Year 2 · English · Grammar · Free Printable

Past and Present Tense Verbs

Help Year 2 students choose and use past and present tense verbs accurately in sentences.

GrammarEnglishAnswer Key Included

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Learning Intention

Students will identify and use past and present tense verbs correctly in sentences.

Australian Curriculum

Supports Year 2 English grammar and verb tense outcomes.

Teacher Notes

Contrast “I walk / I walked”. Practise changing sentences from present to past and vice versa.

Skills Practised

  • Present tense verbs
  • Past tense verbs
  • Verb consistency
  • Sentence writing

Choosing the Correct Verb Tense

Verb tense helps readers know when an action happens. Present tense can describe an action happening now or regularly, while past tense describes an action that has already happened.

Try This Strategy

  1. Look for time clues such as today, every day, yesterday or last week.
  2. Identify the action word.
  3. Choose the verb form that matches the time.
  4. Read the whole sentence aloud and check that the tense stays consistent.

Quick Self-Check

Ask: “When did the action happen?” Then check whether the verb tells the reader the same thing.