Choose exam board for KS4 Computer Science (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 English
Choose exam board for KS4 French
Choose exam board for KS4 Geography
Choose exam board for KS4 German
Choose exam board for KS4 History
Choose tier for KS4 Maths
Choose exam board for KS4 Music
Choose exam board for KS4 Physical education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Religious education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Spanish

      Sentences in the simple, progressive and perfect present, past and future tense

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can identify and use the simple, progressive or perfect present, past or future tense.

      Key learning points

      1. The simple, progressive and perfect tense can denote present, past or future action.
      2. The progressive tense is a tense that makes use of an auxiliary verb from the infinitive 'to be' with the main verb.
      3. The progressive tense denotes ongoing action.
      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.

      Keywords

      • Verb - a doing, being or having word

      • Simple tense - a tense that does not make use of an auxiliary verb in addition to the main verb except in the future tense

      • Progressive tense - a tense that denotes ongoing action and uses an auxiliary verb based on 'to be'

      • 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

      Common misconception

      Pupils may believe that verbs based on 'to have' and 'to be' are **always** auxiliary verbs.

      Emphasise that when these verbs are on their own, they are just a main verb - they only change the tense when acting as an auxiliary verb.

      Teacher tip

      Encourage pupils throughout this lesson to say sentences aloud - in most cases, they will be able to spot and correct tense errors based on what 'sounds right'. Emphasise that we often vary tense within a sentence to maintain sense.

      Licence

      This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0
      except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions
      (Collection 2).

      Lesson video

      Loading...

      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What kind of word is a verb?

      Correct answer: a being word
      Correct answer: a doing word
      an owning word
      Correct answer: a having word

      Q2.
      Tick the words that can be used as verbs.

      Correct answer: was
      Correct answer: said
      local
      regular
      Correct answer: hasn't

      Q3.
      Which sentence shows an action happening in the past?

      I am studying French.
      Correct answer: I studied French last year.
      I will study French at secondary school.

      Q4.
      Which sentence shows action happening in the present?

      She practised every day for a month.
      Correct answer: She practises every day after school.
      She will practise tonight.

      Q5.
      Put these sentences in order from the past to the future.

      1 - I washed the car last week.
      2 - I wash the car every week.
      3 - I will wash the car next week.

      Q6.
      Tick the sentence which uses the correct tense throughout.

      When I woke up, I brush my teeth.
      When I wake up, I brushed my teeth.
      Correct answer: When I woke up, I brushed my teeth.

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What type of tense uses auxiliary verbs based on 'to have'?

      simple tenses
      Correct answer: perfect tenses
      progressive tenses

      Q2.
      Tick all the sentences using a perfect tense.

      Correct answer: We have known this all along.
      Correct answer: He has played football for 7 years.
      We played cricket on the beach.
      I knew she was listening.

      Q3.
      Which type of tense uses an auxiliary verb based on 'to be'?

      Correct answer: progressive tenses
      simple tenses
      perfect tenses

      Q4.
      Tick all the sentences that use a progressive tense.

      She waited for me for ages.
      Correct answer: She was waiting for me for ages.
      Correct answer: We were learning a lot about each other.
      We learned a lot about each other.

      Q5.
      Which simple tense uses an auxiliary verb?

      simple past
      simple present
      Correct answer: simple future

      Q6.
      Which verb form completes this sentence? 'Since July, I __________ a lot about geography.'

      learning
      am learning
      Correct answer: have learned

      To help you plan your 6 English lesson on: Sentences in the simple, progressive and perfect present, past and future tense, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...