Verbs 2 - Simple Conjugation

Verbs take different forms in order to agree with their subjects.  These different forms are called conjugations.  The simplest conjugations add -s, -ing and -ed.   Other simple verbs have irregular forms that even young children should know.*
Daily Grammar Lesson 13

Example: Adding -s
The boys kick the ball.
Sally kicks it harder.

Example: Adding -ed
We like to wash the car.
We washed the car last weekend.

Example: Adding -ing**
The girls eat their tacos.
John is eating a burrito.

Example: Irregular Forms
eat, eats, ate, eaten, is eating
come, came, is coming
send, sent, is sending
see, saw, is seeing

 *Many conjugations involve changing the tense of the verb.  Don't go into that concept at this point.  Just teach your child to recognize verbs in all their different forms.

**Adding -ing technically changes the verb into a "verbal."  The particulars of this are addressed much later.  If you are curious, in the example "is eating" is a present participle.

Teaching Ideas:

• Children who read (or are read to) will pick up this concept naturally.  We have noticed that it comes up when we play Magnetic Poetry, and we have to look for that tiny "s" or "ing" piece to make the sentence sound right.

Copywork Ideas (younger):

• A big spider saw a little spider.  The little spider was spinning a web. (Treadwell)
• Toad went to the store.  He bought two big ice-cream cones. (Lobel)

Copywork Ideas (older):