Each worksheet starts with two easy questions and finishes with two hard ones, so most Year 5 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
Said it, or reported it?
Said it, or reported it?: 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 sentence uses direct speech?
- AJess saw a kiwi.
- BJess said that there was a kiwi.
- C“Look at the kiwi!” said Jess.
- 2
Which sentence uses reported speech?
- ADad said that dinner was ready.
- B“Dinner's ready!” called Dad.
- 3
Ben said, “I am hungry.” → Ben said that ___ was hungry.
- Ashe
- BI
- Che
- 4
Lucy said, “I am cold.” → Lucy said that she ___ cold.
- Awere
- Bwas
- Cam
- 5
Mum said, “It is time for bed.” Which is correct reported speech?
- AMum said that “it was time for bed.”
- BMum said that it was time for bed.
- CMum said, it is time for bed.
- 6
Jack asked me, “Can I borrow your ruler?” Which is the best reported speech?
- AJack asked, can I borrow your ruler.
- BJack asked if I could borrow your ruler.
- CJack asked if he could borrow my ruler.
- 7
Max said, “My hat is lost.” Which is correct reported speech?
- AMax said that my hat was lost.
- BMax said that his hat was lost.
- CMax said that “his hat was lost.”
- 8
Which sentence correctly reports a question?
- ANina asked if the shop was open?
- BNina asked if the shop was open.
- CNina asked, “if the shop was open.”
- 9
Mr Chen said to the class, “Your projects are due on Friday.” At home, Ella told her mum. Which is the best reported speech?
- AMr Chen said that our projects were due on Friday.
- BMr Chen said, our projects are due on Friday.
- CMr Chen said that your projects were due on Friday.
- 10
Turn this into direct speech: Grandpa asked if we wanted pancakes.
- A“Do you want pancakes,” asked Grandpa.
- B“Do you want pancakes?” asked Grandpa.
- C“If we wanted pancakes?” asked Grandpa.
Answers: Said it, or reported it?: worksheet 1
- C: “Look at the kiwi!” said Jess. It uses Jess's exact words in quotation marks.
- A: Dad said that dinner was ready. It tells what Dad said without his exact words or quotation marks.
- C: he I changes to he, because the writer is telling about Ben.
- B: was Am moves back into the past: she was cold.
- B: Mum said that it was time for bed. No quotation marks, and is moves back to was.
- C: Jack asked if he could borrow my ruler. I becomes he (Jack), your becomes my (the ruler belongs to me, the writer), and can becomes could.
- B: Max said that his hat was lost. My becomes his, is becomes was, and there are no quotation marks.
- B: Nina asked if the shop was open. A reported question is a telling sentence, so it ends with a full stop, not a question mark.
- A: Mr Chen said that our projects were due on Friday. Ella is in the class, so your becomes our. Are becomes were, and there are no quotation marks.
- B: “Do you want pancakes?” asked Grandpa. Grandpa's exact words were a question, so they end with a question mark inside the quotation marks. We becomes you, because he was talking to us.
Letters with two sounds
Letters with two sounds: 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? "I ___ my bag was in the car."
- Athawt
- Bthought
- Cthort
- 2
In which word does "ea" say ee, like in "bead"?
- Ateam
- Bgreat
- Chead
- 3
Which word rhymes with "off"?
- Athrough
- Bcough
- Crough
- 4
In which word does "ch" say k, like in "school"?
- Aecho
- Bchef
- Clunch
- 5
Which spelling is right? "Mum ___ the puppy to the vet."
- Abraught
- Bbrort
- Cbrought
- 6
In which word does "ou" sound like the u in "cup"?
- Ashout
- Bsoup
- Ctouch
- 7
Which sentence about the walk has every word spelt correctly?
- AOur groop went through the forest in the rain.
- BOur group went through the forest in the rain.
- COur group went threw the forest in the rain.
- DOur group went thru the forest in the rain.
