holly421
holly421 1d ago β€’ 0 views

-ed suffix for past tense vs. -ing suffix for present tense: Grade 2

Hey everyone! πŸ‘‹ I'm a Grade 2 teacher, and my students sometimes get a little mixed up with when to use -ed and when to use -ing. Like, when do we say 'walked' versus 'walking'? It would be super helpful to have a clear explanation that makes it easy for them to understand the difference between past and present actions. Any simple tips or tricks? πŸ€”
πŸ“– English Language Arts

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debra.moyer Jan 27, 2026

πŸ“š Understanding -ed vs. -ing: A Grade 2 Guide

What is the '-ed' suffix?

The '-ed' suffix is added to a verb to show that something happened in the past. It's like saying "it already happened!"

  • ⏳ When you see '-ed', think of actions that are finished.
  • πŸšΆβ€β™€οΈ Example: If you walked to school, it means you already did it.
  • 🎨 Another example: She painted a picture yesterday. The painting is done!

What is the '-ing' suffix?

The '-ing' suffix is added to a verb to show that something is happening right now, or is continuing to happen. It's like saying "it's happening now!"

  • ⏱️ When you see '-ing', think of actions that are still going on.
  • πŸƒβ€β™‚οΈ Example: He is running. This means he is doing it right this moment.
  • 🎡 Another example: They are singing a song. They are still making music.

πŸ” Comparing -ed and -ing Suffixes

Let's look at the differences side-by-side to make it super clear!

Feature -ed Suffix (Past Tense) -ing Suffix (Present Tense, Continuous)
What it Means An action that already happened and is finished. An action that is happening now or is ongoing.
When to Use It For things that were done yesterday, last week, or any time before now. For things you are doing right this minute, or for actions that are still in progress.
Example Verbs

walked (walk + ed)

played (play + ed)

jumped (jump + ed)

walking (walk + ing)

playing (play + ing)

jumping (jump + ing)

Signal Words

yesterday, last night, a long time ago, already

now, right now, today, at this moment

πŸ’‘ Key Takeaways for Young Learners

  • βœ… Remember: '-ed' is for actions that are done.
  • ➑️ Think: '-ing' is for actions that are doing (happening now).
  • πŸ‘‚ Listen for words like "yesterday" or "now" to help you choose the right suffix.
  • ✍️ Practice makes perfect! Try adding '-ed' or '-ing' to different verbs.
  • 🧠 Learning these suffixes helps you talk and write clearly about when things happen!

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