Adjectives, adverbs and sentences
By the end of this chapter you will be able to
- Find an adjective, and say what it tells us about a noun
- Add -er to compare two things, and -est to compare three or more
- Add -ful (full of) and -less (without) to make a describing word
- Add -ly to make an adverb, and find the adverb in a sentence
- Name the four kinds of sentence: statement, question, exclamation and command
- Join two ideas with and, but, or, because, when, if or that
You should already know
- Nouns and noun phrases (Chapter 4)
- Verbs and tense (Chapter 5)
- Spelling rules for -ing, -ed, -er and -est endings, such as hopping and hurried (Chapter 2)
Where this leads
- Punctuation (Chapter 7)
- Writing stories with describing words and joining words (Chapter 11)
National Curriculum for England, Key Stage 1 English, Year 2. Content: Use the term adjective: a describing word that tells what a noun is like, Use the term adverb: a word that tells how something happens, often ending in -ly, Form adjectives with -er and -est, and adverbs with -ly, Form adjectives with the suffixes -ful and -less, Write statements, questions, exclamations and commands, and use the terms statement, question, exclamation and command, Join ideas with subordination (when, if, that, because) and co-ordination (or, and, but).
Exercise P Do you remember?
Method. Look at the end of the word.
- Look at baby. Baby ends in a consonant and y.baby
- Change the y to i, then add es. Words like this change y to i, then add es.babi + es
- Write the answer. babies
Check. Two babies: say it aloud. ✓
Watch out. Change the y to i before es: babies, not babys.
Method. Change the y to i, then add the ending.
- Look at happy. Happy ends in a consonant and y.happy
- Change the y to i, then add -ness. The y changes to i before the ending.happi + ness
- Write the answer. happiness
Check. Say it aloud: happiness. ✓
Watch out. Write happiness with an i before the n.
Method. Child does not add s for more than one.
- Look at child. Child is a word that changes its spelling in the plural.child
- Write the plural. The plural of child is children.children
- Write the answer. children
Check. One child, two children. ✓
Watch out. Children is a tricky word: write it with -ren.
Method. Put the describing word in the gap.
- Start with the noun phrase. The phrase has a gap before ball.the ___ ball
- Fill the gap. Big tells what the ball is like, so it goes in the gap.the big ball
- Write the answer. the big ball
Check. Read it aloud: the big ball. ✓
Watch out. The describing word goes before the noun.
Method. Ride is an irregular verb, so it changes its spelling.
- Look at ride. Ride does not add ed. It is irregular.ride
- Change the verb. The past tense of ride is rode.ride becomes rode
- Write the answer. rode
Check. Yesterday I rode my bike. ✓
Watch out. Irregular verbs do not add ed.
Adjectives: describing words
An adjective is a describing word. It tells us what a noun is like. A noun is the name of a person, a place or a thing.
Adjectives tell us the colour, the size, the shape or how something feels: a red bus, a big dog, a round ball, a soft teddy.
An adjective can come before the noun, as in a shiny shell. It can also come after the words is, are, was or were: the shell is shiny.
An adjective does not change when there is more than one thing: two red buses.
Key ideas
- An adjective is a describing word: it tells what a noun is like.
- Adjectives tell about colour, size, shape and feeling.
- An adjective can come before the noun, or after is, are, was or were.
- An adjective does not add -s for more than one thing.
Method. A describing word tells what a noun is like.
- Read the sentence. Look for a word that tells what a thing is like.The big dog ran in the park.
- Find the thing. The dog is the thing being described.dog
- Find the describing word. big tells what the dog is like.big
- Write the answer. big
Check. Read it aloud: The big dog ran in the park. ✓
Watch out. Nouns name things. Describing words tell what they are like: their colour, size, shape or feeling.
Method. A describing word tells what a noun is like.
- Read the sentence. Look for a word that tells what a thing is like.The cloud is grey.
- Find the thing. The cloud is the thing being described.cloud
- Find the describing word. grey tells what the cloud is like.grey
- Write the answer. grey
Check. Read it aloud: The cloud is grey. ✓
Watch out. Nouns name things. Describing words tell what they are like: their colour, size, shape or feeling.
Method. Look at the words in front of the noun.
- Read the sentence. Look for the words that describe the cat.A tiny brown cat sat by the door.
- Find the noun. Cat is the thing being described.cat
- Find the describing words before it. Tiny and brown both tell what the cat is like.tiny, brown
- Write the answer. tiny and brown
Check. Both words describe the cat. ✓
Watch out. Two describing words can come one after the other before a noun.
Watch out
Watch out: a word that tells what someone does is a verb, not an adjective. In the dog ran, ran is a verb. In the dog is red, red is an adjective.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Point to things in the room and say what they are like: a red cup, a soft cushion. Ask your child to add a describing word to each noun, then to say the same thing after is.
Exercise 6A Practice: finding describing words
Method. A describing word tells what a noun is like.
- Read the sentence. Look for a word that tells what a thing is like.The big dog ran in the park.
