Year 3 - English
Perfect present tense
Tense forms: simple, progressive and perfect
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils learn formal conventions around simple and progressive tense forms in the present, past and future tenses. They learn about main and auxiliary verbs, including that main verbs can be having, as well as doing or being verbs. Pupils also learn about the perfect present tense.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to recognise and use the perfect present tense.
Key Notes
- The simple tense is a tense that does not make use of an auxiliary verb with the main verb in the present and past.
- 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 auxiliary verb is followed by the past tense form of the main verb in the perfect tense.
- The past tense form of the verb frequently expresses completed action.
Vocabulary To Learn
- verb: a being, doing or having word
- auxiliary verb: the helping verb that is always paired with the main verb
- perfect tense: made using an auxiliary verb based on the infinitive 'to have' and a past tense form of the main verb
- infinitive: any verb preceded by the word 'to'
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils might presume that the past participle is always the same as the simple past tense.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
The simple tense is a tense that does not make use of an auxiliary verb with the main verb in the present and past. The progressive tense is a tense that makes use of an auxiliary verb from the infinitive 'to be' with the main verb.
2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'verb'
a being, doing or having word.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils might presume that the past participle is always the same as the simple past tense. Correction: Encourage pupils to hear what sounds correct, for example, 'it has flown off', 'it has flew off'. This should be 'it has flown off'.
More Lessons In This Unit
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