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Year 4 - English

Sentences in the progressive present, past and future tense

Tense forms: simple, progressive and perfect consolidation

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils review formal conventions around present, past and future simple and progressive tense forms, as well as the perfect present tense. They review doing, being and having verbs, all of which can act as main verbs in clauses, as well as knowledge about main and auxiliary verbs.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to write a range of sentence types in the progressive present, past or future tense.

Key Notes

  • The verb carries the tense of a sentence.
  • The progressive tense can denote present, past or future action.
  • The progressive tense is a tense that makes use of an auxiliary verb based on 'to be' with a main verb.
  • The progressive tense denotes ongoing action.
  • The main verb in the progressive tense always ends with the -ing suffix.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • verb: a being, a doing or a having word
  • progressive tense: a tense that denotes ongoing action over a period of time
  • auxiliary verb: the helping verb that is always paired with the main verb
  • suffix: a letter or group of letters at the end of a word which creates another word

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Pupils may think that every single verb in a sentence always carries the same tense.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.

The verb carries the tense of a sentence. The progressive tense can denote present, past or future action.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'verb'

a being, a doing or a having word.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Pupils may think that every single verb in a sentence always carries the same tense. Correction: Avoid teaching that all verbs in a sentence always carry the same tense; maintaining tense does not always require this.

More Lessons In This Unit

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