Each worksheet starts with two easy questions and finishes with two hard ones, so most Year 4 children can begin on their own and will have to think by the end. The harder questions often give a short piece of writing to read first. The answers print on a separate page, with a short explanation for every question, so you can mark it together.
A good habit: for two or three answers, ask your child to point to the word or sentence that told them. If they can't find it, the explanation shows where to look.
On this page
- Must, might, could
- Spelling long words
- How texts are built
- Stories with a problem that matters
- Apostrophes
Must, might, could
Must, might, could: worksheet 1
Name Date Score / 10
The questions get harder as you go. Circle the letter of your answer, or write it on the line.
- 1
Which helping verb means maybe?
- Amust
- Bmight
- 2
Which word makes this a rule? "Visitors ___ sign in at the office."
- Amust
- Bmight
- 3
Which sentence is only a maybe?
- AWe will go camping.
- BWe must go camping.
- CWe might go camping.
- 4
Which word means you have to, with no choice?
- Acould
- Bmight
- Cmust
- 5
Which list goes from weakest to strongest?
- Amust, should, might
- Bmight, should, must
- Cshould, might, must
- 6
Ivy is not sure where her hat is. Which word fits? "My hat ___ be in my bag," said Ivy.
- Awill
- Bmight
- 7
Change "We will see a kiwi." so it is only a maybe. Which is right?
- AWe must see a kiwi.
- BWe might see a kiwi.
- CWe saw a kiwi.
- 8
Which sign is a rule, not just advice?
- ADogs could be on a lead.
- BDogs must be on a lead.
- CDogs should be on a lead.
- 9
"Camp notice: All campers must bring a sleeping bag. You should pack a warm jumper because it might be cold at night. You could bring a torch." Which item is a rule?
- Aa sleeping bag
- Ba torch
- Ca warm jumper
- 10
"Camp notice: All campers must bring a sleeping bag. You should pack a warm jumper because it might be cold at night. You could bring a torch." Which item is up to you?
- Aa torch
- Ba sleeping bag
- Ca warm jumper
Answers: Must, might, could: worksheet 1
- B: might Might means maybe, like in it might rain.
- A: must Must makes it a rule. Visitors have to sign in.
- C: We might go camping. Might means maybe, so we might go camping is not sure.
- C: must Must means you have to. There is no choice.
- B: might, should, must Might is only a maybe, should is good advice and must is a rule.
- B: might Ivy isn't sure, so might fits. It means maybe.
- B: We might see a kiwi. Swapping will for might turns it into a maybe.
- B: Dogs must be on a lead. Must makes it a rule. Should only gives advice.
- A: a sleeping bag The notice says campers must bring a sleeping bag. Must makes it a rule.
- A: a torch The notice says you could bring a torch. Could gives you a choice.
Spelling long words
Spelling long words: worksheet 1
Name Date Score / 10
The questions get harder as you go. Circle the letter of your answer, or write it on the line.
- 1
Which spelling is right? "We went for a ___ walk in the bush."
- Anachure
- Bnature
- Cnaycher
- 2
Which spelling is right? "Mia got an ___ to a party."
- Ainvitation
- Binvitashun
- Cinvitasion
- 3
Which spelling is right? "The ___ outside is 30 degrees."
- Atemprature
- Btemperature
- Ctemperacher
- 4
Which spelling is right? "Jess felt ___ before her swimming race."
- Anervous
- Bnervus
- Cnervouse
- 5
Which spelling is right? "We practised long ___ in maths."
- Adivision
- Bdivishun
- Cdivition
- 6
Which spelling is right? "The two bumper cars had a ___."
- Acolishun
- Bcollision
- Ccollition
- 7
Which word ends with a different sound from "picture"?
- Acapture
- Bstation
- Cmixture
- 8
Which spelling is right? "Write a strong ___ at the end of your report."
- Aconclushun
- Bconclution
- Cconclusion
- 9
Which sentence has every word spelt correctly? Check the long words.
