Verbs – Tenses

Understanding Verbs and Tenses!

Hi, Super Readers! Today, we're going on an adventure with Verbs and Tenses! Verbs are action words or doing words, like 'jump', 'eat', or 'sleep'. They tell us what someone or something is doing, or what they are. Tenses are like time machines for verbs! They tell us when the action is happening – in the past (like yesterday), the present (right now), or the future (like tomorrow). Let's learn how to spot these amazing words and understand what time they're talking about!

Identify the Verb and its Tense

In the following sentences, find the verb and tell us which tense it is in.

  1. I have been asked to bring back a vaccine for horse. Have been asked – Present Perfect
  2. They began at about quarter past one in the morning. began – Simple Past
  3. The lady seems hysterical. seems – Simple Present
  4. Grandfather shot him. shot – Simple Past
  5. It falls and becomes one with the earth. falls – Simple Present, becomes – Simple Present
  6. Very few flower sellers were willing to provide bilva leaves. were – Simple Past
  7. There is also the Garden of Eden for housing plants sacred to Christianity. is – Simple Present
  8. The story keeps taking twists and turns. keeps taking – Simple Present (or 'keeps' - Simple Present, with 'taking' as a participle)
  9. I have watched him transform from a timid doubting child to a strong happy player. have watched – Present Perfect
  10. I am sure she will stay focused. am – Simple Present, will stay – Simple Future
  11. India has committed itself to reducing its carbon emission. has committed – Present Perfect
  12. India accounts for only one percent of the global market. accounts – Simple Present
  13. Science accepts any ideas as truth only after it has been considered from every angle. accepts – Simple Present, has been considered – Present Perfect
  14. We have inherited a vast body of truths. have inherited – Present Perfect
  15. I was fulfilling my karma. was fulfilling – Past Progressive
  16. They lack colour. lack – Simple Present
  17. I am not expressing disinterest in work. am expressing – Present Progressive
  18. I have never found it difficult to talk to anyone. have found – Present Perfect
  19. Henna comes in different shades. comes – Simple Present
  20. I doubt I’ll ever be able to match. doubt – Simple Present, will be – Simple Future
  21. If you perform well, then I will continue. perform – Simple Present, will continue – Simple Future
  22. The private sector was also growing. was growing – Past Progressive
  23. Part of the answer lies in setting up the right system. lies – Simple Present
  24. I have also taken up the cleaning of six temples. have taken – Present Perfect
  25. Then Dechen’s shoe had got stuck to a plastic wrapper. had got stuck – Past Perfect
  26. The cat is sleeping on the mat. is sleeping – Present Progressive
  27. We will visit the zoo tomorrow. will visit – Simple Future
  28. She had finished her homework before dinner. had finished – Past Perfect
  29. They are playing in the park. are playing – Present Progressive
  30. He ran very fast. ran – Simple Past
  31. The birds sing sweetly in the morning. sing – Simple Present
  32. I was reading a book when you called. was reading – Past Progressive, called – Simple Past
  33. She has lived here for five years. has lived – Present Perfect
  34. We will be traveling to the beach next summer. will be traveling – Future Progressive
  35. The cake smelled delicious. smelled – Simple Past

Rewrite Sentences with Correct Verb Forms

Change the verb in the bracket to the tense it asks for.

