Ten-Minute
Grammar
VERB PHRASES – Teacher’s Guide
INTRODUCTION:
Welcome to Ten-Minute Grammar! The goal of these units is to help students build a solid
understanding of grade-level grammar concepts during the first ten minutes of the class period each
day. Each unit goes through a progression in which new grammatical concepts are introduced (by
discovery, as much as possible), built upon, and then practiced and reviewed. In addition, the concepts
in each consecutive unit build on one another logically—it might seem silly to spend time reviewing
nouns and verbs with 8th graders, but it’s necessary if they’re going to understand things like gerunds
and infinitives or specific types of verb phrases.
The unit includes two weeks of daily bell ringer activities, a quiz, four practice worksheets, and a verb
phrase chart that could be a student handout or a classroom poster.
SUGGESTED TIMELINE:
 IMPORTANT NOTE: If you’ve used other Ten-Minute Grammar units before, this one is a bit
different. Usually, it’s set up to be either a one-week unit. However, there are enough new
concepts here that it was impossible to introduce them all and get sufficient practice in just one
week. So this unit really needs to take two weeks of class time.
 Start the Day One bell ringer on a Monday.
 The “Practice” worksheets can be done as a class any time during the week (I definitely suggest
having the entire class do at least worksheets One and Two.)
 By the second Friday, or earlier if you feel the class is ready for it, give the unit quiz.
o Differentiation: The “Alternate Quiz” included in the packet is a slightly modified quiz
geared toward students with IEPs that call for such modifications.
 After the quiz, a student who clearly failed to grasp one or more of the week’s concepts should
be assigned the “Extra Practice” worksheet (answers are included at the bottom of the page so
students can check their answers.) After completing the worksheet, the student can retake the
unit quiz for an improved grade.
 Starting a unit mid-week isn’t a problem at all—don’t feel like you MUST start on a Monday!
OBJECTIVES:
1. Students should understand that…
a. Participles are verbals like gerunds and infinitives (words that are derived from verbs)
b. “Perfect” verb phrases are made up of a form of the verb “have” followed by a past
participle verb.
c. “Progressive” verb phrases are made up of a form of the verb “be” followed by a present
participle verb.
d. Both “perfect” and “progressive” verb phrases can be in the past, present, or future tense.
2. Students should be able to…
a. Identify examples of “perfect” and “progressive” verb phrases in all three tenses.
b. Write correct sentences that contain “perfect” and “progressive” verb phrases.
c. Choose the most effective type of verb phrase to convey the desired meaning.
KEYS TO THE UNIT:
A very common error I’ve been seeing in my students’ writing is the tendency to put a “had” in front
of random verbs—in other words, they’re not sure when a particular verb phrase (say, past perfect, for
example) should be used and when it shouldn’t. So in this unit, memorizing the terms “perfect” and
“progressive” is less important than students learning to make conscious and intelligent decisions about
what type of verb to use for a particular situation in their own writing. That should be your focus.
DAILY ROUTINE:
Have the day’s bell ringer activity up on a projector when the students come to class each day. I have
my students do the assignment on quarter-sheets of paper (I cut them up and have a stack available
each day). Days Four and Six in this unit require copyediting with proofreading marks; since it takes
too long for students to copy the incorrect sentences and then edit them, a page of quarter-size student
answer sheets are provided for those days (see the pages after the last bell ringer.)
Students should spend the first five minutes working silently (use that time to take roll and then
circulate around the room to keep kids on task.) After the five minutes of work time, spend the next
five minutes going over the answers. Use the correction session each day to explain new concepts,
clarify ideas, and correct misconceptions. For each question, I like to have my students turn to the
person next to them and share their answer; then I ask a student to volunteer an answer. If a student
answers incorrectly, find someone else who can give the correct answer. Help the class understand the
concept a little better and then ask the first student a question like, “Explain why your first answer was
wrong.” I’ve never had a student feel offended by this—if anything, it gives kids a chance to redeem
themselves after what might have been an embarrassing moment of being wrong in front of everyone.
If you use an overhead projector, a Smart Board, or project onto a white marker board, you can
choose a student each day to come to the front and write answers or corrections as other students
volunteer them.
