Year 6 - English
Sentences in the simple, progressive and perfect present, past and future tense
Three tense forms, modality, active voice and passive voice
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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 review the simple, progressive and perfect present tenses as well as modal verbs for use in persuasive writing and speech sentences. They learn the rules for the perfect past and future tenses for the first time as well as learning about the active and passive voice.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to identify and use the simple, progressive or perfect present, past or future tense.
Key Notes
- The simple, progressive and perfect tense can denote present, past or future action.
- The progressive tense is a tense that makes use of an auxiliary verb from the infinitive 'to be' with the main verb.
- The progressive tense denotes ongoing action.
- 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.
Vocabulary To Learn
- 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 Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may believe that verbs based on 'to have' and 'to be' are **always** auxiliary verbs.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain this English learning goal in two key points.
The simple, progressive and perfect tense can denote present, past or future action. 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 doing, being or having word.
3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.
Mistake: Pupils may believe that verbs based on 'to have' and 'to be' are **always** auxiliary verbs. Correction: 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.
More Lessons In This Unit
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