- 8
In which word does "oo" sound like the u in "cup"?
- Aflood
- Bmoon
- Cbook
- 9
How many words are spelt wrongly? "Even though we had a cough, we fought our way thru the crowd and bought enuff food."
- A1
- B2
- C3
- 10
In which group does "ough" make the SAME sound in every word?
- Athough, through, tough
- Bdrought, plough, though
- Cbought, thought, fought
- Dcough, rough, dough
Answers: Letters with two sounds: worksheet 1
- B: thought Thought rhymes with sort and is spelt t, h, o, u, g, h, t, like bought.
- A: team In team, e, a says ee. In head it says e, and in great it says ay.
- B: cough Cough rhymes with off. Rough rhymes with stuff, and through rhymes with blue.
- A: echo In echo, c, h says k, like in school. In lunch it says ch, and in chef it says sh.
- C: brought Brought rhymes with sort, like bought and thought, and is spelt b, r, o, u, g, h, t.
- C: touch In touch, o, u says u, like cup. In shout it says ow, and in soup it says oo.
- B: Our group went through the forest in the rain. Group is spelt with o, u, and through, meaning in one side and out the other, ends in o, u, g, h.
- A: flood In flood, o, o says u, like cup. In moon it says oo, and in book it is a short oo.
- B: 2 Thru should be through, and enuff should be enough. Though, cough, fought, crowd and bought are right.
- C: bought, thought, fought Bought, thought and fought all rhyme with sort. In every other group, the o, u, g, h sounds change.
Text structure
Text structure: 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 looks fairly at both sides of an issue?
- Aa discussion
- Ba narrative
- Ca persuasive text
- 2
Which kind of text explains how or why something happens?
- Aa recount
- Ban explanation
- Ca discussion
- 3
What does the opening statement of an explanation do?
- Asays what the thing being explained is
- Bintroduces the characters
- Cgives the arguments against
- 4
"However, others point out that a vegie garden needs watering every day." Which stage of a discussion is this from?
- Athe arguments for
- Bthe arguments against
- Cthe issue
- 5
"When water in the ocean heats up, it turns into water vapour and rises into the air." Which kind of text is this sentence from?
- Aan explanation
- Ba discussion
- Ca recount
- Da narrative
- 6
"Some people believe children should start school at six. Others feel five is the right age." What stage of a discussion is this most likely to be?
- Athe resolution
- Bthe recommendation
- Cthe issue, showing that people disagree
- 7
Read this text. "Why Do Cats Purr? Purring is a low, rumbling sound that cats make. When a cat breathes in and out, muscles in its throat open and close very fast. This makes the air vibrate, so we hear a purr. Cats purr when they are happy, but also when they are hurt, because purring may help them feel calm." What is missing from this explanation?
- Aan ending that sums up why cats purr
- Ba how or why title
- Ccause and effect words
- Dan opening statement
- 8
Which cause and effect word best fills the gap? "The ice cream melted ___ the sun was so hot."
- Abecause
- Bhowever
- Calthough
- Dunless
- 9
Read this text. "Should Our School Have a Four-Day Week? Some schools overseas now have a four-day week. Should we? Supporters say teachers would have more time to plan, and students would come back rested. On the other hand, many parents work five days and would have to find care on the fifth day. Students would also have longer, more tiring school days to fit in all their learning. A four-day week sounds exciting, but it would be hard for many families, so our school should keep its five-day week for now." How many arguments against does the writer give?
- Athree
- Bfour
- Ctwo
- Done
- 10
In the four-day week text, the last sentence is: "A four-day week sounds exciting, but it would be hard for many families, so our school should keep its five-day week for now." Why is it a good recommendation for a discussion?
- AIt mentions both sides before saying what to do.
- BIt only repeats the title.
- CIt tells a story about one family.
- DIt brings in a brand new argument.
Answers: Text structure: worksheet 1
- A: a discussion A discussion. It gives arguments for and against.