How you grade the daily bell-ringer questions is up to you. I used to give my students full credit as
long as they attempted each question and then participated in the answer session. But this year, I
actually stopped grading the daily practice altogether—so students are graded solely on the unit quiz
(and sometimes the practice worksheet.) This has worked great. The only issue with doing it like this is
that you have to make sure you don’t let kids get away with not doing the bell-ringer—I sometimes
hold them during lunch if they were slacking off and didn’t do it.
The Wordplay at the end of each day’s questions can be a way to earn extra credit if you choose. As
incentive to work quickly, I tell my students they can’t begin on the Wordplay until they’re finished
with the other questions, and I always offer a piece of candy to the first student to get the answer right
or the student with the best answer or most answers. (You’d be surprised what junior-high students
will do for a Starburst or a Jolly Rancher!)
LITERATURE:
This unit contains example selections from the novel Drums, Girls, &
Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick.
Ten-Minute
Grammar
DAY
One
Verb Phrases
Read the following sentences. Each uses a slightly different type of verb or verb phrase.
Match each sentence to one of the visual representations below:
1. Bob worked at McDonald’s a few years ago. B
2. Bob was working at McDonald’s when I called him. C
3. Bob had worked at McDonald’s, so I called him to see whether it was
a good job or not. A
Present
Perfect
A
B
Past
Tense
C
Past
Progressive
I called him
Bob’s employment
at McDonald’s
Bob’s employment
at McDonald’s
Bob started
his shift at
McDonald’s
I called him
Wordplay – Just for fun!
 CATALOGUE CREATOR: The root word “-chron-” means “time” and
sounds like “kron.” How many words can you list that contain this root?
Ten-Minute
Grammar
DAY
Two
Verb Phrases
A “progressive” verb phrase consists of the verb “be” plus a
present participle verb—that’s a verb ending in –ing like “eating,”
“asking,” or “doing.”
(An act that’s “in progress” = a “progressive” verb phrase—makes sense, right?)
WAS / WERE + PRESENT PARTICIPLE = Past Progressive
IS / ARE + PRESENT PARTICIPLE = Present Progressive
WILL BE + PRESENT PARTICIPLE = Future Progressive
In the following sentences, replace the simple verb with a “progressive” verb phrase, but
keep the tense—so if it’s a past-tensed verb, make it a past progressive verb phrase:
1. The star basketball player shoots a three-pointer. is shooting
2. He starts in every game on his high-school team. is starting
3. He played ball on the street as a kid. was playing
4. Every day, he competed against boys that were older than he was. was
competing
5. He will join an NBA team next year. will be joining
6. One day, the boy from the street will earn a championship MVP
award. will be earning
Wordplay – Just for fun!
 DESCRAMBLER: Try to sort out the five scrambled words below:
KOPE OPDTA RULENA GCRECAH KNICERUH
Poke Adopt Unreal Charger Chunkier
Ten-Minute
Grammar
DAY
Three
Verb Phrases
A “perfect” verb phrase consists of the verb “have” plus a past
participle verb—that’s a verb that most often (but not always) ends
in –ed or -en like “been,” “eaten,” “asked,” or “done.”
(There’s nothing “perfect” about this verb phrase—that’s just what it’s called.)
HAD + PAST PARTICIPLE = Past Perfect
HAVE / HAS + PAST PARTICIPLE = Present Perfect
WILL HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE = Future Perfect
In the following sentences, replace the simple verb with a “perfect” verb phrase, but keep
the tense—so if it’s a past-tensed verb, make it a past perfect verb phrase:
1. The astronauts landed on the strange planet. had landed
2. Dangerous creatures roam the planet’s surface. have roamed
3. The men will risk their lives to explore the new world. will have risked
4. The space ship launched from the earth. had launched
5. Five years later, the explorers will return home. will have returned
Wordplay – Just for fun!
 EIGHT LETTERS: Create as many words as you can using three or more of the
letters below (at least one eight-letter word is possible):
PSGNTOIT
Spotting
Ten-Minute
Grammar
DAY
Four
Verb Phrases
A past participle is a verb that usually ends in –ed or –en (except
with irregular verbs!) and sounds correct after “have.”
A present participle is a verb that ends in –ing (same as a gerund,
except that present participles still act as verbs.)
