Verb Tense

Verb tense tells you when the action happens. For our purposes in 3rd grade, there are three main verb tenses you need to know about and be able to use correctly: present, past, and future.

Present tense is the original verb form. Verbs in the present tense are happening now.

Past tense has a few patterns, but most often, you add -ed to the original verb. Verbs in the past tense have already happened.

Future tense adds will or shall to the original verb form, and talks about actions which haven't happened yet.

Examples:

run

• I run a marathon twice a year. (present)
• I ran a marathon last year. (past)
• I will run a marathon next year. (future)

eat

• I eat lunch in my office.
• I ate lunch an hour ago.
• I will eat lunch in one hour.

see

• I see a movie once a week.
• I saw a movie yesterday.
• I will see a movie tomorrow.

know

• I know it.
• I knew it the day before yesterday.
• I will know it by tomorrow.

learn

• I learn English.
• I learned English the last two years.
• I will learn English next year.

cook

• I cook my supper every night.
• I cooked our dinner already.
• I will cook breakfast tomorrow.