Recognise the Present and Past Tense

Sentences can be in the present tense or the past tense.

If something is happening now, we use the present tense.

Mia plays her recorder every day.

Mia is playing her recorder in her bedroom.

If something has already happened, we use the past tense.

Mia played her recorder in assembly yesterday.

We can tell whether a sentence is in the present tense or the past tense by looking at the verb (the action word).

In the present tense we say 'plays' or 'is playing'.

In the past tense we say 'played' or 'was playing'.

In this activity, we will practise looking at verbs to see whether a sentence is in the present tense or the past tense.

Let's go!