Verb tenses: perfect and progressive forms

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Lesson notes

What is Tense?

Tense tells us when something happens: in the past, present, or future.
We use different verb forms to show tense. For example, 'walk' (present), 'walked' (past), 'will walk' (future).
The word 'tense' comes from the Latin word for time.

Simple Tenses

Simple present describes habits or facts: 'I play football every day.'
Simple past describes finished actions: 'I played football yesterday.'
Simple future describes actions that will happen: 'I will play football tomorrow.'

Progressive (Continuous) Tenses

Progressive tenses show an action that is ongoing or in progress.
They use the verb 'to be' plus the -ing form of the main verb.
Present progressive: 'I am reading a book right now.'
Past progressive: 'I was reading when the phone rang.'
Future progressive: 'I will be reading at 8 PM.'

Perfect Tenses

Perfect tenses show an action that is completed before another time.
They use the verb 'to have' plus the past participle (often ending in -ed or -en).
Present perfect: 'I have read that book.' (finished recently or with a result now)
Past perfect: 'I had read the book before the movie came out.' (finished before a past time)
Future perfect: 'I will have read the book by Friday.' (will be finished before a future time)

Choosing the Right Tense

Use the tense that makes the order of events clear.
If one action happens before another in the past, use past perfect for the earlier one: 'She had eaten before I arrived.'
For an action happening now, use present progressive: 'He is sleeping.'
For a completed action with a present result, use present perfect: 'I have lost my keys.'

Keeping Tenses Consistent

In a story or paragraph, keep the same tense unless you have a reason to change.
Unwanted shifts confuse the reader. For example, don't switch from past to present without reason.
Fix shifts by changing the verb to match the main tense: 'She walked to the store and buys milk' → 'She walked to the store and bought milk.'

Spotting and Fixing Tense Shifts

Read your writing aloud to hear if the tense jumps around.
Look for verbs that don't match the time clue (like 'yesterday' or 'now').
Practice by rewriting sentences with a consistent tense.

Slides

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Practice questions

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1.What does the word 'tense' come from?
Easy
- AThe Latin word 'tempus', meaning 'time'
- BThe Greek word 'chronos', meaning 'time'
- CThe French word 'temps', meaning 'weather'
- DThe Old English word 'tide', meaning 'time'
2.The progressive (continuous) form is used for an action that is still going on.
Easy
True or false?
3.Which tense is used to show an action that was completed before another point in the past?
Easy
- APast perfect
- BPresent perfect
- CFuture perfect
- DPast progressive
4.Which of the following are progressive (continuous) verb forms? (select all that apply)
Easy
- Ais running
- Bhas run
- Cwas running
- Dwill run
- Ewill be running
5.Match each verb form to its tense name.
Medium
- is reading
- has read
- had read
- present progressive
- present perfect
- past perfect
6.Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence: 'She ___ her homework when her friend called.'
Medium
- Awas doing
- Bdid
- Chas done
- Dhad done
7.The sentence 'I have seen that movie yesterday' is correct.
Medium
True or false?
8.Put these events in the correct order of time, from earliest to latest, based on the sentence: 'Before she went to bed, she had finished her book, and she will read the next one tomorrow.'
Medium
- she finished her book
- she went to bed
- she will read the next one