- AThe ferocious creature made a sudden decision.
- BThe ferosious creature made a sudden decision.
- CThe ferocious creacher made a sudden decision.
- DThe ferocious creature made a sudden decition.
- 10
How many words are spelt wrongly? "The famus explorer took a picture of a dangerous creacher."
- A1
- B2
- C3
Answers: Spelling long words: worksheet 1
- B: nature Nature ends with the cher sound, spelt t, u, r, e.
- A: invitation Invitation ends with a shun sound, spelt t, i, o, n.
- B: temperature Tem, per, a, ture. Saying every chunk keeps the e, r and a, and the cher sound is t, u, r, e.
- A: nervous Nervous ends with an us sound, spelt o, u, s.
- A: division Divide ends in d, e, so it changes to s, i, o, n: division.
- B: collision Collide ends in d, e, so it changes to s, i, o, n: collision.
- B: station Picture, capture and mixture end in a cher sound spelt t, u, r, e. Station ends in shun.
- C: conclusion Conclude ends in d, e, so it changes to s, i, o, n: conclusion.
- A: The ferocious creature made a sudden decision. Ferocious ends in c, i, o, u, s, creature ends in t, u, r, e, and decision ends in s, i, o, n.
- B: 2 Famus should be famous, and creacher should be creature. Picture and dangerous are right.
How texts are built
How texts are built: worksheet 1
Name Date Score / 10
The questions get harder as you go. Circle the letter of your answer, or write it on the line.
- 1
Which kind of text tells you how to make or do something?
- Aa recount
- Ba procedure
- Ca narrative
- 2
Which kind of text retells something that really happened, in time order?
- Aa recount
- Ba narrative
- Ca procedure
- 3
Which words usually start the steps of a procedure?
- Atime words, like yesterday and last week
- Bbossy verbs, like cut, fold and mix
- Copinion words, like should, must and best
- 4
In a recount, which words help show the order of events?
- AFirst, Next, After that
- Bbig, small, round
- Cshould, must, best
- 5
"Fill a jar with water. Add three drops of food colouring. Watch the colour spread." What kind of text is this?
- Aa recount
- Ba persuasive text
- Ca procedure
- Da narrative
- 6
"Every New Zealand school should have a vegetable garden. Gardens teach children where food comes from." What kind of text is this?
- Aa persuasive text
- Ban information report
- Ca procedure
- Da recount
- 7
"Kākāpō are parrots that cannot fly. They live on a few safe islands in New Zealand. Everyone should help protect kākāpō so they can survive." The last sentence is different from the others. Why?
- AIt tells what happened yesterday.
- BIt is a step to follow.
- CIt brings in a character.
- DIt gives the writer's opinion.
- 8
These sentences from a recount are mixed up. A: It was the best birthday ever. B: On Saturday, I had a party at the park. C: First, we played games, then we ate cake. What is the right order?
- AB, A, C
- BB, C, A
- CA, B, C
- DC, B, A
- 9
"Why Room 4 Needs a Class Pet Our class should get a guinea pig. First, a pet would teach us to be responsible. Second, guinea pigs are quiet and easy to care for. For these reasons, Room 4 needs a guinea pig!" Which stage is the last sentence?
- Athe conclusion
- Bthe opinion
- Ca reason
- Dthe resolution
- 10
"Why Room 4 Needs a Class Pet Our class should get a guinea pig. First, a pet would teach us to be responsible. Second, guinea pigs are quiet and easy to care for. For these reasons, Room 4 needs a guinea pig!" This text uses First and Second, like a recount can. Why is it still a persuasive text?
- AIt tells you how to look after a guinea pig.
- BIt has a character with a problem.
- CIt retells a trip to the pet shop.
- DIts job is to make readers agree that the class should get a pet.
Answers: How texts are built: worksheet 1
- B: a procedure A procedure. It has a goal, the materials you need and steps to follow.
- A: a recount A recount. It retells real events in the order they happened.