  1. The taxi (to vanish – Past Perfect) taking my suitcase. The taxi had vanished taking my suitcase.
  2. I (to step – Past Perfect) just out of the bathtub. I had just stepped out of the bathtub.
  3. She (to fling – Simple Past) up a window. She flung up a window.
  4. Clouds (to hang – Simple Past) black and low. Clouds hung black and low.
  5. It (to leave – Simple Past) us thinking. It left us thinking.
  6. Remember, this too (to pass – Simple Future) Remember, this too shall pass. (or will pass)
  7. When we gently (to press – Simple Present) the petals of these flowers, the glands (to burst – Simple Future) When we gently press the petals of these flowers, the glands will burst.
  8. He (to want – Simple Present) to create Brihat Panchvati. He wants to create a Brihat Panchvati.
  9. You (to kindle – Present Perfect) in them a desire to excel. You have kindled in them a desire to excel.
  10. As a player, Saina (to improve – Present Perfect) consistently over a period of time. As a player, Saina has improved consistently over a period of time.
  11. The Indian banks (to insist – Present Progressive) on financing the solar power project. The Indian banks are insisting on financing the solar power project.
  12. I (to study – Simple Past) under street lights. I studied under street lights.
  13. We (to do – Simple Past) research that was published in top international journals. We did research that was published in top international journals.
  14. Human behaviours (to evolve – Present Perfect) over thousands of generations. Human behaviours have evolved over thousands of generations.
  15. Europe (to forget – Present Perfect) it but India still (to use – Simple Present) it. Europe has forgotten it but India still uses it.
  16. His knowledge (to include – Simple Present) varied subjects. His knowledge includes varied subjects.
  17. This (to last – Simple Present) only as long as the glue (to stay – Simple Present). This lasts only as long as the glue stays.
  18. She (to teach – Simple Past) me to read. She taught me to read.
  19. I (to shut – Simple Past) my eyes again. I shut my eyes again.
  20. After filling it, we (to hurry – Simple Past) down. After filling it, we hurried down.
  21. No school education ever (to make – Present Perfect) an impression on me. No school education has ever made an impression on me.
  22. His lone endeavour (to make – Simple Past) me realize it all. His lone endeavour made me realize it all.
  23. Life (to get – Past Progressive) better. Life was getting better.
  24. Kunzang (to survey – Present Perfect Progressive) the area. Kunzang has been surveying the area.
  25. They (to see – Past Perfect) it often enough. They had seen it often enough.
  26. The team (to celebrate – Past Progressive) their victory. The team was celebrating their victory.
  27. I (to learn – Future Perfect) French by next year. I will have learned French by next year.
  28. He (to write – Present Perfect Progressive) for three hours. He has been writing for three hours.
  29. They (to build – Simple Past) a sandcastle yesterday. They built a sandcastle yesterday.
  30. She (to help – Simple Future) her mother in the kitchen. She will help her mother in the kitchen.
  31. We (to watch – Present Progressive) a movie now. We are watching a movie now.
  32. The sun (to set – Past Perfect) by the time they arrived. The sun had set by the time they arrived.
  33. My brother (to fix – Simple Present) his bicycle. My brother fixes his bicycle.
  34. The children (to play – Past Progressive) when it started raining. The children were playing when it started raining.
  35. You (to achieve – Future Perfect) your goals if you work hard. You will have achieved your goals if you work hard.

Tricky Words and What They Mean

  • Verb: An action word (like run, eat) or a word that tells what something is (like is, are, was).
  • Tense: Shows when the action of a verb happens (past, present, or future).
  • Identify: To find or point out something.
  • Vaccine: A special medicine to help your body fight off sickness.
  • Hysterical: Very, very excited or upset, sometimes laughing or crying a lot.
  • Sacred: Very special or holy, often related to religion.
  • Transform: To change something completely.
  • Timid: Shy and a little bit scared.
  • Committed: To promise to do something or to be dedicated to it.
  • Emission: When something like gas or light is sent out.
  • Inherited: To get something (like eye color or an old toy) from family members who came before you.
  • Fulfilling: Making you feel happy and satisfied.
  • Progressive (Tense): Shows an action that is, was, or will be continuing for some time (e.g., "is jumping," "was singing"). Also called Continuous Tense.
  • Perfect (Tense): Shows an action that is finished before another time or action, or that started in the past and connects to the present (e.g., "has eaten," "had gone").
  • Vanish: To disappear suddenly.
  • Fling (flung is past tense): To throw something hard and fast.
  • Kindle: To start a fire, or to make a feeling (like excitement) start.
  • Excel: To be very, very good at something.
  • Consistently: Doing something in the same way over and over again, without changing much.
  • Evolve: To change and develop slowly over a long time.
  • Endeavour (or Endeavor): A big try or effort to do something.
  • Surveying: Looking over an area carefully to see what's there.
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