Printable Present Tense Worksheets
Present tense verb worksheets teach students how to describe actions happening right now or regularly. These printable practice sheets focus on adding -s and -es to verbs and choosing correct forms for singular and plural subjects with answer keys.
Present Tense Practice Pack. Ready to Print.
Structured, printable skill sheets with step-by-step guidance for Present Tense.
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About Present Tense
What this skill is
Present tense verbs describe actions that occur in the present moment or happen on a routine basis. In simple present tense, the verb form changes depending on whether the subject is singular (adding -s or -es) or plural (using the base form).
When children learn it
Present tense verbs are practiced in oral conversation in kindergarten and 1st grade. Applying spelling rules for 3rd-person singular endings (like catches, fixes, carries) is formally taught and mastered in 2nd and 3rd grade.
Teaching Tips
- Use the "Today Habit" cue: have your child start the sentence with the word "Today, he..." to naturally prompt the -s sound on the verb. On worksheets, have them check the subject first: if it is one person, the verb usually needs an -s buddy.
Common Mistakes
- Dropping the final -s on present tense verbs with singular third-person subjects, writing "He play soccer" instead of "He plays soccer".
- Adding an -s to verbs when the subject is plural, writing "The dogs barks" instead of "The dogs bark".
- Confusing simple present with present progressive, substituting "is running" when the task asks for the simple present "runs".