- Find the thing. The dog is the thing being described.dog
- Find the describing word. big tells what the dog is like.big
- Write the answer. big
Check. Read it aloud: The big dog ran in the park. ✓
Watch out. Nouns name things. Describing words tell what they are like: their colour, size, shape or feeling.
Method. A describing word tells what a noun is like.
- Read the sentence. Look for a word that tells what a thing is like.The red bus stopped at the gate.
- Find the thing. The bus is the thing being described.bus
- Find the describing word. red tells what the bus is like.red
- Write the answer. red
Check. Read it aloud: The red bus stopped at the gate. ✓
Watch out. Nouns name things. Describing words tell what they are like: their colour, size, shape or feeling.
Method. A describing word tells what a noun is like.
- Read the sentence. Look for a word that tells what a thing is like.Mia found a shiny shell on the beach.
- Find the thing. The shell is the thing being described.shell
- Find the describing word. shiny tells what the shell is like.shiny
- Write the answer. shiny
Check. Read it aloud: Mia found a shiny shell on the beach. ✓
Watch out. Nouns name things. Describing words tell what they are like: their colour, size, shape or feeling.
Method. A describing word tells what a noun is like.
- Read the sentence. Look for a word that tells what a thing is like.My wet sock is on the mat.
- Find the thing. The sock is the thing being described.sock
- Find the describing word. wet tells what the sock is like.wet
- Write the answer. wet
Check. Read it aloud: My wet sock is on the mat. ✓
Watch out. Nouns name things. Describing words tell what they are like: their colour, size, shape or feeling.
Method. A describing word tells what a noun is like.
- Read the sentence. Look for a word that tells what a thing is like.The green frog sat on a log.
- Find the thing. The frog is the thing being described.frog
- Find the describing word. green tells what the frog is like.green
- Write the answer. green
Check. Read it aloud: The green frog sat on a log. ✓
Watch out. Nouns name things. Describing words tell what they are like: their colour, size, shape or feeling.
Method. A describing word tells what a noun is like.
- Read the sentence. Look for a word that tells what a thing is like.Leo kicked the round ball.
- Find the thing. The ball is the thing being described.ball
- Find the describing word. round tells what the ball is like.round
- Write the answer. round
Check. Read it aloud: Leo kicked the round ball. ✓
Watch out. Nouns name things. Describing words tell what they are like: their colour, size, shape or feeling.
Method. A describing word tells what a noun is like.
- Read the sentence. Look for a word that tells what a thing is like.The cloud is grey.
- Find the thing. The cloud is the thing being described.cloud
- Find the describing word. grey tells what the cloud is like.grey
- Write the answer. grey
Check. Read it aloud: The cloud is grey. ✓
Watch out. Nouns name things. Describing words tell what they are like: their colour, size, shape or feeling.
Method. A describing word tells what a noun is like.
- Read the sentence. Look for a word that tells what a thing is like.The sky is blue.
- Find the thing. The sky is the thing being described.sky
- Find the describing word. blue tells what the sky is like.blue
- Write the answer. blue
Check. Read it aloud: The sky is blue. ✓
Watch out. Nouns name things. Describing words tell what they are like: their colour, size, shape or feeling.
Method. A describing word tells what a noun is like.
- Read the sentence. Look for a word that tells what a thing is like.The banana is yellow.
- Find the thing. The banana is the thing being described.banana
- Find the describing word. yellow tells what the banana is like.yellow
- Write the answer. yellow
Check. Read it aloud: The banana is yellow. ✓
Watch out. Nouns name things. Describing words tell what they are like: their colour, size, shape or feeling.
Method. Think about what the tree is like.
- Look at the picture. The picture shows one tree.one tree
- Choose a describing word. It can tell the size, the colour or the shape of the tree.tall, green, leafy
- Write the answer. Any describing word for the tree, for example: tall
Check. Read it with the noun: a tall tree. ✓
Watch out. Any describing word that tells what the tree is like is right.
Method. Check what each word does.
- Look at dogs. Dogs names the animals, so it is a noun.dogs: noun
- Look at big. Big tells what the dogs are like, so it is an adjective.big: adjective
- Write the answer. No. Dogs is a noun, because it names the animals. Big is the describing word.
Check. Dogs names things, and big describes them. ✓
Watch out. A noun names a thing. A describing word tells what it is like. Also accept: No, dogs is a noun and big is the describing word.
Method. Find the word that does not tell what a noun is like.
- Look at happy. Happy tells how someone feels, so it is a describing word.happy: describing word
- Look at tall. Tall tells how big something is, so it is a describing word.tall: describing word
- Look at run. Run tells what someone does, so it is a verb.run: verb
- Write the answer. run
Check. Run is an action word, not a describing word. ✓
Watch out. Action words are verbs.
Comparing: -er and -est
We can compare things by changing the describing word.
For two things, add -er: Tom is tall. Ben is taller.
For three or more things, add -est: Sam is the tallest of the three.