Change the following verbs into their past participle and present participle forms (so you
need TWO answers for each verb):
1. Shake shaken, shaking
2. Work worked, working
3. See seen, seeing
4. Write written, writing
Using the proper proofreading marks, correct the six errors in this excerpt from Drums, Girls
& Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick:
sp.
Having
Have any brother would be horible, I suppose, but having my par ticular
brother, Jeffrey, is an Unrelenting nightmare. Its not because he’s eight years
sp.
younger than I am, althow that’s part of it.
Wordplay – Just for fun!
 VOWEL COMBINATOR: The vowel combination “ay” almost always
sounds like the hard “A” in “play.” List as many words as you can that contain this
vowel combo.
Ten-Minute
Grammar
DAY
Five
Verb Phrases
Identify the “progressive” and “perfect” verb phrases in the following excerpts from Drums,
Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick (the number in parentheses tells how many
verb phrases you’re looking for):
1. (4) I was crying, but when my mom started coming over to hug me, I
ran upstairs for bed. If I had known that this would basically be the last
time I’d have both parents paying attention to me at once, I probably
would have taken the hug.
“Started coming” doesn’t quite fit the format for progressive verb phrases because it uses the
verb “start” instead of a “be” verb. However, you could replace “started” with “was” (a “be”
verb), and it still make sense. That means this is still a progressive verb phrase.
Also, make sure the students notice that you can combine modal helping verbs (would, can,
should, might, etc.) with progressive and perfect verb phrases.
2. (3) I realized one last thing I hadn’t thought about since I had walked in
the door after school. And I muttered to myself in the darkness, Guess
what, Mom? I am going to be the star of my spring concert.
In your own words, explain how a different verb or verb phrase changes the meaning in the
following pairs of sentences: ANSWERS WILL VARY.
3. A) I wrote a three-page essay.
B) I was writing a three-page essay. Basically, what we want them to notice here is
that the second sentence focuses on the act of writing being in progress, while the first sentence
makes the writing sound finished.
4. A) She works at McDonald’s.
B) She has worked at McDonald’s.
The first sentence only makes a statement about
the immediate present—he works at McDonald’s, but we don’t know if he just started there
today. The second sentence focuses more on the past, even though he might still work at
McDonald’s in the present.
Wordplay – Just for fun!
 FOUR-LETTER WORDS: Take the four-letter word below and change one letter
to make a new four-letter word (keep it clean!) Then take that word and change
one letter to make a new word. Then take that word and… You get the picture.
HOOK
Ten-Minute
Grammar
DAY
Six
Verb Phrases
Which of the following sentences matches the visual representation?
1. I had just repainted the house when it burned down.
I was repainting the house when it had burned down.
Repainted the house
House burned down
2. Mark had written a novel in a five-year period.
Mark has been writing a novel for five years now.
Five-year period
Mark began writing
In your own words…
3. Explain how you make a “perfect” verb phrase and give one example.
Add a past participle after the verb “has;” examples will vary.
4. Explain how you make a “progressive” verb phrase; give one example.
Add a present participle after the verb “be;” examples will vary.
Wordplay – Just for fun!
 EIGHT LETTERS: Create as many words as you can using three or more of the
letters below (at least one eight-letter word is possible):
GSMUEROE
Gruesome
Ten-Minute
Grammar
DAY
Seven
Verb Phrases
In the following excerpt from Drums, Girls & Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick, choose
the most effective verb or verb phrase from the options:
While I (was waiting / had waited) for the school bus on
Monday, I (was having / had) a horrifying realization: People
(would have asked me / were going to ask me) why my
mom (was pulling / had pulled) me out of the dance on
Friday night. By the time the bus (had been pulling up /
pulled up) at my stop, I was convinced that as soon as I (was
getting on / got on), all eyes would immediately swing to the
front, pinning me in the merciless glare of teenage inquisition.
Write your own example sentence that contains a…
Answers will vary.
7. Past perfect verb phrase
8. Present progressive verb phrase
Wordplay – Just for fun!
 FIXER-ROOTER: How many words can you think of that have the same
prefix, suffix, or root as the multisyllabic word below?