- B: an explanation An explanation. For example, how a caterpillar becomes a butterfly.
- A: says what the thing being explained is It says what the thing being explained is. For example: A rainbow is an arc of colours in the sky.
- B: the arguments against The arguments against. However signals a switch to the other side, and it gives a problem with the idea.
- A: an explanation An explanation. It explains how something happens, with a cause and effect word (when) and the present tense.
- C: the issue, showing that people disagree The issue, showing that people disagree. It sets up the question before the arguments begin.
- A: an ending that sums up why cats purr An ending that sums up why cats purr. It has a title, an opening and steps, but it stops without a concluding statement.
- A: because Because. It joins the effect (the ice cream melted) to its cause (the sun was so hot).
- C: two Two: parents would need care on the fifth day, and students would have longer, more tiring school days.
- A: It mentions both sides before saying what to do. It mentions both sides (sounds exciting, but hard for many families) before saying what to do.
Narrative with depth
Narrative with depth: 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 sentence tells the reader how Ben feels, instead of showing it?
- ABen was happy.
- BBen's face lit up with a huge smile.
- CBen punched the air and whooped.
- 2
"The puppy ran like the wind." Which word tells you this is a simile?
- Alike
- Bwind
- Cran
- Dpuppy
- 3
"The thunder was an angry giant stomping across the sky." What is this sentence an example of?
- Aa metaphor
- Btelling, not showing
- Ca simile
- 4
Which sentence opener tells you how something was done?
- AAt midnight,
- BSilently,
- CBeside the river,
- 5
"The playground was a battlefield at lunchtime." What does the writer mean?
- AThe playground was empty and quiet.
- BSoldiers came to play at lunchtime.
- CThe playground was wild and full of rough games.
- DThere was a real war at school.
- 6
Which sentence shows that a house is old and empty?
- AThe house was old and empty.
- BCobwebs hung from the ceiling and the floorboards groaned under every step.
- CNobody lived in the house.
- DIt was an old, empty house on the hill.
- 7
Which sentence is NOT a simile?
- AThe night was like a black blanket.
- BThe night was as dark as ink.
- CThe night was a black blanket over the town.
- DThe stars shone like tiny diamonds.
- 8
Sophie wrote: "Sophie was so scared. She was really, really scared." Which change would improve it most?
- AReplace it with actions, like "Sophie froze, her heart thumping against her ribs."
- BAdd very, so it says very, really, really scared.
- CRepeat it three times so the reader gets it.
- DChange scared to frightened.
- 9
Three of these are metaphors and one is a simile. Which one is the simile, the odd one out?
- ATime is a thief.
- BHer smile was like sunshine.
- CMy brother is a night owl.
- DThe road was a ribbon winding through the hills.
- 10
Which sentence has a varied opener, shows a feeling and includes a simile?
- ATrembling, Zoe crept past the dog, her heart pounding like a drum.
- BTrembling, Zoe crept past the dog because she was scared.
- CZoe was scared, so she crept past the dog like a mouse.
- DZoe crept past the dog. Her heart pounded.
Answers: Narrative with depth: worksheet 1
- A: Ben was happy. Ben was happy names the feeling, so it tells. The other two show it through actions.
- A: like Like is used to compare the puppy's running to the wind, which makes it a simile.
- A: a metaphor It says the thunder IS an angry giant, without like or as, so it is a metaphor.
- B: Silently, Silently describes the way something was done, so it is a how opener.
- C: The playground was wild and full of rough games. The metaphor compares the playground to a battlefield to show it was busy, loud and rough, not a real battle.
- B: Cobwebs hung from the ceiling and the floorboards groaned under every step. Cobwebs and groaning floorboards are details that let the reader picture an old, empty house.
- C: The night was a black blanket over the town. It says the night IS a blanket, with no like or as, so it is a metaphor. The others all use like or as.
