Kentucky Reading and Writing L.4.1.b

ELA4th GradeLanguage

The Standard

L.4.1: When writing or speaking, demonstrate command of the conventions of General American English grammar and usage.

Use the progressive verb tenses.

Kentucky Academic Standards for Reading and Writing (2025) · Conventions of General American English

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students describe actions in progress in the past, present, and future. They pair was, is, or will be with an -ing verb, and use other helping verbs when the subject calls for them.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student can change 'Sam paints a sign' to 'Sam was painting,' 'Sam is painting,' and 'Sam will be painting.' They choose the form that fits a time clue such as yesterday or tomorrow.
Common Misconceptions: Students may write 'Sam will painting' or 'Sam was paint,' leaving out part of the verb. They may also use 'Sam is painting' for an action that happened yesterday.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Rewrite 'Maya walks home' to show the action in progress right now, at noon yesterday, and at noon tomorrow. Underline the helping verb in each sentence.

Lesson moves

Give pairs yesterday, now, and tomorrow cards, plus was, is, will be, and walking cards, to build three matching sentences.
Have students explain in writing the difference between 'Lena ran' and 'Lena was running at noon.'
Play tense switch: call out past, present, or future while students change 'The dog is barking' to match.
Post the class cleanup schedule and ask students to write what a helper was doing yesterday, is doing today, and will be doing tomorrow.

Free download

A ready-to-print activity worksheet aligned to L.4.1.b, with an answer key for the teacher on its own page. No account needed.

PDF, US Letter, prints cleanly in black and white.

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