The 1940s: What We Did

Present and Past Tense Verbs

A verb changes to show when an action happens.

photograph of a family from the 1940s listening to the radio

Use a present tense verb to tell what happens now.

Today, we listen to songs on the radio.

Use a past tense verb to tell what happened in the past. To form the past tense, you usually add -ed.

In the 1940s, families listened to war news on the radio.

Study the verbs in the box. They have a special form to show the past tense.

PresentPast
arewere
buildbuilt
eatate
iswas
leaveleft
saysaid
wearwore

Build Sentences

Say each sentence. Add the past tense of the verb in dark type.

    Example

  • 1. In the United States, people’s lives changed a lot during World War II.

1. changeIn the United States, people’s lives ______ a lot during World War II.
2. areThere ______ not many things to buy.
3. printThe government ______ special stamps.
4. useEveryone ______ the stamps to get things like sugar and cheese.
5. plantFamilies ______ gardens to grow food.
6. wearWomen ______ simple dresses and shoes.
7. collectChildren ______ old rubber, paper, and aluminum.
8. buildFactories ______ bombs and airplanes.
9. eatPeople ______ food like powdered eggs and potatoes.
10. isThere ______ not much gasoline either.
11. sayEveryone ______ that life was hard.
12. leaveThe hardest part was when someone ______ to go to war.
photograph of ration stamps
People used ration stamps like these.

People used ration stamps like these.

Write Sentences illustration of pen icon

13.–15. Choose 3 present tense verbs from the box at the top of the page. Write a sentence for each verb. Trade papers with a partner. Write the sentences again. Put the verb in the past tense.

    Example

  • 13. Factories build airplanes.

    Factories built airplanes.

Women worked in airplane factories for the first time during World War II.

Women worked in airplane factories for the first time during World War II.