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Grade 3 · Grammar · Verbs

3rd Grade Past, Present, and Future Verbs worksheets

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Past, Present, and Future Verbs

Grade 3 Grammar Worksheet - Challenge Me

NameDate

Circle the answer, or write your answer on the lines.

  1. Which verb completes the sentence? “Last weekend, Dad ___ a new rug.”

    • boughted
    • buys
    • buyed
    • bought
  2. Which pair of sentences keeps the same tense?

    • Mia opened the box. She found a shell.
    • Mia opens the box. She found a shell.
    • Mia opened the box. She finds a shell.
    • Mia will open the box. She found a shell.
  3. Which verb completes the sentence? “Before the bell rang, Leo ___ his homework.”

    • finished
    • finish
    • finishes
    • will finish
  4. Which verb breaks the tense? “Yesterday we packed a picnic, hiked a trail, sat by a lake, and eat lunch.”

    • hiked
    • sat
    • packed
    • eat
  5. Which verb completes the sentence? “During the storm, Kofi ___ his dog close.”

    • held
    • holds
    • will hold
    • holded
  6. Which verb completes the sentence? “When we get home tonight, we ___ cocoa.”

    • drunk
    • drank
    • drinked
    • will drink
  7. Which sentence uses the past tense of “catch”?

    • Ava caught the ball with one hand.
    • Ava catches the ball with one hand.
    • Ava will catch the ball with one hand.
    • Ava catched the ball with one hand.
  8. Which pair of sentences keeps the same tense?

    • The pond freezes soon. We skated on it.
    • The pond froze soon. We will skate on it.
    • The pond will freeze soon. We skated on it.
    • The pond will freeze soon. We will skate on it.
  9. Which verb completes the sentence? “Last night, Theo ___ for ten hours.”

    • slepted
    • sleeped
    • sleeps
    • slept
  10. Fix the verbs so the whole story stays in the past. Draft: Last week, Mei finds a kitten. She brings it home and gives it milk.

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3rd Grade Past, Present, and Future Verbs worksheet 1 – printable PDF
Download PDF: 123456

About this worksheet

Past, present, and future verbs show when an action happens matters in third grade because students are writing longer answers and need grammar choices that make meaning clear. Third graders may notice a time word but still choose the wrong verb form, or they may add -ed to irregular verbs such as write and choose. This worksheet keeps the work inside complete sentences instead of isolated labels. Students identify verb tense, choose the matching verb form, use time clues, and revise sentences so the tense stays consistent. The items rotate across identifying the feature, choosing a correct revision, explaining what a word or mark does, and rejecting common distractors.

Support versions use familiar school contexts and shorter sentences. Standard and challenge versions add closer choices and more varied wording. Encourage your child to read the whole sentence aloud before answering, then check whether the answer fits both the grammar rule and the meaning. That habit prevents guessing from one nearby word and builds editing habits for real writing.

What your child will learn

  • Identify past, present, and future verbs
  • Use time clues
  • Choose regular and irregular verb forms
  • Keep tense consistent

Common Core standard: L.3.1.E

Worked example

'Jada wrote yesterday' is past tense, but 'Jada will write tomorrow' is future tense.

Common mistake

Using the time clue correctly but choosing a verb form that does not match it.

Helpful hint

Use the time word and the verb form together.

Questions parents ask

What is the most common mistake with past, present, and future verbs?

Using the time clue correctly but choosing a verb form that does not match it.

How can I help my child with past, present, and future verbs?

Use the time word and the verb form together.

Are these 3rd grade grammar worksheets free to print?

Yes. All 6 printable versions on this page are free to download and print, with no account needed.

Similar: Irregular Verbs

More 3rd grade verbs

See all verbs

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