Year 3 English: Standard English verb forms in writing
Part of the Year 3 English tense and paragraphs chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Standard English verb forms in writing
When we talk, we use many local ways of speaking, and these are part of who we are. In writing, we use Standard English verb forms. This table shows the most common changes.
| Spoken form to change | Standard English for writing | Example |
|---|---|---|
| we was, you was, they was | we were, you were, they were | We were late for the bus. |
| I done | I did | I did my homework. |
| I seen | I saw (or I have seen) | I saw a fox. |
| she come, he give | she came, he gave | She came home at four o'clock. |
| we have went | we have gone | We have gone to the beach. |
Key ideas
- With we, you and they, use were, not was: We were late.
- For the past, use did, not done, after I, we, you and they: I did my homework.
- Use the past form saw, came or gave on its own, without have or has.
- After have or has, use the past participle: have gone, have seen.
- In your own writing, use Standard English verb forms.
Method. Change the verb to its Standard English form.
- Find the verb that is not Standard English. With we, the Standard English form is were.was
- Replace it with the Standard English form. The Standard English form is were.were
- Write the sentence. Only the verb changes. The rest of the sentence stays the same.We were late for the bus.
- Write the answer. We were late for the bus.
Check. Read it aloud: We were late for the bus. ✓
Watch out. In writing, use the Standard English form. A character in direct speech may speak differently.
Method. Change the verb to its Standard English form.
- Find the verb that is not Standard English. Done is a past participle. Without have or has, the past form is did.done
- Replace it with the Standard English form. The Standard English form is did.did
- Write the sentence. Only the verb changes. The rest of the sentence stays the same.I did my homework before tea.
- Write the answer. I did my homework before tea.
Check. Read it aloud: I did my homework before tea. ✓
Watch out. In writing, use the Standard English form. A character in direct speech may speak differently.
Method. Change the verb to its Standard English form.
- Find the verb that is not Standard English. Seen is a past participle. It needs have or has. Without them, the past form is saw.seen
- Replace it with the Standard English form. The Standard English form is saw.saw
- Write the sentence. Only the verb changes. The rest of the sentence stays the same.Mia saw the rainbow.
- Write the answer. Mia saw the rainbow.
Check. Read it aloud: Mia saw the rainbow. ✓
Watch out. In writing, use the Standard English form. A character in direct speech may speak differently.
Watch out
Watch out: do not write I done or I seen. Done and seen are past participles, and they need have or has. Without them, write did and saw.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Local ways of speaking are part of a child's identity, and they are fine in conversation. Only the writing changes. Read a sentence aloud, then ask: would this be written this way in a book?
Exercise 6D Practice: Standard English verb forms
Method. Choose the verb that matches they.
- Find the subject. They is a plural subject, so it needs the plural form of the verb.they
- Choose the form. With they, use were.were
- Write the answer. were
Check. They were happy. ✓
Watch out. Use were with they, you and we.
Method. Choose the verb that matches I.
- Find the subject. I is one person, so it uses was.I
- Choose the form. With I, use was.was
- Write the answer. was
Check. I was happy to help. ✓
Watch out. I takes was, even though we and they take were.
Method. Choose the verb that matches you.
- Find the subject. You uses the plural form of the verb in Standard English.you
- Choose the form. With you, use were.were
- Write the answer. were
Check. You were right. ✓
Watch out. With you, use were.
Method. Change the verb to its Standard English form.
- Find the verb that is not Standard English. With we, use were, not was.was
- Replace it with the Standard English form. The Standard English form is were.were
- Write the sentence. Only the verb changes. The rest of the sentence stays the same.We were late for the bus.
- Write the answer. We were late for the bus.
Check. Read it aloud: We were late for the bus. ✓
Watch out. In writing, use the Standard English form. A character in direct speech may speak differently.
Method. Change the verb to its Standard English form.
- Find the verb that is not Standard English. Come is the present form. For the past, use came.come
- Replace it with the Standard English form. The Standard English form is came.came
- Write the sentence. Only the verb changes. The rest of the sentence stays the same.She came home at four o'clock.
- Write the answer. She came home at four o'clock.
Check. Read it aloud: She came home at four o'clock. ✓
Watch out. In writing, use the Standard English form. A character in direct speech may speak differently.
Method. Change the verb to its Standard English form.
- Find the verb that is not Standard English. Give is the present form. For the past, use gave.give
- Replace it with the Standard English form. The Standard English form is gave.gave
- Write the sentence. Only the verb changes. The rest of the sentence stays the same.He gave me a red pencil.
- Write the answer. He gave me a red pencil.
Check. Read it aloud: He gave me a red pencil. ✓
Watch out. In writing, use the Standard English form. A character in direct speech may speak differently.
Method. Change the verb to its Standard English form.
- Find the verb that is not Standard English. Done needs have or has. Without them, the past form is did.done
- Replace it with the Standard English form. The Standard English form is did.did
- Write the sentence. Only the verb changes. The rest of the sentence stays the same.We did the washing up after tea.
- Write the answer. We did the washing up after tea.
Check. Read it aloud: We did the washing up after tea. ✓
Watch out. In writing, use the Standard English form. A character in direct speech may speak differently.
Method. Change the verb to its Standard English form.
- Find the verb that is not Standard English. Seen needs have or has. Without them, the past form is saw.seen
- Replace it with the Standard English form. The Standard English form is saw.saw
- Write the sentence. Only the verb changes. The rest of the sentence stays the same.Ben saw a fox in the garden.
- Write the answer. Ben saw a fox in the garden.
Check. Read it aloud: Ben saw a fox in the garden. ✓
Watch out. In writing, use the Standard English form. A character in direct speech may speak differently.
Method. Change the verb to its Standard English form.
- Find the verb that is not Standard English. After have, use the past participle gone, not went.went
- Replace it with the Standard English form. The Standard English form is gone.gone
- Write the sentence. Only the verb changes. The rest of the sentence stays the same.We have gone to the beach.
- Write the answer. We have gone to the beach.
Check. Read it aloud: We have gone to the beach. ✓
Watch out. In writing, use the Standard English form. A character in direct speech may speak differently.
Method. Change the verb to its Standard English form.
- Find the verb that is not Standard English. With they, the helper word is have.has
- Replace it with the Standard English form. The Standard English form is have.have
- Write the sentence. Only the verb changes. The rest of the sentence stays the same.They have seen the new bridge.
- Write the answer. They have seen the new bridge.
Check. Read it aloud: They have seen the new bridge. ✓
Watch out. In writing, use the Standard English form. A character in direct speech may speak differently.
Method. Think about writing and speech. The story is written, so it uses Standard English.
- Think about the story. The words of the story are written, so the verb form is Standard English.the story
- Write the sentence. With we, use were.We were playing in the mud.
- Write the answer. No. In the story, Ali should write: We were playing in the mud.
Check. Read it aloud: We were playing in the mud. ✓
Watch out. Also accept: No, the writing should say We were playing in the mud. A character in direct speech may speak differently.