Year 5 English: Standard English verb forms
Part of the Year 5 English modal verbs, possibility and the perfect form chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Standard English verb forms
Key pattern
In Standard English the verb agrees with the subject: we were, they were, I was.
The past tense of do is did, not done: I did my homework.
The past participle is used with have or has: I have done, not I have did.
Key ideas
- Use were with we, you and they in the past tense.
- The past tense of do is did; done is a past participle.
- Use the past participle with have or has: I have gone.
- Standard English is the form used in writing and formal speech.
Method. Use the past form that goes with we.
- Find the subject. We is plural.we
- Choose the past form. The past of be with we is were.were
- Write the answer. were
Check. We were at the library. ✓
Method. Use the past tense did, not done.
- Find the verb. The verb is done.done
- Choose the past tense. The past tense of do is did.did
- Write the answer. I did my project.
Check. I did my project. ✓
Method. After have, use the past participle.
- Find the helper. Have comes before the verb.have
- Choose the participle. The past participle of go is gone.gone
- Write the answer. gone
Check. They have gone home. ✓
Exercise 5D Practice: Standard English verb forms
Method. They is plural, so use were.
- Find the subject. They is plural.they
- Choose the form. Plural past of be is were.were
- Write the answer. were
Check. They were late. ✓
Method. The past tense of do is did.
- Find the verb. The verb is do.do
- Choose the past tense. The past tense is did.did
- Write the answer. did
Check. I did my homework. ✓
Method. Ring is irregular in the past tense.
- Find the verb. Ring is irregular.ring
- Choose the past tense. The past tense of ring is rang.rang
- Write the answer. rang
Check. She rang the bell. ✓
Method. Use were with we.
- Find the error. Was goes with I, he, she or it, not with we.was
- Correct the verb. Use were with we.We were happy.
- Write the answer. We were happy.
Check. We were happy. ✓
Method. After have, use the past participle done.
- Find the error. Did is the past tense, but have needs the past participle.did
- Correct the verb. The past participle of do is done.They have done the test.
- Write the answer. They have done the test.
Check. They have done the test. ✓
Method. The past participle of go is gone.
- Find the error. Went is the past tense; have needs gone.went
- Correct the verb. The past participle of go is gone.I have gone to the shop.
- Write the answer. I have gone to the shop.
Check. I have gone to the shop. ✓
Method. Use were with you.
- Find the error. Was is used with I, he, she or it.was
- Correct the verb. Use were with you.You were late, but you did not mind.
- Write the answer. You were late, but you did not mind.
Check. You were late, but you did not mind. ✓
Method. Use has with Sam and the past participle.
- Find the helper. Sam is singular, so has.has
- Choose the participle. The past participle of eat is eaten.eaten
- Write the answer. has eaten
Check. Sam has eaten. ✓
Method. Use have with children, then the past participle.
- Find the helper. Children is plural, so have.have
- Choose the participle. The past participle of see is seen.seen
- Write the answer. have seen
Check. The children have seen the show twice. ✓
Method. Check the verb with the subject.
- Check we. We takes were.were
- Choose the sentence. We were late is correct.We were late
- Write the answer. We were late
Check. We were late. ✓
Method. Use were with we or they, and did as the past tense of do.
- Write the first sentence. We were at the park, with were after we.We were at the park.
- Write the second sentence. I did my reading, with did as the past tense.Then I did my reading.
- Write the answer. We were at the park. Then I did my reading.
Check. Both sentences use Standard English. ✓
Method. Look at the verb after have.
- Find the verb. After have, the verb should be a past participle.participle
- Correct it. I have done my homework is Standard English.done
- Write the answer. did is the past tense, and have needs the past participle done
Check. The past participle done is needed. ✓