Language Standards

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking

Use relative pronouns (who, whose, whom, which, that) and relative adverbs (where, when, why)

Form and use the progressive (e.g., I was walking; I am walking; I will be walking) verb tenses

Use modal auxiliaries (e.g., can, may, must) to convey various conditions

Order adjectives within sentences according to conventional patterns (e.g., a small red bag rather than a red small bag)

Form and use prepositional phrases

Produce complete sentences, recognizing and correcting inappropriate fragments and run-ons.

Correctly use frequently confused words (e.g., to, too, two; there, their).

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing

Use correct capitalization

Use commas and quotation marks to mark direct speech and quotations from a text

Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction in a compound sentence

Spell grade-appropriate words correctly, consulting references as needed.

Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening

Choose words and phrases to convey ideas precisely.

Choose punctuation for effect.

Differentiate between contexts that call for formal English (e.g., presenting ideas) and situations where informal discourse is appropriate (e.g., small-group discussion).

Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 4 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies

Use context (e.g., definitions, examples, or restatements in text) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.

Use common, grade-appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., telegraph, photograph, autograph)

Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation and determine or clarify the precise meaning of key words and phrases.

Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.

Explain the meaning of simple similes and metaphors (e.g., as pretty as a picture) in context

Recognize and explain the meaning of common idioms, adages, and proverbs

Demonstrate understanding of words by relating them to their opposites (antonyms) and to words with similar but not identical meanings (synonyms).

Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, including those that signal precise actions, emotions, or states of being (e.g., quizzed, whined, stammered) and that are basic to a particular topic (e.g., wildlife, conservation, and endangered when discussing animal preservation)