'
Q4.Which word in this sentence is the verb? 'He has no money left.'
Q5.Which of the following sentences contains a verb that is a 'being' verb?
Q6.Which of the following sentences contains a 'having' verb?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What kind of word do we look at to find the tense of a sentence?
Q2.Which simple tense requires an auxiliary verb to 'help' the main verb?
Q3.Match the 'person' to the sentence example.
We play here every day.
You need to come here now!
They want to join us.
Q4.Match the simple tenses to the example sentences that use them.
We washed the car yesterday.
We wash the car every week.
We will wash the car tomorrow.
Q5.Tick the sentence that is written in the simple past tense throughout.
Q6.Tick the sentence that is written in the simple present tense throughout.
To help you plan your 5 English lesson on: Writing 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 5 English lesson on: Writing 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 Three tense forms and modal verbs unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.