Back to the lesson plan builder
Lesson length30 min45 min60 min
Questions🔀 New questions

Print the plan for yourself; the student sheet prints on its own page after it.

English lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 45 minutes

Past, present and future progressive (was running, is running, will be running)

Grammar

CCSS L.4.1.BEngland: Y3/4 GPS (progressive verb forms)England: KS2 SATs GPS

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Past, present and future progressive (was running, is running, will be running).

  • I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
  • I can explain each step and say why it works.
  • I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Present and past progressive (-ing); Past, present or future? Simple verb tenses

Leads to: the next skill in this area.

Materials: Sentence strips, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

  • Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Present and past progressive (-ing); Past, present or future? Simple verb tenses). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
  • Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
  1. Choose the correct -ing form of the verb. Right now, the children ___ (paint). (are painting / painting / paints / were painting) → are paintingPrompt: Is it happening now or was it happening in the past?
  2. Is this sentence in the past, present or future tense? It will snow tomorrow. (past / present / future) → futurePrompt: Find the verb (the action or being word).
  3. Choose the verb in the right tense. My dad always ___ the dog out when he gets home. (takes / took / will took) → takesPrompt: Look for time words: yesterday, last, ago, next, tomorrow, every…

Hook · 5 min

  • Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
  • Share the objective: Past, present and future progressive (was running, is running, will be running). Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

  • Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
  • Example: Which progressive tense is used? I am writing a story about a dragon.
  • Step 1: Progressive tenses show an action that is, was or will be going on for a while.
  • Step 2: So the answer is: present progressive
  • Answer: present progressive
  • Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

  • Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
  • Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
  1. Which progressive tense is used? The baby is sleeping, so please be quiet. (past progressive / present progressive / future progressive) → present progressivePrompt: Find the -ing verb and the helping verb in front of it.
  2. Choose the correct progressive form. When the phone rang, Dad ___ dinner. (will be cooking / is cooking / was cooking / cooking) → was cookingPrompt: Look for time clues: right now, look!, last night, when…, tomorrow, next week.

You do: independent practice · 10 min

  • Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
  • Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

  • Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
  1. Which progressive tense is used? The dog was barking at the postman. (past progressive / present progressive / future progressive) → past progressivePrompt: Find the -ing verb and the helping verb in front of it.
  2. Choose the correct progressive form. This time next week, we ___ on the beach. (were relaxing / will be relaxing / relaxing / are relaxing) → will be relaxingPrompt: Look for time clues: right now, look!, last night, when…, tomorrow, next week.

Watch out for

  • Naming the feature but not using it in their own sentences.
  • Thinking a sentence is right because it sounds right when spoken casually.

Support and stretch

Support

  • Review first: Present and past progressive (-ing).
  • Use concrete materials: sentence strips.
  • Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
  • Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

  • Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
  • Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-4.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

eurekami

Past, present and future progressive (was running, is running, will be running)

Name

Date

Score/ 8

  1. Question 1

    Which progressive tense is used? They will be singing in the concert on Friday.

    • A. past progressive
    • B. present progressive
    • C. future progressive

  2. Question 2

    Rewrite the sentence in the PAST progressive. Type the whole sentence. The birds sing.

    Answer

  3. Question 3

    Choose the correct progressive form. We ___ to the park when we saw the rainbow.

    • A. were walking
    • B. will be walking
    • C. are walking
    • D. walking

  4. Question 4

    Which progressive tense is used? I was reading under the covers at midnight.

    • A. past progressive
    • B. present progressive
    • C. future progressive

  5. Question 5

    Rewrite the sentence in the PRESENT progressive. Type the whole sentence. Mia paints a mural.

    Answer

  6. Question 6

    Choose the correct progressive form. In an hour, the train ___ through the tunnel.

    • A. was rushing
    • B. is rushing
    • C. will be rushing
    • D. rushing

  7. Question 7

    Rewrite the sentence in the PRESENT progressive. Type the whole sentence. The twins bake cookies.

    Answer

  8. Question 8

    Which progressive tense is used? The dog is barking at a squirrel.

    • A. past progressive
    • B. present progressive
    • C. future progressive

Free from eurekami.com

for the adult only

Answer key: Past, present and future progressive (was running, is running, will be running)

  1. 1. C. future progressive

  2. 2. The birds were singing.

  3. 3. A. were walking

  4. 4. A. past progressive

  5. 5. Mia is painting a mural.

  6. 6. C. will be rushing

  7. 7. The twins are baking cookies.

  8. 8. B. present progressive