Verbs and Simple Tenses

What is a verb?

A verb is an action or doing word. Every sentence needs one. In the KICD English curriculum, Grade 5 learners use verbs in different tenses when speaking and writing.

Examples: run, write, cook, sleep, is.

Simple present

Used for habits and facts. Add s or es for he, she or it.

• I walk to school.
• She walks to school.
• The sun rises in the east.

Simple past

Used for things that already happened. Most verbs add ed.

• walk, walked; play, played
• Irregular verbs change: go, went; see, saw; eat, ate; buy, bought

Simple future

Used for things that will happen. Use will before the verb.

• We will visit Nairobi tomorrow.
• Kamau will plant maize next week.

Time words as clues

• Present: every day, always, usually
• Past: yesterday, last week, ago
• Future: tomorrow, next month, soon

Verb agreement

The verb must match the subject.

• The boys play football. (plural)
• The boy plays football. (singular)

Try it

• Write a sentence about yesterday using a past tense verb.
• Change to future: "They fetch water."
• Correct the error: "He go to church on Sunday."