What you will learn in Grade 3
Today's goal: Distinguish the main action from helping verbs and use common verb forms with subjects.
Main verb: running, writes, sings.
A main verb carries the main action or meaning of the verb phrase.
Helping verbs: is, are, am, was, were.
Helping verbs work with a main verb to show tense, time or other meaning.
She is reading.
A helping verb plus a main verb can show that an action is in progress.
They were playing.
Past forms of be can help show that an action was happening in the past.
Core idea
Read the explanation, study the examples and explain the idea in your own words.
Learn with examples
reading
“reading” carries the main action or meaning of the sentence.
is
“is” helps the main verb show tense, voice or meaning.
is reading
“is reading” works as a group of words built around the verb.
See the skill in action
Quick check
Identify the main verb in 'They are playing football.'
Practice like a learner
- Underline the helping verb: She is singing.
- Find the main verb: They were running.
- Complete: He ___ reading. (is/are)
- Write a sentence with 'were'.
- Explain the difference between a main verb and a helping verb.
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