- B: bossy verbs, like cut, fold and mix Bossy verbs, like cut, fold and mix. They tell the reader exactly what to do.
- A: First, Next, After that First, Next, After that. These time words show what happened first, next and after.
- C: a procedure A procedure. Each sentence starts with a bossy verb: fill, add, watch.
- A: a persuasive text A persuasive text. It gives an opinion, using the word should, then a reason.
- D: It gives the writer's opinion. It gives the writer's opinion. The word should shows the writer is trying to persuade, while the first two sentences are facts.
- B: B, C, A B, C, A. B is the orientation (when and where), C is the events, and A is the comment.
- A: the conclusion The conclusion. It starts with For these reasons and says the opinion again, strongly.
- D: Its job is to make readers agree that the class should get a pet. Its job is to make readers agree that the class should get a pet. Here First and Second count the reasons, not events in time order.
Stories with a problem that matters
Stories with a problem that matters: worksheet 1
Name Date Score / 10
The questions get harder as you go. Circle the letter of your answer, or write it on the line.
- 1
What do we call the part of a story that tells who, where and when?
- AClimax
- BOrientation
- CComplication
- 2
Which part comes last on the story mountain?
- AComplication
- BRising tension
- CResolution
- 3
Which problem matters most to the character?
- AJosh's sandwich had too much butter.
- BJosh might miss his only chance to try out for the team.
- CJosh's pencil was blunt.
- 4
What does rising tension do in a story?
- AIt ends the story.
- BIt tells the reader the character's name.
- CIt makes things harder and the reader more worried.
- 5
At the start of a story, Ruby never shares. At the end, she splits her last muesli bar with a hungry new kid. How has Ruby changed?
- AShe has learned to share.
- BShe doesn't like muesli bars.
- CShe has become hungrier.
- 6
Which detail raises the stakes most in a story about a lost dog?
- AThe dog has a red collar.
- BIt is getting dark, and the dog needs its medicine.
- CThe dog's name is Rex.
- 7
Read the events: Tom lives on a farm. A grass fire starts nearby. The smoke gets thicker and the horses panic. Tom leads the horses through the gate to the dam. The fire passes and everyone is safe. Which event is the climax?
- AThe smoke gets thicker and the horses panic.
- BTom lives on a farm.
- CThe fire passes and everyone is safe.
- DTom leads the horses through the gate to the dam.
- 8
Which sentence makes the reader worry most?
- AThe bridge creaked, and one of the boards snapped under Ali's foot.
- BThe bridge was made of wood.
- CAli walked across the bridge.
- 9
Read: "Nina hated being the smallest in her class. At school camp, her group's canoe tipped over, and their only paddle floated into a narrow gap between two rocks. The big kids couldn't fit. The water was getting choppy, and the teacher was far away. Nina took a deep breath, squeezed between the rocks and grabbed the paddle." How is Nina likely to feel about being small at the end?
- AStill upset, because she is the smallest
- BBored, because nothing happened
- CProud, because being small helped her save the day
- 10
Read: "Nina hated being the smallest in her class. At school camp, her group's canoe tipped over, and their only paddle floated into a narrow gap between two rocks. The big kids couldn't fit. The water was getting choppy, and the teacher was far away. Nina took a deep breath, squeezed between the rocks and grabbed the paddle." Which sentence is the complication?
- ANina hated being the smallest in her class.
- BNina took a deep breath, squeezed between the rocks and grabbed the paddle.
- CHer group's canoe tipped over, and their only paddle floated into a narrow gap between two rocks.
Answers: Stories with a problem that matters: worksheet 1
- B: Orientation The orientation introduces the characters, the setting and the time.
- C: Resolution The resolution comes last. The problem is solved and the story wraps up.
- B: Josh might miss his only chance to try out for the team. Missing his only chance means Josh has a lot to lose, so the reader cares.
- C: It makes things harder and the reader more worried. Rising tension makes the problem worse before it gets better.
- A: She has learned to share. Splitting her last muesli bar is the opposite of never sharing.
