Identifying verbs as doing or being words, and recognising the simple present, simple past and future (will + verb) tenses.
Where your child meets this in real life: Choosing the right verb form when writing stories and diary entries about things that happened, are happening, or will happen
SEAGReady breaks verbs and simple tenses into 3 steps, taught in order so each skill builds on the last.
Identify the verb in a sentence by asking 'What is someone or something doing?', the core strategy behind every verb question.
Decide whether a verb is in the simple present or simple past tense, using verb endings (-ed) and time clue words (now, yesterday) as evidence.
Recognise the simple future tense, formed with the helper word 'will' plus a verb (will visit, will play).
Three free sample questions from our verbs and simple tenses course. Every question comes with a full explanation, and hints that guide without giving the answer away.
Which word in this sentence is the verb? 'Holly throws the ball across the yard.'
Answer: A. throws
To find the verb, ask 'What is someone or something DOING?' What is Holly doing? She THROWS the ball. 'Holly', 'ball' and 'yard' are all naming words (nouns), the action word is 'throws', so 'throws' is the verb.
Stuck? Start here: A verb is a doing or being word, it tells you what is happening.
Which sentence is in the past tense?
Answer: A. Thomas walked to school yesterday.
The past tense shows an action that already happened. 'Walked' has the regular past tense -ed ending, and the time word 'yesterday' confirms it. 'Walks' (every day) and 'is walking' (now) are present tense, and 'will walk' (tomorrow) is future. So 'Thomas walked to school yesterday.' is in the past tense.
Stuck? Start here: The past tense describes something that has ALREADY happened.
Which sentence is in the future tense?
Answer: A. We will visit the Ulster Museum next week.
The future tense is built with 'will' + verb. 'Will visit' shows the visit has not happened yet, and 'next week' confirms it. 'Visited' is past, while 'visit' (every year) and 'are visiting' (today) are present. So 'We will visit the Ulster Museum next week.' is in the future tense.
Stuck? Start here: English builds the future tense with a helper word: will + verb.
This is the exact interactive worked example your child sees in SEAGReady. Step through it and watch the method build up.
Read this sentence: 'Roisin kicks the ball into the net.'
Which word in this sentence is the verb?
Step 1 of 4
Read this sentence: 'Roisin kicks the ball into the net.'
Which word in this sentence is the verb?
The verb is 'kicks', it tells us what Roisin is doing.
The key insight: To find the verb, ask: what is HAPPENING in this sentence? The answer is always the verb.
Watch out: Choosing 'ball' because the sentence is about football. 'Ball' is a thing, a noun. The verb is the action word, and the action here is 'kicks'.
These are the misconceptions we see most often in verbs and simple tenses, including the ones our practice questions are specifically designed to catch.
SEAGReady finds the exact step where your child gets stuck, teaches it with worked examples like the one above, and brings it back for review so it sticks.
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