Verb Tenses — Answer Key
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
Last night the dog catched the ball in the yard.
Corrected: Last night the dog caught the ball in the yard.
"Catched" is not a real word because "catch" is an irregular verb. Its past tense is "caught," and the clue word "last night" confirms past tense is needed.
2. Fix the sentence:
Next Saturday we cleaned the whole garage together.
Corrected: Next Saturday we will clean the whole garage together.
"Next Saturday" tells you the action has not happened yet, so the verb must be in the future tense. Changing "cleaned" to "will clean" matches the future time signal.
3. Fix the sentence:
The baby is cry because she is hungry.
Corrected: The baby is crying because she is hungry.
The present progressive tense requires "is" plus a verb ending in -ing. "Is cry" is missing the -ing ending, so it must be changed to "is crying."
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. The future tense tells about something that has not happened yet.
The future tense describes actions that have not happened yet. Words like "will" signal that the event is still coming, so "happened" fits the blank.
2. The progressive tense shows an action that is continuing or was continuing.
Progressive tenses always use a form of "be" plus a verb with -ing, which shows an action that is ongoing or continuing. That is why "continuing" fits the definition.
3. The past tense of the irregular verb "give" is gave.
"Give" is an irregular verb, so you cannot just add -ed. Its past tense form is "gave," which you must memorize because it does not follow the regular pattern.
4. In the sentence "She is walking to school," the tense is present progressive.
"Is walking" uses the helping verb "is" plus the -ing form of "walk," which is the formula for the present progressive tense. It shows an action happening right now.
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1. Write one sentence in the present tense and rewrite it in the past tense.
Sample answer: Present: The cat sleeps on the couch. Past: The cat slept on the couch. Changing the verb shows when the action happened.
In the present tense, "sleeps" shows the action happens now. Changing it to "slept" puts the action in the past, proving that the verb form is what tells the reader when something happened.
2. What clue words help you know a sentence is in the future tense?
Sample answer: Words like "tomorrow," "next week," and "will" tell the reader that the action has not happened yet and is in the future tense.
Time-signal words such as "tomorrow," "next week," and "soon" point to the future, and the helper word "will" before a verb confirms the sentence is in the future tense.