SYMPHONIOUS
(marked by a harmonious or agreeable mingling of sounds)
Ten-Minute
Grammar
DAY
Eight
Verb Phrases
In the following sentences, write the most effective version of the verb in parentheses—
Should it be a “progressive” verb phrase, a “perfect” verb phrase, or a simple verb?
Should it be past, present, or future tense?
1. I was walking (walk) my dog, Sara, when a bunch of cats ran
past and Sara ran away after them.
2. You can’t fire me! I have worked (work) here longer than you
have!
3. She had just been taking a nap under the tree before lightning
struck (strike) it.
4. I promise I will have finished (finish) the job by midnight on
Thursday.
5. When I opened the door, I realized the phone was ringing
(ring).
Write your own example sentence that contains a…
Answers will vary.
6. Future perfect verb phrase
7. Past progressive verb phrase
Wordplay – Just for fun!
 DESCRAMBLER: Try to sort out the five scrambled words below:
RFBA PICUD NPARET DIALCME DVOACAOS
Barf Cupid Parent Medical Avocados
Ten-Minute
Grammar
DAY
Nine
Verb Phrases
A past participle is a verb that usually ends in –ed or –en (except
with irregular verbs!) and sounds correct after “have.”
A present participle is a verb that ends in –ing (same as a gerund,
except that present participles still act as verbs.)
Change the following verbs into their past participle and present participle forms (so you
need TWO answers for each verb):
1. Save saved, saving
2. Forget forgotten, forgetting
3. Choose chosen, choosing
4. Catch caught, catching
Using the proper proofreading marks, correct the six errors in this excerpt from Drums, Girls
& Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick:
I’d be in the lunch line at at school, and a pack of ring dings would catch my
eye. Id say to myself, “OK, if I don’t eat those Jeffrey will get better.” Or I’d
promise things like, “if I never hit Jeffrey again, he’ll get better.”
Wordplay – Just for fun!
 ANAGRAM: Rearrange the letters in the nonsense phrase below to
create new words that actually make sense.
AXIOM DAD CAN ACNE
(Hint: to the north and to the south)
Canada and Mexico
Ten-Minute
Grammar
QUIZ
DAY
Verb Phrases
REVIEW FOR TODAY’S QUIZ:
1. How do you form…
a. Past progressive, present progressive, and future progressive verbs?
b. Past perfect, present perfect, and future perfect verbs?
2. Which verb options are most effective in the following sentences?
a. When I (had gotten / got) off the bus, I (had realized /
realized) that I (had left / left) my backpack at home.
b. I (have told / told) you a thousand times (not to have called /
not to call) me that!
c. I (will have painted / will paint) later tonight, and hopefully it
(will have dried / will dry) by tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m.
d. She (waits / is waiting) for his answer, but he (doesn’t know /
isn’t knowing) what to say.
e. Mom (shouted / was shouting) at Max because he (barked /
was barking) non-stop.
f. The weather forecast says it (will snow / will be snowing) all
day when we (go / will be going) skiing tomorrow.
Ten-Minute
Grammar
Practice
Worksheet
One
Verb PHrases
NAME:
PERIOD:
PREFECT VERB PHRASE = “Have” + Past Participle (usually –ed or –en)
PROGRESSIVE VERB PHRASE = “Be” + Present Participle (–ing)
Identify and underlined the PROGRESSIVE or PERFECT verb phrase in each sentence; then
decide if it is past, present, or future tense. In the blank, label the verb phrase as…
Past Perfect / Present Perfect / Future Perfect
Past Progressive / Present Progressive / Future Progressive
1. __________________
John has played for the Spartans for three years now.
Present Perfect
2. __________________
My grandparents will be watching me when I perform.
Future Progressive
Present Progressive The squirrels are gathering nuts to store for the winter.
3. __________________
Future Perfect
4. __________________
The astronauts will have completed their mission before the shuttle
completes its orbit.
5. __________________
My date had just arrived when the dance was evacuated.
Past Perfect
6. __________________
Past Progressive
Sam’s older brother was serving in Iraq in 2005.
7. __________________
Present Perfect
Mom and Dad have come to every one of my piano concerts.
Future Progressive
8. __________________
I will be working in the basement all night, so don’t be surprised if I don’t
hear the phone ring.
