Progressive Verb Tense Worksheets 4th Grade

Print worksheet gives 6 sentences: circle past, present or future progressive under each.

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All 150 sentences

Name the progressive tense 75

A crew will be repairing the bridge all month.
A robin is tugging at a worm.
A woodpecker was hammering the old pine.
The baker is frosting a carrot cake.
The baker will be judging the pie contest.
The bakers were kneading dough at the back table.
The band is tuning up backstage.
The band will be performing at halftime.
The cat is napping in the laundry basket.
The cat was stalking a moth.
The cat will be hiding when the vacuum starts.
The children are planting sunflower seeds.
The children were chasing fireflies.
The children will be singing at the assembly.
The clothes are spinning in the dryer.
Clouds are drifting toward the sea.
Clouds will be rolling in this afternoon.
The crowd is waving paper flags.
The crowd was chanting the team song.
The crowd will be cheering at the finish line.
Dad is flipping pancakes.
Dad was grilling corn on the patio.
Dad will be coaching our team this spring.
The drum line was marching past the fountain.

Show all 150 sentences (126 more)

Name the progressive tense, continued

The farmer is feeding the lambs.
The farmer was mending a fence.
The farmer will be harvesting pumpkins soon.
Fireworks will be bursting over the harbor tonight.
The geese are landing in the cornfield.
The geese were flying over the marsh.
The geese will be heading south by October.
I am memorizing a poem about owls.
I am writing a poem about thunder.
I was sketching a lighthouse in my notebook.
I was untangling the kite string.
I will be babysitting my brother on Friday.
I will be practicing my lines all weekend.
The janitor is fixing the water fountain.
The janitor was waxing the hallway.
The janitor will be polishing the trophies tomorrow.
Mom is knitting a striped scarf.
Mom was tuning her guitar.
Mom will be driving the carpool all week.
My cousins are racing their scooters.
My cousins were building a snow fort.
My cousins will be camping at the lake next week.
Our neighbors are moving a piano.
Our neighbors were painting their porch.
Our neighbors will be visiting their grandparents.
The oven will be heating while we chop the onions.
The puppy is digging under the gate.
The puppy was tugging on the garden hose.
The puppy will be sleeping in a crate tonight.
Rain is tapping on the skylight.
Rain was dripping from the gutter.
Rain will be falling by the time we leave.
The scouts are tying knots.
The scouts were pitching their tents.
The scouts will be selling popcorn next month.
Smoke is curling from the chimney.
Snow is melting off the roof.
Snow was piling up on the windowsill.
Snow will be covering the pass by morning.
Sparks were rising from the campfire.
Storm clouds were gathering above the stadium.
The teapot was steaming on the counter.
The tide is pulling away from the dunes.
The tide was creeping up the beach.
The tide will be rising at noon.
The twins are trading stickers.
The twins were whispering under the blanket.
The twins will be starting kindergarten in the fall.
We are paddling down the creek.
We were rowing toward the island.
We will be hiking the ridge trail on Saturday.

