Patina · Building English

Build It: Then, Now, Next

Build the sentence left to right. Start with the yellow time word: then, now or next. Then choose the red word: was or were for then, am, is or are for now, will be for next. It also has to fit the person. Then tap 🔊 to hear it.

★ build a sentence  ·  ★★ change the time word and fix the red word  ·  ★★★ one person, three sentences: then, now, next

Download the PDF PDF

For the teacher · In class

project it and ask out loud — "then, now or next?", then "which red word?" Build one person three times (ten years ago, these days, someday) so the room hears only the time word and the red word change.  ·  ✏️ On paper: circle one word in each column, then write your sentence.

Unit 20 teacher's key (PDF)

Build the sentence left to right. Start with the time. Then choose the red word.

whenwhoverbwhat.

Two choices are yours. The yellow time word decides the time: then takes was or were; now takes am, is or are; next takes will be. The red word also follows the person: I · she and a name · they.

🟡 When

Then

Now

🔵 Who

🔴 was / is / will be

⚪ What

For the teacher · Answer key

Then: Ten years ago, I was on a soccer team.  ·  In 2015, they were good at chess.    Now: These days, Tomasz is busy on weekends.  ·  Right now, I am in a painting class.    Next: Someday, she will be good at chess.  ·  Next year, they will be on a soccer team.
The two rules: then → was / were  ·  now → am / is / are  ·  next → am / is / will be.    And I → was / am  ·  she, a name → was / is  ·  they → were / are.