More questions

9.Match each verb form to its correct tense name.
Easy
- is reading
- has read
- had read
- will have read
- present progressive
- present perfect
- past perfect
- future perfect
10.Put these verb forms in the order they would happen in time, from earliest to latest, for the sentence: 'By the time we arrived, she had left, and she will have returned by tomorrow.'
Medium
- she had left
- we arrived
- she will have returned
11.Which of the following sentences use the progressive form correctly? (select all that apply)
Medium
- AShe is reading a book.
- BThey were playing outside.
- CHe has eaten his lunch.
- DI will be sleeping at 9 PM.
- EWe had finished our work.
12.Which sentence correctly uses the past perfect tense?
Medium
- AShe had finished her dinner before the movie started.
- BShe has finished her dinner before the movie started.
- CShe will have finished her dinner before the movie started.
- DShe finishes her dinner before the movie started.
13.Read the sentence: 'When we arrived at the party, everyone had already eaten.' What does the past perfect 'had eaten' tell us?
Medium
- AThe eating happened before we arrived.
- BThe eating happened after we arrived.
- CThe eating is happening now.
- DThe eating will happen in the future.
14.Which sentence is in the present progressive (continuous) form?
Easy
- AShe is reading a book.
- BShe reads a book.
- CShe read a book.
- DShe will read a book.
15.Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence: 'By the time we arrived, the movie ___ .'
Medium
- Ahad started
- Bhas started
- Cwill have started
- Dstarted
16.Which sentence correctly uses the future perfect tense?
Medium
- ABy next week, I will have finished my project.
- BI will finish my project next week.
- CI am finishing my project next week.
- DI have finished my project.
17.Which of the following sentences use the perfect form correctly? (select all that apply)
Medium
- AI have finished my homework.
- BShe has gone to the store.
- CThey have went to the park.
- DWe have seen that movie.
18.The sentence 'I am understanding the lesson' is a correct use of the present progressive.
Easy
True or false?
19.Read this sentence from a story: 'The children were playing in the garden when it started to rain.' What does the verb phrase 'were playing' tell us about the action?
Easy
- AThe action was still going on when another action happened.
- BThe action happened quickly and was finished.
- CThe action will happen in the future.
- DThe action happened before another action.
20.Read this sentence: 'By the time the guests arrived, she had already set the table.' What does the past perfect 'had set' tell us?
Easy
- AThe setting of the table happened before the guests arrived.
- BThe setting of the table was happening at the same time as the guests arriving.
- CThe setting of the table will happen after the guests arrive.
- DThe setting of the table was happening when the guests arrived.
21.Read this sentence: 'She is reading a book about space.' Which tense is this?
Medium
- Apresent progressive
- Bpast progressive
- Cpresent perfect
- Dsimple present
22.Read this short paragraph: 'Tom was tired because he had been running all morning. He sat down to rest.' Why does the author use the past perfect progressive 'had been running'?
Medium
- ATo show that running continued for a time before he sat down.
- BTo show that running happened after he sat down.
- CTo show that running was a single quick event.
- DTo show that running will happen in the future.
23.Read this sentence: 'The sun was shining, and the birds were singing.' What effect does using the progressive form create?
Medium
- AIt makes the scene feel active and ongoing.
- BIt makes the scene feel finished and complete.
- CIt makes the scene feel like it will happen tomorrow.
- DIt makes the scene feel like a single quick action.
24.Read this sentence from a story: 'She had finished her homework before she watched TV.' What is the main purpose of using the past perfect 'had finished'?
Medium
- ATo make clear that finishing homework happened before watching TV.
- BTo show that watching TV happened before finishing homework.
- CTo show that both actions happened at the same time.
- DTo show that finishing homework will happen in the future.
25.In the sentence 'They will be arriving at noon,' the verb phrase 'will be arriving' is a future progressive form.
Easy
True or false?
26.Which of these is the correct present progressive form of the verb 'run'?
Easy
- Aran
- Bruns
- Cis running
- Dhas run
27.The past perfect tense is formed with 'had' plus the past participle.
Easy
True or false?
28.Which of the following sentences use the perfect progressive form correctly? (select all that apply)
Medium
- AShe has been reading for an hour.
- BThey had been playing before dinner.
- CHe will have been working for ten years.
- DI am being tired.
- EWe have been to the park.
29.The present perfect tense is formed with 'have' or 'has' plus the past participle of the verb.