9. __________________
Present Progressive The police are coming; we need to get out of here!
Past Perfect
10. __________________
Mrs. Wright pounded on my desk to wake me up; apparently I had fallen
asleep during her boring lecture.
Future Perfect
11. __________________
The date went well, but I’m sure she will have forgotten me by tomorrow.
Past Progressive
12. __________________
The music was so loud that I couldn’t hear what she was saying.
13. __________________
Present Perfect
It’s time to put an end to this; we have taken too many risks already.
Past Progressive
14. __________________
When I met my Jennifer, she was wearing a necklace that her ex-boyfriend
gave her; I convinced her to get rid of it._
Follow the prompts below to write your own example sentences. On the right, you will see
a topic that your sentence must be about. On the left, you will see a type of verb phrase
your sentence must include. Underline that verb phrase when your sentence is complete.
Monkeys----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Past Perfect
ANSWERS WILL VARY.
Bicycle-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Present Progressive
Pillow Fight-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Future Perfect
Football Game------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Past Progressive
Truck------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Present Perfect
Aliens-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Future Progressive
Soldier-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Present Progressive
Violin--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Past Perfect
Stapler----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Future Perfect
Light Bulb-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Past Progressive
Banana Peel---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Present Perfect
Push Ups---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Future Progressive
Ten-Minute
Grammar
Practice
Worksheet
Two
Verb Phrases
NAME:
PERIOD:
PRESENT PERFECT = Have / Has + Past Participle Verb
The “present perfect” is used to describe actions that have happened
continuously or repeatedly from some moment in the past up until the present
(sometimes with the implication that it will continue into the future.)
Choose the best verb or verb phrase from the options:
1. My phone (has been / was) dead all weekend; that’s why I (haven’t received / didn’t
receive) any messages yet.
2. Ben (has watched / watched) SpongeBob every day since he (has turned / turned) two.
3. I (have told / told) you a thousand times (not to have called / not to call) me that!
PAST PERFECT = Had + Past Participle Verb
The “past perfect” is used when you want to emphasize the fact that a
particular event in the past was completed before a more recent past event.
Choose the best verb or verb phrase from the options:
4. When I (had gotten / got) off the bus, I (had realized / realized) that I (had left / left) my
backpack at home.
5. He (had spent / spent) hundreds of dollars upgrading his car just before he (had wrecked /
wrecked) it.
6. We soon (had learned / learned) that the frost (had killed / killed) all of the plants.
FUTURE PERFECT = Will Have + Past Participle Verb
The “future perfect” is used to emphasize a “no-later-than” time limit for when
an action will be completed. When you use the future perfect, you’re saying
something will be finished no later than a certain time or event, even if it may
be completed even earlier than that.
Choose the best verb or verb phrase from the options:
7. The plane (will have left / will leave) by the time we (will have checked / check) our
baggage.
8. I (will have painted / will paint) later tonight, and hopefully it (will have dried / will dry)
by tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m.
9. The floodwaters (will have reached / will reach) the house by the time we (will have
arrived / arrive).
PRESENT PROGRESSIVE = Is / Am / Are + Present Participle Verb
The “present progressive” emphasizes that an action is ongoing at the present
moment of time.
Choose the best verb or verb phrase from the options:
10. We (can discuss / can be discussing) this later—I (eat / am eating) dinner right now.
11. She (waits / is waiting) for his answer, but he (doesn’t know / isn’t knowing) what to say.
12. It (rains / is raining), so we (need / are needing) to close the car windows.
PAST PROGRESSIVE = Was / Were + Present Participle Verb
The “past progressive” emphasizes that an action was ongoing at some past
moment of time.
Choose the best verb or verb phrase from the options:
13. I (watched / was watching) TV when I (heard / was hearing) the terrible news.
14. Mom (shouted / was shouting) a dirty word at Max because he (barked / was barking)
non-stop.
15. I (couldn’t concentrate / couldn’t be concentrating) because my friends (blasted / were
blasting) the music at full volume.
FUTURE PROGRESSIVE = Will Be + Present Participle Verb
The “future progressive” emphasizes that an action will be ongoing at some
future moment of time.
Choose the best verb or verb phrase from the options:
16. I (want to go / want to be going) to the game tonight because Rodriguez (will pitch / will
be pitching).
