The Past Tenses

The Past Tenses

Open Ended

How many tenses can you write "dance" in?

Example: Play, played, is playing

Simple Past Tense

used describe completed actions or events that occurred at a specific point in the past

​Present

Future

​Past

​

Verbs that are irregular do not follow the regular pattern of adding "-ed" to the base form to create their past tense forms

Eg: Sing --> Sang

​Irregular Past Tense Verbs

We add "d" or "ed" to the verb to make it past tense

Eg: Dance --> Danced

​Regular Past Tense Verbs

Word Form

Fill in the Blank

Type the past tense of "point"

Fill in the Blank

Type the past tense of "swing"

Fill in the Blank

Type the past tense of "understand"

Open Ended

Form a sentence in past tense

Open Ended

List the past tense "be" verbs.

(Hint: There are 2!)

Past Continuous Tense

is used to describe actions or events that were ongoing or in progress at a specific point in the past.

​Present

Future

​Past

​

​

It is formed by using the past tense of the auxiliary verb "to be" (was/were) and adding the present participle form of the main verb (verb + "-ing").


Eg: was/were playing

​Be (past tense) + Verb-ing

Word Form

Uses

an action or event that happened in the past

I was watching a movie at 8pm yesterday.

used when one action was interrupted by another action in the past.

She was cooking dinner when the phone rang.

Drag and Drop

John ​

Placeholder

when his mother ​

Placeholder

home.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

was cooking

came

cooked

was coming

Past Perfect Tense

The past perfect tense is used to describe an action that occurred before another action or event in the past. It's often used to emphasize the sequence of events or to indicate that one action was completed before another began.

​Present

Future

​Past

​

​

It is formed by using "had", followed by the past particle of the verb.


Eg: Had sung
Sing (base form), sang (past form), sung (particle form)

​Had + Verb-ed/en/othr

Word Form

Reorder

Order the events in this story.

Sam set off to explore a mysterious cave deep in the woods. Before leaving, he had packed his backpack with snacks, a flashlight, and a map he had drawn. During the hike, Sam entered the cave and stumbled upon an odd rock formation.

• Sam drew a map

• Sam packed his backpack

• Sam set off to a cave

• Sam entered the cave

• Same stumbled upon a rock

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Open Ended

Form a sentence in past perfect continuous tense

Open Ended

Form a sentence in past perfect tense

Past Perfect ContinuousTense

The past perfect continuous tense is used to describe an ongoing action that began in the past, continued for a certain duration, and was completed before another event in the past.

​Present

Future

​Past

​

​

It is formed by using "had been" followed by the present participle form of the verb (verb + "-ing").


Eg: Had been singing

​Had been + Verb-ing

Word Form

Draw

Take a drawing break!