You run after your friend. Your friend runs away. You laugh.
That is chasing. Today we learn four words.
“Chase,” “chaser,” “chasing,” and “chased.”
Each word shares the idea of following someone or something quickly. Each does a different job.
Parents and children can learn these words together. They help with games and stories.
What Does “Same Word, Different Forms” Mean?
One action takes different shapes. The action here is running after someone or something.
“Chase” is a verb. “Please chase the ball.” Action.
“Chase” is also a noun. “The car chase was exciting.” Event.
“Chaser” is a noun. “The dog is a good chaser of squirrels.” Person or animal that chases.
“Chasing” is a noun or verb part. “Chasing butterflies is fun.” Activity. “I am chasing my brother.” Verb part.
“Chased” is a past tense verb. “The cat chased the mouse yesterday.” Action in the past.
Same root. Different endings. Different jobs. The running stays the same.
Personal Pronouns Change Their Form
Pronouns change for grammar. “I” becomes “me.” “We” becomes “us.”
Our words change for time and role. “I chase the ball.” Present.
“The chaser runs fast.” Person. “Chasing takes energy.” Activity.
“She chased the puppy.” Past.
Pronouns help us speak faster. Word families help us talk about games and races.
When children know these four words, they describe playground fun clearly.
From Verb to Noun to Adjective to Adverb – One Family, Many Words
“Chase” works as a verb. “Chase the bubbles in the air.” Action.
“Chase” also works as a noun. “The chase lasted ten minutes.” Event.
“Chaser” is a noun. “A good chaser never gives up.” Person or animal.
“Chasing” is a noun. “Chasing dreams is a good thing.” Activity (figurative).
“Chased” is a past tense verb. “We chased each other around the tree.” Action finished.
We have no common adverb. “Chasingly” is very rare. Skip it.
Five members. One word has two jobs (noun and verb).
One Root, Many Roles – How Words Grow from Actions to Qualities
The root “chase” comes from Old French “chacier.” It meant to hunt or pursue.
People chased animals for food. They chased runaway horses. They chased each other for fun.
From that root, we add “-er” to name the person or animal. “Chaser” means one who chases.
We add “-ing” to name the activity. “Chasing” is the process.
We add “-ed” for past tense. “Chased” means the chasing already happened.
Help your child see this pattern. Chase today. Chased yesterday. The chaser does the chasing.
Same Meaning, Different Jobs – Is It a Verb or a Noun?
Look at “chase” in a sentence. Ask: Is it an action? Or is it an event?
“The dog will chase the cat.” Action. Verb.
“The police chase ended safely.” Event. Noun.
Same word. Two jobs. Context tells you.
Now look at “chaser.” Always a noun. “The chaser finally caught the rabbit.”
“Chasing” is usually a noun or verb part. “Chasing a ball is good exercise.” Noun. “I am chasing the bus.” Verb part.
“Chased” is always a past tense verb. “The boy chased the ice cream truck.”
Teach children to look at the word’s ending. “-er” means person. “-ing” means activity. “-ed” means past.
“Chase” alone can be present verb or noun.
Adjectives and Adverbs – When Do We Add -ly?
We do not add “-ly” to these words. No “chasely.” No “chaserly.” No “chasingly.”
If you want to describe how someone chases, use a separate adverb. “She chases quickly.” “He chased excitedly.”
This family stays simple. Focus on the verb and noun forms.
Children use “chase” and “chased” all the time in games.
“Tag, you’re it!” That is a chasing game.
Watch Out for Tricky Spelling Changes (Double Letters, y to i, and More)
Spelling has one small change. The final “e” drops before adding “-ing” and “-ed.”
“Chase” minus “e” plus “ing” = chasing.
“Chase” minus “e” plus “ed” = chased.
For “chaser,” keep the “e.” Chase + er = chaser.
So the rule: Drop “e” for “-ing” and “-ed.” Keep “e” for “-er.”
No double letters. No y to i. Just the silent “e” rule.
Practice with your child. Write “chase.” Cross out the “e.” Add “ing.” You get “chasing.”
Write “chase.” Add “er.” Keep the “e.” You get “chaser.”
Very regular. Very clean.
Let’s Practice – Can You Choose the Right Form?
Try these sentences. Fill in the blank with chase, chaser, chasing, or chased.
Let us _____ each other around the yard. (action verb)
The dog is a fast _____ of tennis balls. (person or animal)
_____ a laser pointer is fun for cats. (activity, starts sentence)
The squirrel _____ the bird away from the feeder. (past tense verb)
We played a game of tag. The _____ was very fast. (person)
I am _____ my little sister with a pillow. (verb part with am)
The police car _____ the red truck down the highway. (past tense)
The _____ lasted for twenty minutes. (noun, event)
Answers: 1 chase, 2 chaser, 3 Chasing, 4 chased, 5 chaser, 6 chasing, 7 chased, 8 chase.
Number 3 starts with a capital letter because it begins the sentence.
Number 8 uses “chase” as a noun. “The chase” means the whole pursuit.
Tips for Parents – Help Your Child Learn Word Families in a Fun Way
Play tag together. “I will chase you. You are the runner. I am the chaser.”
Talk about chasing as an activity. “Chasing is fun but be careful.”
Tell a story. “The cat chased the mouse. Then the dog chased the cat.”
Use a toy car. Chase another toy car. “The police car chases the red car.”
Draw a chase scene. Label “chaser” and “runner.”
Watch a nature video. A cheetah chases a gazelle. “The chaser is fast.”
Play a past tense game. You say “Today I chase.” Your child says “Yesterday I chased.”
Use the noun “chase.” “We watched a movie with a car chase.”
Do not correct every mistake. If your child says “chaseded,” gently say “We say chased.”
Celebrate when your child uses “chaser.” That is a fun word for games.
Explain that “chase” can also mean to try hard for something. “Chase your dreams.”
Tomorrow you might chase a flying ball. You will be the chaser in a game of tag. You will keep chasing your friend. You will remember who chased you yesterday.
Your child might say “I chased the dog around the house.” You will laugh.
Keep chasing. Keep naming the chaser. Keep talking about chasing. Keep using chased for yesterday.
Your child will grow in language and in love for active play. A good chase is a happy memory.
