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"The swimmer is gasping for breath" is an example of present tense. "The swimmer gasped for breath" is an example of past tense.

Verbs (Present and Past Tenses) 01

Tenses tell time in writing. Master present, past, and present perfect so your KS3 sentences say when things happen, clearly and correctly.

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Fascinating Fact:

Match tense to time. Use present forms for now, past forms for completed events, and the present perfect when past results matter today.

In KS3 English, you refine how verb tenses signal time and viewpoint. Use present forms for routines or actions happening now, past forms for finished events, and the present perfect to link past actions to the present. Accurate tense choices make narratives and explanations easier to follow.

Key Terms

Present Simple: Describes habits or facts, e.g., She writes.
Past Simple: Describes finished actions in the past, e.g., She wrote.
Present Perfect: Shows a past action with present relevance, e.g., She has written.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

When should I use the present simple or present continuous?

Use the present simple for routines and facts (I walk to school). Use the present continuous for actions happening now or temporary situations (I am walking to school).

What is the difference between past simple and present perfect?

Past simple is for finished time in the past (Yesterday I finished). Present perfect links past to now (I have finished), focusing on the result that matters today.

How do I choose the right tense in a story?

Stay consistent. Pick a main tense (often past simple) and only switch when time changes are clear, such as flashbacks or actions that still affect the present.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

Choose the correct tense to fill the gaps in the following sentence.
The crowd ....... the winners as they ....... medals yesterday.

cheered, receive

cheered, received

cheer, received

cheers, receive

"Cheered" and "received" are in the past tense; it happened yesterday

2 .

Choose the correct tense to fill the gaps in the following sentence.
The winners ....... on a podium and ....... their medals.

stand, receive

stand, received

stood, receive

stood, receiving

A "podium" is a platform. "Stand" and "receive" are in the present tense

3 .

Choose the correct tense to fill the gaps in the following sentence.
The people ....... their cars and ....... home.

find, driving

find, drove

found, drive

found, drove

Match verb tenses here, so "found" and "drove", both in the past tense, are correct

4 .

Choose the correct tense to fill the gaps in the following sentence.
The competition ....... yesterday; it ....... for ten days.

finished, lasted

finished, lasts

finishes, lasts

finish, last

The past tense is used here because the event happened yesterday

5 .

Choose the correct tense to fill the gaps in the following sentence.
Each competitor ....... to ....... the record he ....... last year.

is trying, break, set

is trying, broke, sat

tried, break, sat

tried, broke, sat

"Tries" and "is trying" are in the present tense

6 .

Choose the correct tense to fill the gaps in the following sentence.
The swimmer ....... to ....... a second off the record she .......

is trying, cut, sat

is trying, cut, set

tried, cut, sat

tried, cutting, set

Use present tense in writing to involve your reader

7 .

Choose the correct tense to fill the gaps in the following sentence.
The athletes ....... autographs and ....... them to people.

signed, gave

signed, give

sign, gave

sign, giving

This sentence requires both verbs to be in the past tense, so uses "signed" and "gave"

8 .

Choose the correct tense to fill the gaps in the following sentence.
The runners ....... round the track now; the crowd .......

ran, cheered

run, cheers

running, cheered

running, cheers

Today the crowd "cheers"; yesterday it "cheered"

9 .

Choose the correct tense to fill the gaps in the following sentence.
The spectators ....... the athletes and ....... them for autographs.

are congratulating, asked

congratulate, asked

congratulated, ask

congratulated, asked

Match both verb tenses so this sentence uses "congratulated" and "asked"

10 .

Choose the correct tense to fill the gaps in the following sentence.
The athletes ....... fast; they each ....... to ....... the record.

ran, hoped, break

ran, hoped, broke

run, hope, broke

running, hoped, break

Today they "run", but yesterday they "ran", which is past tense. "To break" is an infinitive, so this verb is neither past nor present here

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - What is a verb?

Author: Sue Daish (English Teacher, Principal Examiner & Published Author)

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