17. Jenny said she (would call / would be calling) me tonight at midnight; hopefully I (won’t
snore / won’t be snoring) by then.
18. The weather forecast says it (will snow / will be snowing) all day when we (go / will be
going) skiing tomorrow.
Ten-Minute
Grammar
Practice
Worksheet
Verb PHrases
Three
NAME:
PERIOD:
Match the following sentences to one of the visual representations below:
A. She has been working on television scripts ever since she was hired by NBC.
B. She was working on several television scripts when she was hired by NBC.
C. She had worked on several television scripts when she was hired by NBC.
C
A
B
Work on scripts
Hired by NBC
Hired by NBC
Work on scripts
Work on scripts
Hired by NBC
A. He has produced many great works of art during his painting career.
B. He will have produced many great works of art by the end of his painting career.
C. He had already produced many great works of art when a car wreck ended his painting career.
B
C
A
Production of
great works
Production of
great works
Production of
great works
End of career
End of career
Based on each example sentence, fill in the missing parts of the visual representations below:
I’m sure you will be feeling better by the time the movie starts tonight.
feeling better
start of the movie
When we bought the car, no one had driven it for over ten years.
(Ten years)
last time someone drove it
bought the car
She was making soup when she burned her hand a little.
making soup
burned her hand
Write an example sentence based on each visual representation. Pay attention to which type
of verb you need to use—a perfect verb phrase, a progressive verb phrase, or a simple verb:
Raining
Midnight tonight
(It will be raining by/at midnight tonight.)
My parents’ divorce
Dad’s remarriage
(My parents had just gotten divorced when my dad remarried.)
1982
I own a vintage Mustang
(I have owned a vintage Mustang since 1982.)
QUIZ ANSWER KEY
Which answer identifies the PERFECT verb phrase?
1. I had just repainted the house when it burned down.
A. burned down
B. had repainted
C. repainted the house
2. Mark has worked at that restaurant since it opened.
A. has worked
B. since it opened
C. at that restaurant
Which answer identifies the PROGRESSIVE verb phrase?
3. I was listening to the radio when I heard the news.
A. listening to the radio
B. heard the news
C. was listening
4. I was disappointed to learn that the band won’t be
performing tonight—at least we will get a refund.
A. will get
B. won’t be performing
C. was disappointed
Circle the best verb or verb phrase from the options:
5. The bus (will have left / will leave) by the time we get
our tickets.
6. It’s snowing, so we (need / are needing) to get inside.
7. You (have watched / watched) Star Wars about a
million times already—give it a rest!
8. We soon (had learned / learned) that the meeting had
been cancelled.
Write the most effective version of the verb:
9. I was talking (talk) to my girlfriend, Jessica, when her
other line rang and she hung up on me.
10. How did you get the raise? I have worked (work) here
longer than you have!
11. She had just walked past the abandoned car when it
exploded (explode).
12. I promise I will have finished (finish) the assignment by
the time it’s due.
13. When I turned on the car, I realized the stereo was
playing (play) way too loudly.
Write your own sentence that contains the suggested
type of verb phrase: ANSWERS WILL VARY
14. Past Perfect
15. Present Progressive
16. Future progressive
Ten-Minute
Grammar
QUIZ
Version Two
Verb PHrases
NAME:
PERIOD:
Which answer identifies the PERFECT verb phrase?
1. I had just repainted the house when it burned down.
A. burned down
B. had repainted
2. Mark has worked at that restaurant since it opened.
A. has worked
B. since it opened
Which answer identifies the PROGRESSIVE verb phrase?
3. I was listening to the radio when I heard the news.
A. was listening
B. heard the news
4. I was disappointed to learn that the band will not be performing tonight—at least
we will get a refund.
A. will get a refund
B. will not be performing
Circle the best verb or verb phrase from the two choices:
5. The bus (will have left / will leave) by the time we get our tickets.
6. It’s snowing, so we (need / are needing) to get inside.
7. You (have watched / watched) Star Wars about a million times already—give it
a rest!
8. We soon (had learned / learned) that the meeting had been cancelled.
Which sentence uses the most effective verb (circle the A or the B):
9.