- B: It is getting dark, and the dog needs its medicine. Darkness and missing medicine make finding the dog more urgent, so the reader worries more.
- D: Tom leads the horses through the gate to the dam. The climax is the big moment when the main character faces the problem and acts. Tom leading the horses to safety is that moment.
- A: The bridge creaked, and one of the boards snapped under Ali's foot. A snapping board puts Ali in danger right now.
- C: Proud, because being small helped her save the day Being small let Nina fit between the rocks when the big kids couldn't, so the thing she hated helped her.
- C: Her group's canoe tipped over, and their only paddle floated into a narrow gap between two rocks. The canoe tipping and the paddle getting stuck is what goes wrong.
Apostrophes
Apostrophes: worksheet 1
Name Date Score / 10
The questions get harder as you go. Circle the letter of your answer, or write it on the line.
- 1
What is the short form of "did not"?
- Adid'nt
- Bdidn't
- Cdidnt
- 2
What is the short form of "I will"?
- AI'll
- BIll
- CIl'l
- 3
What is the short form of "should not"?
- Ashould'nt
- Bshouldn't
- Cshouldnt'
- 4
What is the short form of "they have"?
- Athe'yve
- Btheyve
- Cthey've
- 5
Which sentence uses apostrophes correctly?
- AGrandpas garden has lot's of roses.
- BGrandpas garden has lots of roses.
- CGrandpa's garden has lot's of roses.
- DGrandpa's garden has lots of roses.
- 6
Liam and Zoe are going to the beach. Fill the gap: ___ going on Saturday.
- AThere
- BThey're
- CTheir
- 7
Four horses live on Ava's farm. Which is correct? The ___ paddock is big.
- Ahorses'
- Bhorses
- Chorse's
- 8
Fill both gaps: The pūkeko hurt ___ foot, and now ___ limping.
- Ait's, its
- Bit's, it's
- Cits, its
- Dits, it's
- 9
Which one is the odd one out, because its apostrophe does a different job?
- AMum's keys
- Bit's
- Cwe're
- Dcan't
- 10
Which one tells you the hats belong to lots of girls?
- Athe girls hats
- Bthe girl's hats
- Cthe girls' hats
Answers: Apostrophes: worksheet 1
- B: didn't Squash did and not together. The o drops out, and the apostrophe goes in its place: didn't.
- A: I'll The w and i in will drop out, and the apostrophe goes in their place: I'll.
- B: shouldn't The o in not drops out, and the apostrophe goes in its place: shouldn't.
- C: they've The h and a in have drop out, and the apostrophe goes in their place: they've.
- D: Grandpa's garden has lots of roses. The garden belongs to Grandpa, so Grandpa's. Lots just means many, so it needs no apostrophe.
- B: They're The sentence means they are going, so we use the short form they're.
- A: horses' The paddock belongs to all four horses. Horses ends in s, so add just the apostrophe: horses'.
- D: its, it's The foot belongs to the pūkeko, so its. The second gap means it is limping, so it's.
- A: Mum's keys In Mum's keys, the apostrophe shows the keys belong to Mum. In the others, it shows letters are missing.
- C: the girls' hats Girls ends in s and means more than one girl. The apostrophe after the s shows they all own the hats.
The full set for Year 4
With a subscription you can print up to three worksheets for each of the 24 Year 4 English topics from Grown-ups > Worksheets. Every sheet has its own answer page. These are the topics:
Grammar and punctuation
- Must, might, could
- Apostrophes
- Where, when and how
- Keeping the tense steady
- Linking words
- Punctuating speech
- Choosing the best word
- Fact, opinion or feeling?
Spelling
- Spelling long words
- Spelling rules
- Homophones in context
Reading
- How texts are built
- Finding the main idea
- Joining clues
- How pictures tell the story
- Stories that echo
- Building tension
- Wordplay
- Old texts and new texts
- Reading fluently
Writing
- Stories with a problem that matters
- Persuasive writing with reasons and evidence
- Information reports
- Re-reading and improving