Tenses for class 4 English

Concept : Simple Present Tense

Students will learn about simple present tense along with its definition. They will know simple present tense examples and its usage. This concept also includes common mistakes that should be avoided while using this topic.

In this learning concept, the students will learn:

• To identify simple present tense.
• To form simple present tense.

Every concept is taught to class 4 English students with the help of examples, illustrations, and concept maps. Once you go through this topic, assess your learning by solving the two printable simple present tense worksheets at the end of the page.

Download the worksheets and check your answers with the worksheet solutions for the concept simple present tense provided in PDF format.

Simple Present Tense Definition

• The tense of the verb gives us an idea of the time when the action in the sentence was performed.
• There are different three types of tenses: Present, Past, and Future tense.
• Present tense is further divided into four different types: Simple Present, Present Continuous, Present Perfect Continuous Tense.

Examples:

The tense which we will focus here is the Simple Present Tense.

• Simple Present Tense is used to describe actions which happen right now (present).

 

Usage of Simple Present Tense

• The simple present is used to express any action which is taking place right now, or when it happens regularly. It is used to talk about habits, general facts, and scheduled events. Simple Present Tense usually use time expressions like every day, regularly, often sometimes, only on Mondays, etc.,

Examples:

For general facts:

For habits:

For scheduled events:

 

How to Form the Simple Present Tense?

• If the noun or the pronoun in the sentence is a first or second person, then the simple rule is to use the root of the verb.

  Examples:

  
• The second rule is that an ‘s’ or ‘es’ is added to the end of the root verb when the nouns or pronouns in the sentence is in third person singular.

  Examples:

  

Exceptions

1. While making simple present tense, if the verb ends in a consonant followed by ‘y’, we change the ‘y’ into ‘I’ and add ‘es’.

   Examples:

   1. She tries to finish the work.
   2. He flies a kite every evening.
2. If the verb ends in a vowel followed by ‘y’, we add an ‘s’ to the verb.

         Example:  

1. 1. She plays in the park.
   2. He says she is happy.

 

Concept : Present Continuous Tense

In this concept, students will learn about the usage of present continuous tense along with examples. They will also study the present continuous tense rules that must be followed while using this topic.

In this learning concept, the students will learn:

• To identify present continuous tense in sentences.
• Form sentences using this tense.
• Exceptions to the rules.

Every concept is taught to class 4 English students with the help of examples, illustrations, and concept maps. Assess your understanding by solving the two printable present continuous tense worksheets given at the end of the page.

Download the worksheets and check your answers with the worksheet solutions for the concept Present Continuous Tense provided in PDF format.

Present Continuous Tense Definition

• Verbs in a sentence refer to the action or the state of being.
• Tense is used in sentences to know the time when an action took place. It also tells us whether the action is completed or is still going on.

Here, let’s focus on the present continuous tense.

What is Present Continuous Tense?

Present continuous tense refers to an action that is continuous and that takes place in the present.

Example:

How to Form a Present Continuous Tense?

• In the present continuous tense, the format consists of a subject, an auxiliary verb, followed by the present participle of the verb.
• The present participle is the form of a verb that has the suffix ‘ing’.

• However, the auxiliary verb will change according to the subject you use in the sentence.

Present Continuous Tense Rules

1. If the verb ends in ‘e’, then remove the ‘e’ and add ‘ing’ while making it into the present continuous tense.

Example:

2. If the verb ends in ‘ie’, then change it into ‘y’ and add ‘ing’ while making it into the present continuous tense.

Example:

Exceptions

There are some verbs that do not take the continuous form. These verbs tell us about the state instead of the action.

Example:

This includes feelings: hate, like, want, wish etc.

Senses: appear, feel, hear, see, seem, smell, sound, taste etc.

Incorrect and Correct Usage:

•  I want tea. ✅
•  I am wanting tea ❌

 

Concept : The Simple Past Tense

In this chapter, students will be introduced to the simple past tense definition, examples and types. Additonally, students will learn to form a sentence using past tense and the common mistakes that could occur while writing past tense sentences.

In this learning concept, the students will learn to:

• Use past tense in sentences.
• Types of past tense with examples and usage.
• Formation of simple past tense sentences.
• Simple past tense examples sentences.

All the concepts covered in English Grammar have illustrations, concept maps and examples. Students can check their topic-related skills by solving the past tense worksheet for class 4. Download the worksheets and find the solutions provided in PDF format.

What is the Simple Past Tense?

• The past tense describes an activity that has taken place in the past.
• The past tense is divided into four subparts: Simple past tense, past continuous tense, the past perfect tense, and the past perfect continuous tense. Today, we will learn about the simple past tense.
• The simple past tense talks about an action or activity which happened in the past.

Examples:

How to Form a Sentence in the Past Tense?

To make a sentence into the simple past tense, add a suffix to the existing verb. You have to add the ‘ed’ to the base form of the verb.

Examples:

If the verb ends in ‘e’, then add a ‘d’ to the verb at the end.

Examples:

For verbs that end in ‘y’, the ‘y’ usually changes to an ‘I’ if it follows a consonant, and ‘ed’ is added after the ‘I’.

