Use Verb Tense in Explanatory Writing

Use Verb Tense in Explanatory Writing

What students learn

Students learn that verbs show action and that verb tense tells when the action happens. Start with Verbs: Show Action in Explanatory Writing to review the action word first.

Why it matters

Explanatory writing should sound clear and steady. If a writer shifts tense too much, the explanation becomes confusing. Verb Tense: Use Past, Present, and Future helps students notice that tense tells time.

Learn the idea

When students explain how something works, they usually stay in one tense unless the meaning changes. Explanatory Writing: Keep the Time Consistent reminds students to check the verb and the sentence ending before they finish the piece.

Try it

Ask your child to write three short sentences explaining a topic they know well, such as how to wash hands or how to care for a plant. Then have them read the sentences aloud and check whether the verbs match the time they wanted to show.

Parent guide

If the child mixes past, present, and future without a reason, slow down and point to the verb in each sentence. Ask, "Did this happen, is it happening, or will it happen?" That question usually fixes the tense quickly.