Easy
True or false?
30.Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence: 'By next summer, I ___ my project.'
Medium
- Awill have finished
- Bwill finish
- Chave finished
- Dhad finished
31.Which sentence correctly uses the present perfect progressive tense?
Medium
- AI have been studying all day.
- BI am studying all day.
- CI had been studying all day.
- DI will have been studying all day.
32.Read the sentence: 'The children were playing in the garden when it started to rain.' What does the verb phrase 'were playing' tell us about the action?
Medium
- AIt was happening at the same time as another past action.
- BIt happened before another past action.
- CIt will happen in the future.
- DIt is a completed action in the past.
33.Which of the following sentences use the future perfect tense? (select all that apply)
Medium
- ABy 2025, I will have graduated.
- BShe will have finished her homework by dinner.
- CThey will be arriving soon.
- DHe will have been sleeping for eight hours by 7 am.
- EWe will go to the park.
34.Put these events in the correct order of time, from earliest to latest, based on the sentence: 'Before she went to bed, she had finished her book, and she will read another tomorrow.'
Medium
- had finished her book
- went to bed
- will read another tomorrow
35.Choose the correct verb form to complete the sentence: 'By the time we arrive, the movie ___ started.'
Medium
- Awill have
- Bhas
- Chad
- Dwill
36.Which sentence is in the past progressive (continuous) form?
Easy
- AShe was singing a song.
- BShe sang a song.
- CShe sings a song.
- DShe will sing a song.
37.Read the sentence: 'By the time the teacher arrived, the students had already left.' What does the past perfect 'had left' tell us?
Medium
- AThe students left after the teacher arrived.
- BThe students left before the teacher arrived.
- CThe students were leaving when the teacher arrived.
- DThe students will leave before the teacher arrives.
38.Which of the following sentences use the present perfect progressive tense correctly? (select all that apply)
Medium
- AI have been reading for two hours.
- BShe has been working all day.
- CThey have been played football.
- DHe has been sleeping.
39.The future perfect tense is formed with 'will have' plus the past participle of the verb.
Easy
True or false?
40.Put these events in the order they happen in time, from earliest to latest, for the sentence: 'Before she went to bed, she had finished her homework, and she will have breakfast in the morning.'
Medium
- she finished her homework
- she went to bed
- she will have breakfast
41.Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.
Easy
By the time we arrived, the movie ____ (start).
42.What is the name of the tense used for an action that will be completed before a specific time in the future? (e.g., 'By next week, I will have finished my project.')
Easy
43.Fill in the blanks with the correct forms of the verbs in parentheses. Use the progressive or perfect form as needed.
Medium
At 8 o'clock last night, I ____ (watch) TV, but I ____ (not finish) my homework yet.
44.What is the name of the tense used for an action that is still going on? (e.g., 'She is reading.')
Easy
45.Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb in parentheses. Use the past perfect tense.
Medium
Before she went to bed, she ____ (finish) her book.
46.Complete the sentence with the correct form of the verb in parentheses. Use the present progressive tense.
Medium
Look! The children ____ (play) in the garden.
47.Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb 'read' to complete the sentence. Use the past perfect tense.
Medium
By the time the movie started, she ____ the book.
48.Fill in the blanks with the correct forms of the verbs in parentheses. Use the present perfect tense for the first blank and the present progressive tense for the second blank.
Medium
She ____ (finish) her homework, and now she ____ (watch) TV.
49.Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb 'leave' to complete the sentence. Use the future perfect tense.
Medium
By noon, they ____ for the airport.
50.Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb 'sing' to complete the sentence. Use the present progressive tense.
Easy
Listen! The birds ____ outside.
51.Fill in the blank with the correct form of the verb 'write' to complete the sentence. Use the past perfect progressive tense.
Medium
She ____ (write) for two hours before she took a break.
52.Explain why we use the past perfect tense in the sentence: 'The train had left before we reached the station.'
Medium
53.Explain the difference between the present perfect and the present progressive tenses, using the verbs 'has eaten' and 'is eating' in your explanation.
Medium
54.Explain why we use the past perfect progressive in the sentence: 'She had been waiting for an hour when the bus finally arrived.'
Hard
55.Explain why we use the present perfect progressive in the sentence: 'She has been reading for two hours.'
Hard