A. I was talking to my girlfriend when her other line rang and she hung up
on me.
B. I talked to my girlfriend when her other line rang and she hung up on me.
10.
A. How did you get the raise? I had worked here longer than you have!
B. How did you get the raise? I have worked here longer than you have!
11.
A. She had just walked past the abandoned car when it exploded.
B. She had just walked past the abandoned car when it had exploded.
12.
A. I promise I was finishing the assignment by the time it is due next week.
B. I promise I will have finished the assignment by the time it is due next
week.
13.
A. When I turned on the car, I realized the stereo played way too loudly.
B. When I turned on the car, I realized the stereo was playing way too
loudly.
Write your own sentence that uses the suggested type of verb phrase:
ANSWERS WILL VARY
14.
Past Perfect
15.
Present Progressive
16.
Future progressive
Ten-Minute
Grammar
Extra
Practice
Verb Phrases
NAME:
PERIOD:
Use a “progressive” verb phrases when you want to focus on the fact that an
action is in progress, or is in the middle of happening.
PRESENT PROGRESSIVE = Is / Am / Are + Present Participle Verb
Choose the best verb or verb phrase from the options:
1. Mrs. Jones (waits / is waiting) for my answer, but I (don’t know / am not knowing) what
to say.
2. It (snows / is snowing) right now, so we (need / are needing) to wear coats and gloves.
3. Now write your own sentence with a PRESENT PROGRESSIVE VERB PHRASE:
Answers will vary.
PAST PROGRESSIVE = Was / Were + Present Participle Verb
Choose the best verb or verb phrase from the options:
4. I (listened / was listening) to my iPod when I (heard / was hearing) my favorite song.
5. Dad (yelled / was yelling) at me because I (played / was playing) my guitar too loudly.
6. Now write your own sentence with a PAST PROGRESSIVE VERB PHRASE:
Answers will vary.
FUTURE PROGRESSIVE = Will Be + Present Participle Verb
Choose the best verb or verb phrase from the options:
7. Jason said he (would text / would be texting) me when he got home; hopefully I (won’t
sleep / won’t be sleeping) by then.
8. The weather reports says it (will rain / will be raining) all day when we (go / will be going)
fishing tomorrow.
9. Now write your own sentence with a FUTURE PROGRESSIVE VERB PHRASE:
Answers will vary.
SECOND PAGE ANSWERS: 10. has watched, bought 11. have told, not to text 13. had spent, ruined 14. learned, had
destroyed 16. will have left, find 17. will work, will have finished
PRESENT PERFECT = Have / Has + Verb usually ending in –ed or -en
The “present perfect” is used to describe actions that have happened over and
over again right up until the present (and maybe on into the future.)
Choose the best verb or verb phrase from the options:
10. Eric (has watched / watched) Star Wars about a million times since he (has bought / bought)
it on Blu-ray.
11. I (have told / told) you a thousand times (not to have texted / not to text) me when I’m
trying to sleep!
12. Now write your own sentence with a PRESENT PERFECT VERB PHRASE:
Answers will vary.
PAST PERFECT = Had + Verb usually ending in –ed or -en
The “past perfect” is used when you want to show that a one event in the past
happened before another past event.
Choose the best verb or verb phrase from the options:
13. Dad (had spent / spent) a lot of money on his lawnmower, and I (had ruined / ruined) it.
14. We soon (had learned / learned) that the wind (had destroyed / destroyed) our roof.
15. Now write your own sentence with a PRESENT PERFECT VERB PHRASE:
Answers will vary.
FUTURE PERFECT = Will Have + Verb usually ending in –ed or -en
The “future perfect” is used to show a “no-later-than” time limit for when an
action will be finished.
Choose the best verb or verb phrase from the options:
16. The bus (will have left / will leave) by the time I (will have found / find) my backpack.
17. I (will have worked / will work) on my essay after school, and hopefully I (will have
finished / will finish) it by first hour tomorrow morning.
18. Now write your own sentence with a FUTURE PERFECT VERB PHRASE:
Answers will vary.
FIRST PAGE ANSWERS: 1. is waiting, don’t know 2. is snowing, need 4. was listening, heard 5. yelled, was playing 7.
would text, won’t be sleeping 8. will be raining, go