Juggling Verb Tense

Verbs are the only kind of word that have tenses. Some of them are standard and easy to learn, while others are irregular and tricky. This lesson will review verb tense changes that follow the regular pattern and those oddballs that don't.

Learning Objectives

Students will be able to identify past, present, and future tenses of regular and irregular verbs.

Introduction

(5 minutes)

Explain that you are going to do an ad-lib word game, like an abbreviated version of Mad Libs. You have a sentence in mind, and students will provide the verb for that sentence without knowing what the sentence is.
Have students write their verbs on a piece of paper and share them with a partner or small group.
Now read the sentence aloud and call on students to say their word when you come to the blank. Tell them they MUST use the exact word as it is written on the paper, even if it doesn’t make sense.
Use sentences like the following, recognizing that most students will use the present tense:
- Tomorrow I _________ on my way to school.
- ```
When I was in kindergarden I \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ every day. *
```