Introduction to Verbs and Verb Tenses (Regular Verbs)

Grade 4 · English

Semester 1 | Period 2 | Week 7

Download the Lessonotes Mobile Liberia app for faster lesson access on Android and iPhone.

Subject: English

Semester: 1

Period: 2

Week: 7


School Name:

Teacher’s Name:

Subject: English Language

Grade Level: Grade 4

Date: Week 7

Lesson Duration: 45 minutes

Week & Period: Week 7, Period 2

Topic: Introduction to Verbs and Verb Tenses (Regular Verbs)

Sub-topic: Meaning and Function of Verbs; Present, Past, and Future Tenses of Regular Verbs

Learning Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

Define verbs and explain their functions in sentences.

Identify and use the present, past, and future tenses of regular verbs correctly.

Form and use sentences with regular verbs in the three tenses.

 

Previous Knowledge

Students already know how to identify action words and use them in simple sentences.

 

Instructional Materials

English Language textbook for Grade 4, flashcards with verbs, verb tense chart, and writing materials.

 

Lesson Development – ABC Model

A – Anticipation (Warm-up / Starter)

Time: 5–10 minutes

The teacher begins with a short action game called “Do What I Say.” The teacher gives commands such as jump, clap, sing, dance, and sit. Afterward, the teacher asks, “What do all these words tell us to do?” Students respond that they are action words. The teacher introduces the term “verb” as a word that shows action or state of being.

B – Building Knowledge (Main Lesson Body)

Time: 25–30 minutes

Learners’ Activities (Expanded)

This lesson helps learners understand what verbs are, how they function in sentences, and how they change across tenses (present, past, future). Activities are designed to be collaborative, hands-on, and language-rich.

🗣️ 1. Verb Brainstorming & Repetition

Learners are asked to recall and say aloud as many action words (verbs) as they can.

Teacher writes their responses on the board.

Learners then repeat the words chorally for pronunciation practice.

Example verbs:

run, jump, play, read, eat, draw, write, laugh, sing, help

 

✍️ 2. Sentence Creation (Pair Work)

Learners work in pairs to create simple sentences using the verbs they know.

Each learner selects a verb and uses it in a present tense sentence first.

Then, they change the same sentence into past and future tenses.

 

Example:

Verb: play

Present: I play football.

Past: I played football.

Future: I will play football.

 

📊 3. Verb Tense Chart Completion

Learners are given a 3-column chart labeled: Present, Past, and Future.

Each learner chooses 10 regular verbs and fills in the chart by:

Writing the base form (present)

Changing it to the past tense (by adding -ed)

Writing the future form (by adding will before the verb)

 

Sample Chart:

Verb (Base Form)         Past Tense Future Tense

jump jumped      will jump

help  helped       will help

clean cleaned      will clean

play  played        will play

✏️ 4. Sentence Writing Practice

Learners write 3 short sentences, each using one of the three tenses:

1 Present tense sentence

1 Past tense sentence

1 Future tense sentence

 

Example:

Present: She walks to school.

Past: She walked to school.

Future: She will walk to school.

 

Concepts and Definitions (Expanded)

What is a Verb?

A verb is a word that tells about an action, an event, or a state of being.

 

🔹 Types of Verbs:

Action verbs: show what someone or something does (e.g., run, talk, read)

Being verbs: show a state of being (e.g., is, am, are – not covered in depth here but can be introduced later)

 

✅ Examples of Action Verbs:

run, jump, eat, sing, laugh, help, swim, talk, work, dance

 

What is Tense?

Tense shows the time when an action happens. Verbs change form depending on the tense.

 

🔴 1. Present Tense

Describes an action that is happening now or happens regularly.

Structure: Base verb / verb + -s or -es (for he/she/it)

Examples:

I jump.

She sings.

They play outside.

 

🔵 2. Past Tense

Describes an action that already happened.

Structure: Regular verbs add -ed

Examples:

I jumped.

She played.

We helped our parents.

 

🟢 3. Future Tense

Describes an action that will happen later or in the future.

Structure: will + base verb

Examples:

I will jump.

She will sing.

They will play outside.

 

📝 Regular Verbs

Most verbs are regular, meaning they form the past tense by simply adding -ed to the base verb.

Examples:

work → worked

clean → cleaned

laugh → laughed

call → called

📌 Irregular verbs (e.g., go → went, eat → ate) are more advanced and can be taught in a follow-up lesson.

Assessment Checks (Expanded)

The teacher uses oral questions and quick checks to monitor learning:

 

🎯 Oral Questions:

“What is a verb?”

“Give me an example of a verb.”

“What tense is this: He jumped?”

“What will you say if the action is happening tomorrow?”

“Change I play to the past tense.”

“What is the future tense of laugh?”

 

✏️ On-the-Spot Practice:

Teacher writes a verb on the board (e.g., talk), and learners take turns saying it in present, past, and future forms.

 

🗂️ Peer Review:

Learners swap their verb charts or sentences with a partner for checking and discussion.

 

Assignments (Expanded)

Classwork (During Lesson)

Verb Tense Chart

Learners choose 10 regular verbs and fill in their:

Present tense form

Past tense form (-ed)

Future tense form (will + verb)

 

Sentence Writing

Write 3 short sentences using each tense.

One sentence in present tense

One in past tense

One in future tense

 

Homework

Daily Routine Writing Task

Learners write 5 sentences describing what they do in a normal day (present tense).

Example: I wake up at 6 a.m. I eat breakfast. I walk to school.

 

Tense Practice

Pick any 5 regular verbs (e.g., play, jump, wash, cook, laugh)

Write a sentence in each tense (present, past, future) for each verb.

→ Total: 15 sentences

 

Optional Enrichment / Extension Activities

  1. Tense Relay Race (Group Game)

Divide class into teams.

Teacher says a verb (e.g., dance), and the first team to give all 3 tenses correctly wins a point.

 

  1. Verb Tense Song or Chant

Teach a simple chant or rhyme using verbs in all three tenses.

Example:

I jump (present)

I jumped (past)

I will jump (future)

 

  1. Tense Sorting Cards

Learners sort sentence strips into 3 categories: Present, Past, and Future.

Can be used as a center activity or group task.

 

C – Consolidation (Conclusion & Assessment)

Time: 5–10 minutes

Summary: The teacher reviews that verbs show action and tenses show when the action happens. Regular verbs add “-ed” to show past tense.

Evaluation Method (Expanded):

Exit slip/quiz: Students fill in the blanks with the correct tense of the verb “walk.”

I ______ to school every day.

Yesterday I ______ to school.

Tomorrow I ______ to school.

Teacher will collect slips and provide oral feedback.

Assignment (Expanded): Write five sentences about what you did yesterday using regular verbs in the past tense.

Follow-up Activity: Create a personal “Verb Chart” at home listing 10 regular verbs in three tenses.

Differentiation / Inclusive Strategies: Teacher pairs slower learners with faster ones, uses visual aids for those who learn best by seeing, and gives extra oral practice to auditory learners.

Teacher’s Reflection (After Class)

What worked well? ___________________________________________

What needs improvement? ____________________________________

Students’ engagement level: ☑ High ☑ Medium ☑ Low