- A: Replace it with actions, like "Sophie froze, her heart thumping against her ribs." Actions show the fear so the reader feels it. Repeating or swapping the feeling word still tells.
- B: Her smile was like sunshine. Her smile was like sunshine compares with like, so it is a simile. The other three say one thing IS another.
- A: Trembling, Zoe crept past the dog, her heart pounding like a drum. Trembling is a how opener, the trembling and pounding heart show fear, and like a drum is a simile.
Complex sentences
Complex sentences: 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 word gives a reason? “We stayed inside ___ it was hailing.”
- Abecause
- Buntil
- Calthough
- 2
Which word means “if not”?
- Abecause
- Bunless
- Cwhile
- 3
Which word fits? “The baby slept ___ the storm was over.”
- Auntil
- Balthough
- Cunless
- 4
What job does “because the bus broke down” do in “Jade was late because the bus broke down”?
- AIt tells the time.
- BIt gives a reason.
- CIt gives a condition.
- 5
Which sentence uses “so that” correctly?
- ALeo wore gloves so that it was cold.
- BLeo wore gloves so that he was outside.
- CLeo wore gloves so that his hands would stay warm.
- 6
Which word fits best? “The concert went ahead ___ it was pouring with rain.”
- Aso that
- Bbecause
- Ceven though
- 7
Which joining word makes the warning strongest at the start? “___ you hold the rail, you could slip on the wet steps.”
- ABecause
- BWhile
- CUnless
- 8
Which sentence gives a reason, not a purpose?
- ANoah packed snacks so that he wouldn't get hungry.
- BNoah packed snacks because he gets hungry on long drives.
- CNoah packed snacks so that the drive would be fun.
- 9
Read the explanation. “Frogs need clean water ___ they breathe partly through their skin. ___ a pond is polluted, the frogs can get sick.” Which pair of joining words fits?
- Abecause, If
- Balthough, Until
- Cso that, While
- 10
Which sentence uses the dependent clause for effect, holding back the big news until the end?
- ASomeone was playing the piano although every light in the house was off.
- BAlthough every light in the house was off, someone was playing the piano.
- CEvery light in the house was off and someone was playing the piano.
Answers: Complex sentences: worksheet 1
- A: because Because gives the reason: the hail is why we stayed inside.
- B: unless Unless means if not: I'll walk unless it rains means I'll walk if it does not rain.
- A: until Until means up to that moment: the baby slept, and woke when the storm was over.
- B: It gives a reason. Because the bus broke down tells why Jade was late.
- C: Leo wore gloves so that his hands would stay warm. Warm hands are the goal, so so that fits.
- C: even though You'd expect pouring rain to stop a concert, so it going ahead is a surprise. Even though shows that.
- C: Unless Unless you hold the rail means if you do not hold the rail. That is the danger, so the warning makes sense.
- B: Noah packed snacks because he gets hungry on long drives. Because he gets hungry on long drives looks back at why, so it is a reason.
- A: because, If Because gives the reason frogs need clean water. If gives the condition that makes them sick.
- B: Although every light in the house was off, someone was playing the piano. The dependent clause comes first and makes the reader wait. Then the main clause lands with the surprise.
The full set for Year 5
With a subscription you can print up to three worksheets for each of the 22 Year 5 English topics from Grown-ups > Worksheets. Every sheet has its own answer page. These are the topics:
Grammar and punctuation
- Said it, or reported it?
- Complex sentences
- Sentence openers
- Commas and apostrophes
- Precise words
- Reasonable opinions
- Who you're talking to
Spelling
- Letters with two sounds
- Word parts
- Tricky plurals
Reading
- Text structure
- Persuasion and audience
- Summarising
- Clues across a text
- Who tells the story?
- Imagery and metaphor
- Talking about books
- Reading harder texts
- Diagrams and graphs
Writing
- Narrative with depth
- Persuasive writing that sounds reasonable
- Editing against a checklist