Making Verb Tenses Click for Young Learners

While verb tenses are a key grammar concept taught in elementary schools, they can feel a bit abstract to many students. This is why frequent exposure to authentic examples of tense use in sentences is so important!  

In this sorting activity, students will sort 24 sentence cards according to whether an identified verb is in past, present or future tense. It’s a simple but purposeful activity to help students become more familiar with the language clues that signal tense. The tactile nature of the activity is especially helpful for students who struggle to stay engaged during notebook-based grammar tasks.

This verb tense sorting activity downloads as a full-color PDF or editable Google Slides file. It contains:

• Instruction page
• 3 x sort headings (Past Tense, Present Tense, Future Tense)
• 24 x sentence cards
• Answer key 

Flexible Ways to Use This Past, Present and Future Tense Activity

This past, present and future tense sorting activity can be used in a variety of ways to support your students in their learning of verb tenses. Here are some ideas for how you might use these cards in your classroom:

• Lesson Warm-Up – Use the resource as a whole-class activity to introduce a lesson on verb tenses. This helps students engage with the concept in a supported way before moving on to guided or independent learning.  
• Targeted Support Activity – Use the resource in a small group setting with a select group of targeted students. Use fewer cards to make the task less overwhelming and take time to unpack and discuss each sentence.
• Fast Finisher Activity – Keep the cards on standby for students who may have finished other work on verb tenses more quickly than others. It’s purposeful, curriculum‑aligned, and far more meaningful than extra worksheets!

Download to Teach English Verb Tenses with Ease!

Use the dropdown icon on the Download button to choose between the printable PDF or editable Google Slides version of this resource. You will be prompted to make a copy of the Google Slides file before accessing it.

We recommend printing this resource on cardstock for added durability and longevity. Place all pieces in a folder or large envelope for easy access, and you’re ready to go!

This resource is ideal for embedding grammar practice into your existing routines, without adding to your workload!

This resource was created by Kiri Sowers, a teacher and a Teach Starter collaborator.

More Resources for Teaching Tenses of Verbs

Click below to explore more teacher-created, curriculum-aligned verb tense resources to use with your students.

[resource:2653726] [resource:2665510] [resource:4802622]