About This Worksheet
This Grade 7 Language Arts worksheet helps students choose verb tense by paying attention to time clues. Words and phrases such as last night, right now, tomorrow afternoon, since January, and by the time tell the reader when an action happens and often point toward a specific tense. Students compare four answer choices and select the one that fits both the clue and the sentence meaning. For example, right now usually calls for a present progressive form such as are rehearsing.
Learning Goals
The main goal is to help students connect time expressions with accurate verb forms. Students should already recognize basic past, present, and future tenses. This activity moves them toward distinguishing simple, progressive, and perfect forms by using context instead of guessing from the verb alone. It supports CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.7.1 through correct tense selection and consistent use of time relationships.
Student Tasks
On this worksheet, students will read ten sentences and choose the best verb form from four options. The examples include past actions, present activities, future plans, actions completed before another event, and experiences continuing from the past into the present. Students will work with clues such as last night, by the time, right now, tomorrow, since January, while, in the future, before, every Saturday, and at this time next week.
Common Challenges
Some students may focus only on one time word and overlook another clue that changes the tense. The phrase by the time often signals that one action was already complete before another, while since January usually points toward present perfect. Future progressive forms may also be unfamiliar because they use will be plus an -ing verb. Encourage students to underline the time clue before reading the answer choices.
Teaching Suggestions
A teacher can sort the time clues into past, present, future, and “before another event” groups. Students can then connect each group to the tense forms most likely to appear. At home, a parent can read the sentence without the choices and ask the child what time the action takes place. Once the timeline is clear, the correct verb form is usually easier to identify.
Worksheet Features
The worksheet includes ten multiple-choice questions with a wide range of tense clues. Each item presents several believable verb forms, so students must read carefully rather than choosing the most familiar option. The activity reviews simple, progressive, perfect, and future constructions in one compact format. This page works well for independent review, homework, test preparation, or an exit ticket.