This game does not require much supervision or help from you but it requires that you build a deck beforehand. Buy a pack of index cards.
On the front of each card, write a different sentence, and underline a verb in that sentence. On the back of each card, write whether the underlined verb is a linking, helping, or action verb.
If a student gets the answer right, they keep the card, and if they do not, they can put the card under the deck. The students with the most cards at the end of the game wins. These kinds of verb games are for two students to play, and they ensure that students get a lot of individual practice while learning about verbs.
This game is incredibly fun for students of all ages because it allows you and your students to have a good discussion about grammar.
Before the game, brainstorm several sentences that have one verb in the sentence – be it linking verb or helping verb or action verb, there should be one main verb that is the predicate of the sentence.
On your list of sentences, take a note of how many words are in each separate sentence. When it is time to play the game, each turn is played sentence-by-sentence. Using paper and a bold marker (big enough that all students sitting at their desks can see the words clearly), write one of the sentences such that there is one word on each piece of paper.
Bring the number of students to the front of the room so that there all of the words of the sentence are represented. Mix up the papers, and have each student take a word. Tell them to organize themselves in a sentence in a line in front of the class, holding their papers out for their classmates to see. Then say to your students, “If you are holding the verb, jump for joy.”
You may have a few students jump or none at all. This is a great chance for your students to begin a discussion of what a verb is and how it functions in the sentence. Students have fun playing this game and can be adapted to serve specific kinds of verbs (“Jump for joy if you are a helping verb”) or other parts of speech (nouns, adjectives, adverbs, and articles).
One of the most popular verb games for kids learning about grammar is called SWAT, and you can play this game with verbs very easily.
You need a:
Blackboard
Chalk
Fly swatters.
Before the game begins, brainstorm as many sentences as you have students so that everyone in the classroom will play twice.
Break the room up into two teams. Make three big boxes (about 2’ x 2’)
and inside of them, write “helping,” “action,” and “linking,” which are the three kinds of verbs. Designate one student from each team to be a team secretary, tallying up the points their teammates earn.
For each turn of SWAT, have two students (one from each team) come up to the board. Have them each hold a fly swatter in hand. Then, read aloud one of your sentences. Their job is to swat at the correct box as soon as possible, identifying correctly whether the verb is a helping, action, or linking verb.
Make sure to finally reveal the right answer and confirm who (if anyone) earns a point from the turn. The team with the most points at the end of the game wins.
The past continuous tense expresses action at a particular moment in the past. The action started before that moment but has not finished at that moment.
FORM
[was/were + present participle]
Examples:
You were studying when she called.
Were you studying when she called?
You were not studying when she called.
This picture show a simple explanation on past continuous tense
Usage 1 (Interrupted action in the past)
Use the Past Continuous to indicate that a longer action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually a shorter action in the Simple Past. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an interruption in time.
Examples:
I was watching TV when she called.
When the phone rang, she was writing a letter.
While we were having the picnic, it started to rain.
What were you doing when the earthquake started?
I was listening to my iPod, so I didn't hear the fire alarm.
You were not listening to me when I told you to turn the oven off.
While John was sleeping last night, someone stole his car.
Sammy was waiting for us when we got off the plane.
While I was writing the email, the computer suddenly went off.
A: What were you doing when you broke your leg?
B: I was snowboarding.
Usage 2 (Specific time as an interruption)
In Usage 1, described above, the Past Continuous is interrupted by a shorter action in the Simple Past. However, you can also use a specific time as an interruption.
Examples:
Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
At midnight, we were still driving through the desert.
Yesterday at this time, I was sitting at my desk at work.
IMPORTANT
In the Simple Past, a specific time is used to show when an action began or finished. In the Past Continuous, a specific time only interrupts the action.
Examples:
Last night at 6 PM, I ate dinner.
I started eating at 6 PM.
Last night at 6 PM, I was eating dinner.
I started earlier; and at 6 PM, I was in the process of eating dinner.
Usage 3 (Parallel actions)
When you use the Past Continuous with two actions in the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions were happening at the same time. The actions are parallel.
Examples:
I was studying while he was making dinner.
While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching television.
Were you listening while he was talking?
I wasn't paying attention while I was writing the letter, so I made several mistakes.
What were you doing while you were waiting?
Thomas wasn't working, and I wasn't working either.
They were eating dinner, discussing their plans, and having a good time.
Usage 4 (Atmosphere)
In English, we often use a series of parallel actions to describe the atmosphere at a particular time in the past.
Example:
When I walked into the office, several people were busily typing, some were talking on the phones, the boss was yelling directions, and customers were waiting to be helped. One customer was yelling at a secretary and waving his hands. Others were complaining to each other about the bad service.
Usage 5 (Repetition and irritation with "always")
The Past Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happened in the past. The concept is very similar to the expression "used to" but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or "constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing."
Examples:
She was always coming to class late.
He was constantly talking. He annoyed everyone.
I didn't like them because they were always complaining.
Try the exercise below to practice your understanding
From the video below,list all the past continuous tense that were inside the video.
The present continuous tense is formed from the present tense of the verb be and the present participle (-ing form) of a verb
FORM
[am/is/are + present participle]
Examples:
You are watching TV.
Are you watching TV?
You are not watching TV.
Usage 1 (Now)
Use the present continuous with normal verbs to express the idea that something is happening now, at this very moment. It can also be used to show that something is not happening now.
Examples:
You are learning English now.
You are not swimming now.
Are you sleeping?
I am sitting.
I am not standing.
Is he sitting or standing?
They are reading their books.
They are not watching television.
What are you doing?
Why aren't you doing your homework?
Usage 2 (Longer actions in progress now)
In English, "now" can mean: this second, today, this month, this year, this century, and so on. Sometimes, we use the present continuous to say that we are in the process of doing a longer action which is in progress; however, we might not be doing it at this exact second.
Examples:
I am studying to become a doctor.
I am not studying to become a dentist.
I am reading the book Tom Sawyer.
I am not reading any books right now.
Are you working on any special projects at work?
Aren't you teaching at the university now?
Usage 3 (Near future)
Sometimes, speakers use the Present Continuous to indicate that something will or will not happen in the near future.
Examples:
I am meeting some friends after work.
I am not going to the party tonight.
Is he visiting his parents next weekend?
Isn't he coming with us tonight?
Usage 4 (Repetition and irritation with "always")
The Present Continuous with words such as "always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often happens. Notice that the meaning is like Simple Present, but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words "always" or "constantly" between "be" and "verb+ing."
Examples:
She is always coming to class late.
He is constantly talking. I wish he would shut up.
I don't like them because they are always complaining.
The picture shows how present continuous tense were used in a conversation
The irregularity in English language cause change in verbs to be varied. In past tense or present continuous. some verb change completely and some only change letters in the middle. Below is the an example of a verb that do not change it's form in past tense nor present continuous.
This post discussed the properties of regular and irregular verbs as well as their usage Regular Verb Those verbs that form their past participle with ‘d’ or ‘ed’ are regular verbs. These verbs do not undergo substantial changes while changing forms between tenses.
If the verb ends with a vowel, only ‘d’ is added. For example:
PRESENT TENSE
PAST TENSE
SHARE
SHARED
SCARE
SCARED
DARE
DARED
If the verb ends with a consonant, ‘ed’ is added. For example:
PRESENT TENSE
PAST TENSE
WANT
WANTED
SHOUT
SHOUTED
KILL
KILLED
Irregular Verbs
Those verbs that undergo substantial changes when changing forms between tenses are irregular verbs. The changed forms of these verbs are often unrecognizable different from the originals. For example:
