Standard English Verb Forms - Worksheets, Questions and Revision

17 original exam-style questions - 7 pages of questions with a full mark scheme - free printable PDF.

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KS2 · Grammar

Y4.3 Standard English Verb Forms

Calculators not allowed · about 40 minutes
Total Marks
Name: _______________________________    Date: ____ / ____ / ______
Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

Sports Day at Marsh Lane

Source written for Revision Library (original, copyright-free). Written for Year 4 grammar practice, July 2026.

On Friday morning, Year 4 walked down to the field for sports day. The sun was warm, and everyone wore a coloured team T-shirt.

First, the children ran in the sprint races. Aliyah ran so fast that she won her heat easily, and Tom came a close second. Everyone cheered loudly from the side of the track.

Next, Mr Dawson set up the relay race. Each team had to carry a baton and pass it to the next runner without dropping it. The green team dropped the baton once, but they still finished the race.

During the egg-and-spoon race, Priya walked carefully so that her egg did not fall off the spoon. She saw her friend Ben wobble near the finish line, but he kept his balance and crossed first.

At lunchtime, the classes had a picnic on the grass. Some parents brought sandwiches and fruit for everyone to share. By the end of the afternoon, every child had taken part in at least one race, and the head teacher gave out medals to the winning team.

1
Practice question (not marked). Standard English is the form of English used in formal writing and speech. It is not the same as the informal way people sometimes speak. Tick the sentence below that is written in Standard English.
  • A) We was tired after the races.
  • B) We were tired after the races.
2
Tick the sentence in each pair that uses the Standard English verb form.
(a)(1)
  • A) They was cheering for their team.
  • B) They were cheering for their team.
(b)(1)
  • A) I done my best in the race.
  • B) I did my best in the race.
(c)(1)
  • A) She seen the finish line ahead.
  • B) She saw the finish line ahead.
(d)(1)
  • A) He gone home before the picnic.
  • B) He went home before the picnic.
3
Underline the non-standard (incorrect) verb form in each sentence below.
(a)The children was excited about sports day.(1)
(b)We should of practised before the race.(1)
(c)He don't like running in the heat.(1)
(d)The dog runned into the garden during the race.(1)
4
Sort the phrases from the box into the correct column of the table below: Standard English or non-standard English.
Word bank: we were | we was | I did | I done | she saw | she seen
Standard EnglishNon-standard English
(6)
5
Read the first two paragraphs of the passage above, down to '...from the side of the track.' Find and copy two different Standard English past tense verb forms from that part of the text.
(a)First verb form:(1)
(b)Second verb form (different from your first answer):(1)
6
Complete each sentence with the correct Standard English form of the verb in brackets.
(a)Yesterday, we ___ (see) the relay race from the front row.(1)
(b)I ___ (do) all of my jobs before sports day.(1)
(c)The children ___ (go) home happily after the picnic.(1)
(d)By lunchtime, everyone ___ (be) hungry after the races.(1)
7
Circle the correct Standard English word or phrase to complete each sentence.
(a)He ___ like getting up early for sports day.(1)
  • doesn't
  • don't
(b)It ___ raining when the races started.(1)
  • wasn't
  • weren't
(c)We ___ any spare T-shirts left.(1)
  • haven't got
  • ain't got
(d)She ___ her water bottle to school.(1)
  • brought
  • brung
8
Complete each sentence with 'have' or 'has' and the correct word from the box. The auxiliary verb (have/has) is already given.
Word bank: gone | seen | done
(a)I have already ___ my homework.(1)
(b)They have never ___ a sports day before.(1)
(c)She has already ___ home.(1)
9
Each sentence below wrongly uses 'of' instead of 'have' after a modal verb. Rewrite each sentence correctly.
(a)We could of won the relay.(1)
(b)I should of brought my trainers.(1)
(c)They would of finished first.(1)
10
Rewrite each sentence below, correcting the non-standard verb form.
(a)We was the last team to finish.(1)
(b)I seen Ben win his race.(1)
(c)She done really well in the long jump.(1)
11
Each sentence below contains a double negative, which is not Standard English. Rewrite each sentence so that it makes sense with only one negative word.
(a)I haven't got no more stickers for the winners.(1)
(b)We didn't see nobody at the finish line.(1)
12
The recount below contains three non-standard verb forms. Find the three mistakes and write the passage out correctly.

On Saturday, Year 4 done a practice for sports day. We was very tired by the end, but everyone had a great time. I seen my best friend win the sprint race, and I was really proud of her.
(3)
13
Each sentence below uses a non-standard verb form in speech. Identify the incorrect word and write the Standard English word that should replace it.
(a)He brung his kit bag to school.(1)
(b)I sung that song in assembly yesterday.(1)
(c)She has sang that song in assembly before.(1)
14
Look at this sentence: "We done really well today."
(a)Explain why this sentence is not Standard English.(1)
(b)Write the sentence correctly.(1)
15
Write one sentence of your own for each instruction below. Use the correct Standard English verb form.
(a)Write a sentence using 'were' correctly to describe more than one person or thing in the past. Do not use 'was'.(2)
(b)Write a sentence using 'did' correctly. Do not use 'done'.(2)
16
Write one sentence of your own for each instruction below. Use the correct Standard English verb form.
(a)Write a sentence using 'saw' correctly. Do not use 'have' or 'has' before it.(2)
(b)Write a sentence using 'have gone' or 'has gone' correctly, with 'have' or 'has' directly before 'gone'.(2)
17
Write a short recount (4 to 5 sentences) about a sports day, school trip or class event of your own choosing. Use Standard English verb forms consistently throughout: check your use of was/were, did/done, saw/seen and went/gone, and avoid double negatives.
(4)
Mark scheme · Y4.3 Standard English Verb Forms

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Question 3

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Question 12

Question 13

Question 14

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Question 16

Question 17