Browse

Progressive Tense Worksheets

9 free PDFsUS Letter PDFsAnswer key includedNo login

Past, present, and future progressive verbs, with a chart, sorts, and keyed practice.

Download the progressive tense worksheets

Learn the Progressive Tense

A tense chart and pages to identify and find past, present, and future progressive verbs.

Form, Choose, Sort, and Rewrite

Form progressive verbs, choose helping verbs, sort sentences by tense, and rewrite sentences.

Write in the Progressive Tense

Answer questions about your own day in each progressive tense.

Print at 100% (actual size) for the cleanest tracing lines.

About these progressive tense worksheets

The progressive tense tells about an action that keeps going for a while. It uses a form of the verb be and a verb that ends in -ing. The past progressive uses was or were: "Mia was reading when the phone rang." The present progressive uses am, is, or are: "The twins are painting the fence." The future progressive uses will be: "Tomorrow at noon, we will be flying to Texas."

The helping verb has to match the subject. We say "I am," "she is," and "they are," and "he was" but "we were." Spelling matters too: ride becomes riding, and run becomes running.

These printable worksheets start with a tense chart, then ask children to name the tense, circle the whole progressive verb, form verbs, choose helping verbs, sort sentences, and rewrite sentences in a new tense. A writing page asks about yesterday, today, and the weekend. Each practice page has an answer key.

Standards

  • CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.4.1.BForm and use the progressive (e.g., I was walking; I am walking; I will be walking) verb tenses.

How to use them

  1. Read the chart together and draw a quick timeline: past, now, and future.
  2. Use Past, Present, or Future Progressive? and Circle the Progressive Verb to spot the tenses.
  3. Practice forming verbs with Form the Progressive Tense and Choose the Helping Verb.
  4. Sort, rewrite, and then write about your own day.

Teaching tips

  • The helping verb tells the time: was or were for the past, am, is, or are for now, and will be for the future.
  • Remind children to circle every word of the verb, including will and be.
  • Review the -ing spelling rules before Form the Progressive Tense.
  • Pair the past progressive with a when-clause: "I was eating when the bell rang."

Questions teachers and parents ask

What is the progressive tense?

It is a verb tense that shows an action going on for a while. It uses a form of be plus a verb ending in -ing, such as was walking, is walking, or will be walking.

What are the three progressive tenses?

Past progressive (was or were + -ing), present progressive (am, is, or are + -ing), and future progressive (will be + -ing).

Which grade learns the progressive tense?

Forming and using the progressive verb tenses is a 4th grade grammar skill.

Are answer keys included?

Yes. Every practice page has a key.