Use Present and Past Tense Verbs
1 TRY OUT LANGUAGE
2 LEARN GRAMMAR
3 APPLY ON YOUR OWN
The tense, or time, of a verb shows when an action happens.
• Use the present tense to tell about an action that happens now or often.
EXAMPLES Today, laws treat all people fairly. (happens now) People work to protect our civil rights. (happens often) The verb ends in -s only when it tells about one person, place, or thing.
EXAMPLE The government protects our civil rights. • Use the past tense to tell about an action that has already happened.
EXAMPLES In the 1960s, many people worked to protect the civil rights of others. Congress passed a voting rights law. Add -ed to most verbs when you talk about a past action.
work + -ed = worked pass + -ed = passed
Practice Together
Change the verb in the box to the past tense. Say it. Then say the sentence and add the past tense verb.
People marched for equal rights.
1. remember Aunt Sally ______ the civil rights march.
2. believe She ______ in civil rights.
3. want She ______ everyone to be treated the same.
4. help The march ______ change the laws in her state.
Try It!
Change the verb in the box to the past tense. Write the past tense verb on a card. Then say the sentence and add the past tense verb.
5. listen People ______ to what others said.
6. march They ______ for equal rights.
7. pass The government ______ civil rights laws.
8. support These laws ______ equality.