Revision notes

## Verb Tenses: Perfect and Progressive Forms ### What is a tense? A **tense** tells us **when** something happens: in the **past**, **present**, or **future**. Think of it as a time label for the verb. ### The Simple Tenses (Quick Review) - **Past**: I **walked** to school. - **Present**: I **walk** to school. - **Future**: I **will walk** to school. ### The Progressive (Continuous) Forms **Progressive** means the action is **still going on**. It uses the verb **to be** + the **-ing** form of the main verb. - **Present Progressive**: I **am reading**. - **Past Progressive**: I **was reading**. - **Future Progressive**: I **will be reading**. Use progressive when you want to show an action in progress at a certain time. ### The Perfect Forms **Perfect** means the action is **completed** before another time. It uses **has/have/had** + the **past participle** (often the verb with -ed or -en). - **Present Perfect**: I **have read** the book. (finished recently) - **Past Perfect**: I **had read** the book before the test. (finished before a past time) - **Future Perfect**: I **will have read** the book by tomorrow. (finished before a future time) ### Choosing the Right Tense Ask yourself: **When does the action happen?** and **Is it ongoing or completed?** - Ongoing → progressive - Completed → perfect ### Keep Your Tenses Consistent Don't switch tenses without a reason. If you start in the past, stay in the past unless you are showing a time change. **Example of a shift to fix:** - Wrong: She **walked** to the store and **buys** milk. - Right: She **walked** to the store and **bought** milk. ### Quick Tips - **Progressive** = be + -ing (action in progress) - **Perfect** = have/had + past participle (action completed) - **Consistency** = keep the same time unless you mean to change it.

tense: A verb form that shows the time of an action or state: past, present, or future.
progressive (continuous) form: A verb form that shows an action is still going on. It uses 'to be' + the -ing form of the verb (e.g., 'is reading').
perfect form: A verb form that shows an action is completed before another time. It uses 'has/have/had' + the past participle (e.g., 'has read').
past participle: A verb form often ending in -ed or -en that is used with 'have' to make perfect tenses (e.g., 'walked', 'eaten').
consistent tense: Using the same tense throughout a piece of writing unless there is a reason to change time.

Flashcards

What is a verb tense?

A verb tense tells when an action happens: in the past, present, or future.

Name the three simple tenses.

Simple past, simple present, and simple future.

What does the progressive form show?

It shows an action that is still going on. For example, 'she is reading' means she is reading now.

What does the perfect form show?

It shows an action that is completed before another time. For example, 'she has read' means she finished reading.

What is the progressive form of 'she reads' in the present?

She is reading.

What is the progressive form of 'she reads' in the past?

She was reading.

What is the progressive form of 'she reads' in the future?

She will be reading.

What is the perfect form of 'she reads' in the present?

She has read.

What is the perfect form of 'she reads' in the past?

She had read.

What is the perfect form of 'she reads' in the future?

She will have read.

How do you form the progressive tense?

Use the verb 'to be' (am, is, are, was, were, will be) plus the -ing form of the main verb. Example: 'is running'.

How do you form the perfect tense?

Use the verb 'to have' (have, has, had, will have) plus the past participle of the main verb. Example: 'has eaten'.

What is the past participle of 'go'?

Gone.

What is the past participle of 'eat'?

Eaten.

What is the past participle of 'write'?

Written.

Which tense is this: 'They were playing soccer.'

Past progressive.

Which tense is this: 'I have finished my homework.'

Present perfect.

Which tense is this: 'She will have left by noon.'

Future perfect.

Which tense is this: 'He is swimming in the pool.'

Present progressive.

Which tense is this: 'We had seen that movie before.'

Past perfect.

Why is tense important in writing?

It makes the order of events clear. For example, 'I had eaten before I went out' shows eating happened first.

What is a tense shift?

When you change tense in a sentence or paragraph without a good reason. Example: 'She runs and then she ate' shifts from present to past.

How can you fix a tense shift?

Make all verbs in the sentence or paragraph the same tense unless the time really changes. For example, change 'runs' to 'ran'.

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