Choose the verb 75

A minute ago, the kettle ___. is whistling, was whistling, will be whistling
All morning yesterday, the painters ___ the fence. are scraping, were scraping, will be scraping
All next month, a crew ___ the bridge. painted, was painting, will be painting
An hour ago, the soup ___ on the stove. is simmering, was simmering, will be simmering
As we speak, the river ___ over its banks. is spilling, was spilling, will be spilling
As we speak, the workers ___ the roof. are patching, were patching, will be patching
At noon tomorrow, the mayor ___ the visitors. greeted, was greeting, will be greeting
At noon yesterday, the hens ___ in the yard. are scratching, were scratching, will be scratching
At six tomorrow morning, the rooster ___. crowed, was crowing, will be crowing
At this moment, my grandparents ___ to Ohio. are driving, were driving, will be driving
At this moment, the bread ___ in the oven. is rising, was rising, will be rising
At this moment, the candle ___ low. is burning, was burning, will be burning
At this moment, the chef ___ onions. is chopping, was chopping, will be chopping
At this time last week, snow ___. is falling, was falling, will be falling
At this time tomorrow, we ___ over the ocean. flew, were flying, will be flying
By this time tomorrow, the paint ___. dried, was drying, will be drying
During the parade yesterday, the drummers ___ in step. are marching, were marching, will be marching
Earlier today, the wasps ___ around the picnic jam. are buzzing, were buzzing, will be buzzing
In an hour, the plane ___ over the mountains. passed, was passing, will be passing
In two weeks, the actors ___ their lines every night. rehearsed, were rehearsing, will be rehearsing
Last night at nine, the wind ___. is howling, was howling, will be howling
Last night, the frogs ___ by the pond until dawn. are croaking, were croaking, will be croaking
Last Saturday at noon, my sister ___ in a relay. is swimming, was swimming, will be swimming
Later tonight, the owls ___ in the orchard. hunted, were hunting, will be hunting
Listen, someone ___ the tuba next door. is playing, was playing, will be playing
Listen, the crickets ___ under the porch. are chirping, were chirping, will be chirping
Listen, the hail ___ on the skylight. is drumming, was drumming, will be drumming
Listen, the owls ___ in the pines. are hooting, were hooting, will be hooting
Look, the bus ___ around the corner right now. is coming, was coming, will be coming
Look, the ducklings ___ the road. are crossing, were crossing, will be crossing
Look, the icicles ___ off the gutter. are dripping, were dripping, will be dripping
Look, the kites ___ above the dunes. are dancing, were dancing, will be dancing
Look, the spider ___ a web on the gate. is spinning, was spinning, will be spinning
Look, the sun ___ behind the barn. is setting, was setting, will be setting
Look, your shoelace ___ in the mud. is dragging, was dragging, will be dragging
Next Friday at noon, the class ___ the museum. toured, was touring, will be touring
Next month, the team ___ in a new gym. practiced, was practicing, will be practicing
Next Saturday, the scouts ___ trees all day. planted, were planting, will be planting
Next spring, the ducks ___ on our pond again. nested, were nesting, will be nesting
Next summer, my cousins ___ on a farm. were working, will be working, worked
Next week at this hour, we ___ on the beach. walked, were walking, will be walking
Next winter, the bears ___ in their dens. rested, were resting, will be resting
Next year at this time, the orchard ___. bloomed, was blooming, will be blooming
Right now I ___ my bike tire. am pumping, was pumping, will be pumping
Right now my brother ___ his trumpet. is polishing, was polishing, will be polishing
Right now the baby ___ in her crib. is giggling, was giggling, will be giggling
Right now the goldfish ___ at the glass. is nibbling, was nibbling, will be nibbling
Right now the leaves ___ color. are changing, were changing, will be changing
Right now the students ___ their clay pots. are glazing, were glazing, will be glazing
Right now we ___ tickets for the ferry. are buying, were buying, will be buying
Shh, the fawn ___ from the stream. is drinking, was drinking, will be drinking
This time next year, my sister ___ in another city. studied, was studying, will be studying
Tomorrow after school, I ___ my grandfather with his garden. helped, was helping, will be helping
Tomorrow at dawn, the bakers ___ dough. kneaded, were kneading, will be kneading
Tomorrow at lunch, the cooks ___ chili. served, were serving, will be serving
Tomorrow evening, Dad ___ the fence. repaired, was repairing, will be repairing
Tomorrow morning, the plows ___ the roads. cleared, were clearing, will be clearing
Tomorrow night at eight, the choir ___ on the stage. performed, was performing, will be performing
When Grandma called, I ___ the dishes. am drying, was drying, will be drying
When I found the kitten, it ___ in a flowerpot. is sleeping, was sleeping, will be sleeping
When I looked up, a hawk ___ overhead. is circling, was circling, will be circling
When the bus came, I ___ my shoe. am tying, was tying, will be tying
When the fire drill began, we ___ our boots. are lacing, were lacing, will be lacing
When the guests come tonight, the soup ___. bubbled, was bubbling, will be bubbling
When the power failed, I ___ a letter. am writing, was writing, will be writing
When the referee whistled, the goalie ___ her glove. is fixing, was fixing, will be fixing
When the storm hit, the campers ___ marshmallows. are roasting, were roasting, will be roasting
When the teacher walked in, the class ___ a round. is singing, was singing, will be singing
When we arrived, the baker ___ the shelves. is filling, was filling, will be filling
When you arrive next week, I ___ at the station. waited, was waiting, will be waiting
While the baby napped, Dad ___ the stairs. is sweeping, was sweeping, will be sweeping
While the bread baked, we ___ the table. are setting, were setting, will be setting
While we ate, the beagle ___ beside my chair. is begging, was begging, will be begging
Yesterday afternoon, the twins ___ a raft. are building, were building, will be building
Yesterday at dawn, the fishermen ___ their nets. are mending, were mending, will be mending

How this list was compiled: Written for this page: sentences in the three progressive tenses, made with was or were, am, is or are, or will be and a verb ending in -ing. Half are printed whole to label; half have a blank that the time words fix (when the lights went out, right now, at this time tomorrow). In a sentence about the future the wrong choices are past forms, because English also uses the present progressive for plans. The forms follow the Wikipedia article Continuous and progressive aspects and the Common Core language standard L.4.1b, read 2 October 2026. No person, brand or character is named, and no published worksheet was copied. Licence: own work

How it works

A progressive verb shows an action going on: was walking, is walking, will be walking. Each sheet draws 6 sentences to name the tense; a second set has a blank for the verb that fits the time words.

Read the full guide

Find the helper before the -ing word

Was or were makes the past progressive: the geese were flying. Am, is or are makes the present progressive: the baker is frosting a cake. Will be makes the future progressive: the choir will be performing.

Choose the verb

Set has a second task. Time words fix the tense: When the power failed, I ___ a letter takes was writing. Right now the baby ___ takes is giggling. At this time tomorrow, we ___ over the ocean takes will be flying.

On the naming sheet every verb ends in -ing, so the helper alone tells the tense.

Questions and answers

What is the progressive verb tense?

A verb form that shows an action in progress at some time. It is made with a form of be and the -ing form of the verb: I was walking, I am walking, I will be walking. It is also called the continuous tense.

What grade learns progressive verb tenses?

Grade 4. The Common Core asks fourth graders to form and use the progressive verb tenses, with the examples I was walking, I am walking and I will be walking (L.4.1b).

Why do the sentences about tomorrow offer no present choice?

Because English also uses the present progressive for plans: We are flying to Ohio tomorrow is correct. In a sentence about the future the two wrong choices are past forms, so only will be fits.

Is there an answer key?

Yes. It prints as the last page with the right tense or verb circled under each sentence. Uncheck Add an answer key as the last page under More options to print the sheet alone.

All 150 sentences

Name the progressive tense 75

Name the progressive tense, continued

Choose the verb 75

How it works

Find the helper before the -ing word

Choose the verb

Questions and answers

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