Rules to make the Simple Past Tense

1. If a verb ends with one syllable, the final consonant is doubled up before ‘ed’ is added to it.

Examples:

1. Stop – stopped
2. Chat – chatted

2. If the final consonant is w, x, or y, then do not double it.

Examples:

1. Mix – mixed
2. Brew – brewed

Exceptions:

1. In simple past tense, the verb remains the same regardless whether the subject is in the singular or plural form (first person, second or third).

         Examples:

1. I jumped.
2. We jumped.

         Examples:

1. Fly – Flew
2. Think – thought
3. Eat – ate
4. Drive – drove
5. Swim – swam
6. Go – went
7. Know – knew
8. Get – got

 

Concept : Past Continuous Tense

Describe actions which began in the past and going on when another action takes place with past continuous tense. In this chapter students will know the past continuous tense definition and general errors that occur while using it.

In this learning concept students will :

• Identify the differences between simple past and past continuous tense with examples.
• Uses of past continuous tense with specific examples.
• Know the past continuous tense structure with examples.

All English grammar concepts for class 4 have been covered using examples, mind maps and illustrations. To assess the understanding of a concept, students can easily access past continuous tense worksheets. The solutions to these worksheets are also available in PDF format.

Definition

• The past continuous tense is used to talk about an ongoing activity in the past.
• The past continuous tense refers to actions or states that were continuous which means they happened over some time.

Examples:

Difference between the Simple Past Tense and the Past Continuous Tense

The past continuous tense is different from the simple past tense. In the simple past tense, the action starts and ends in the past itself. In the past continuous, the action described was in progress in the past.

Examples:

Simple Past Tense

I completed my class at 7 ‘o clock.

(This means that action started on the same day and finished at 7 pm in the evening.)

Past Continuous Tense

I was attending my class at 7 o clock.

(This means that ‘I’ was in the middle of attending my class but started doing it and continued attending my class after 7.)

Several Ways of Using the Past Continuous Tense

1. We also use past continuous to say that an action or state was in progress at a specific time.

         Examples:

         Examples:

         Examples:

The Pattern of the Past Continuous Tense

In the past continuous tense, there is a subject, an auxiliary verb which includes ‘was’ or ‘were’, and adding -ing to the main verb. If the subject is singular, we use ‘was’, and for plural subjects, we use ‘were’.

Examples:

Common Mistakes:

Don’t forget to use the auxiliary verbs ‘was’ and ‘were’ in the sentence in the past continuous tense.

Incorrect and correct usage:

Ravi was doing his homework. ✅

Ravi doing his homework. ❌

Concept : Simple Future Tense

The simple future tense is used to express hopes, plans and predictions. It is used to indicate things that may happen in the future. This chapter will assist students of class 4 in understanding the simple future tense definition, use and common mistakes that could occur while using them.
The learning concept will help students to learn:

• Usage of future tense.
• Identify the future tense in a sentence.
• Format of future tense sentence.
• List of Future Tense Words.

All the concepts covered in English Grammar for class 4 using illustrations, mind maps and examples. Students can check their understanding by solving the simple future tense worksheets. Download the worksheets and check the answers provided in PDF format.

What is Simple Future Tense?

1. The future tense is used to refer to actions or states that begin in the future and will be ended in the future.
2. The events or actions have not happened yet. but will happen in future
3. The actions in the sentences say that you will not do anything at present but will happen in the future or do it anytime in the future.
4. When we refer to things that will happen in the future it is called future tense.
5. It refers to a future activity that will be done in the future or future state of being.

   Examples:

   
6. Often future tense is used to predict or guess about the future. this can be a confident (sure) prediction or uncertain at times (not sure).

    Examples:

   

Usage of the Future Tense.

The future tense is used in the following situations:

1. Use the future tense to ask questions in the future.
    Example :

1. 1. Will she pass the exam?
   2. Will she get a gift on Christmas?

2. Use the future tense to use factual statements in the future. 
    Example :

1. 1. The General Elections will be held in the next year.
   2. The bag is expensive, it will cost us more money.

3. We use a simple future to consider future possibilities or conditions.
    Example :

1. If I fail, there will be no video games for me.
2. She will go for a party only if her sister comes with her.

4. The future tense does not become complicated when we want to make it negative. Just add not after the word will to make it negative.
    Example :

1. 1. I will not join the team.
   2. He will not eat vegetables.

5. Use the future tense to ask questions in the future.
    Example :

1. 1. 1. Don’t eat that. You will get sick.
      2. If you don’t finish the homework, the picnic will be cancelled.

Format of Future Tense

• To form a future tense all you need to add is ‘will’ before the verb. For example, the future tense of sing is will sing .in this form the subject remains the same (singular or plural).
• It also stays the same no matter which person (first, second or third)

 

Use of shall

• Sometimes the word ‘shall’ is used instead of the word ‘will’.

  Examples:

  1. They shall move to a new house next year.
  2. Shall we sing together?

List of Future Tense Words

Common Mistakes:

1. If the action is decided at the point of speaking, we should use ‘will’.

   Examples:

   a)Someone’s on door, I am going to open it.❌
   b)Someone’s on door, I will open it.✅

2. When we say what we think or expect we use ‘will’.

   Examples:

   a)I am sure he is going to come early. ❌
   b)I am sure he will come early. ✅