Look at the end of the word first. Some words change their spelling before the ending is added.
| The word ends in | What to do | Example |
|---|---|---|
| e | add only r or st | nice, nicer, nicest |
| one short vowel and one consonant | double the last letter, then add the ending | big, bigger, biggest |
| a consonant and y | change the y to i, then add the ending | happy, happier, happiest |
| anything else | add the ending | tall, taller, tallest |
Key ideas
- -er compares two things: taller.
- -est compares three or more things: tallest.
- If the word ends in e, add only r or st: nicer, nicest.
- Double the last letter of short words like big: bigger.
- Change the y to i before the ending: happier, happiest.
Method. Use -er for two things, and -est for three or more things.
- Count the things. There are two things, so we use -er.-er
- Find the describing word. The describing word is tall.tall
- Check the spelling. Add the ending to the word.tall becomes taller
- Write the answer. taller
Check. Two things use -er, three or more use -est, so taller is right. ✓
Watch out. Add -er for two things and -est for three or more. Check the spelling rule first.
Method. Use -er for two things, and -est for three or more things.
- Count the things. There are three or more things, so we use -est.-est
- Find the describing word. The describing word is big.big
- Check the spelling. It has one short vowel between two consonants, so double the last letter before the ending.big becomes biggest
- Write the answer. biggest
Check. Two things use -er, three or more use -est, so biggest is right. ✓
Watch out. Add -er for two things and -est for three or more. Check the spelling rule first.
Method. Use -er for two things, and -est for three or more things.
- Count the things. There are three or more things, so we use -est.-est
- Find the describing word. The describing word is happy.happy
- Check the spelling. It ends in a consonant and y, so change the y to i, then add the ending.happy becomes happiest
- Write the answer. happiest
Check. Two things use -er, three or more use -est, so happiest is right. ✓
Watch out. Add -er for two things and -est for three or more. Check the spelling rule first.
Watch out
Watch out: use -er for two things and -est for three or more. Write tallest only when there are three or more things.
Do not write bigest or happyest. Double the g in big, and change the y to i in happy.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Stand two people in a line and say “taller”. Then add a third and say “tallest”. Use the table together to check the spelling.
Exercise 6B Practice: -er and -est
Method. Use -er for two things, and -est for three or more things.
- Count the things. There are two things, so we use -er.-er
- Find the describing word. The describing word is tall.tall
- Check the spelling. Add the ending to the word.tall becomes taller
- Write the answer. taller
Check. Two things use -er, three or more use -est, so taller is right. ✓
Watch out. Add -er for two things and -est for three or more. Check the spelling rule first.
Method. Use -er for two things, and -est for three or more things.
- Count the things. There are two things, so we use -er.-er
- Find the describing word. The describing word is high.high
- Check the spelling. Add the ending to the word.high becomes higher
- Write the answer. higher
Check. Two things use -er, three or more use -est, so higher is right. ✓
Watch out. Add -er for two things and -est for three or more. Check the spelling rule first.
Method. Use -er for two things, and -est for three or more things.
- Count the things. There are two things, so we use -er.-er
- Find the describing word. The describing word is small.small
- Check the spelling. Add the ending to the word.small becomes smaller
- Write the answer. smaller
Check. Two things use -er, three or more use -est, so smaller is right. ✓
Watch out. Add -er for two things and -est for three or more. Check the spelling rule first.
Method. Use -er for two things, and -est for three or more things.
- Count the things. There are two things, so we use -er.-er
- Find the describing word. The describing word is nice.nice
- Check the spelling. It ends in e, so add only r or st.nice becomes nicer
- Write the answer. nicer
Check. Two things use -er, three or more use -est, so nicer is right. ✓
Watch out. Add -er for two things and -est for three or more. Check the spelling rule first.
Method. Use -er for two things, and -est for three or more things.
- Count the things. There are two things, so we use -er.-er
- Find the describing word. The describing word is hot.hot
- Check the spelling. It has one short vowel between two consonants, so double the last letter before the ending.hot becomes hotter
- Write the answer. hotter
Check. Two things use -er, three or more use -est, so hotter is right. ✓
Watch out. Add -er for two things and -est for three or more. Check the spelling rule first.
Method. Use -er for two things, and -est for three or more things.
- Count the things. There are three or more things, so we use -est.-est
- Find the describing word. The describing word is big.big
- Check the spelling. It has one short vowel between two consonants, so double the last letter before the ending.big becomes biggest
- Write the answer. biggest
Check. Two things use -er, three or more use -est, so biggest is right. ✓
Watch out. Add -er for two things and -est for three or more. Check the spelling rule first.
Method. Use -er for two things, and -est for three or more things.
- Count the things. There are three or more things, so we use -est.-est
- Find the describing word. The describing word is happy.happy
- Check the spelling. It ends in a consonant and y, so change the y to i, then add the ending.happy becomes happiest
- Write the answer. happiest
Check. Two things use -er, three or more use -est, so happiest is right. ✓
Watch out. Add -er for two things and -est for three or more. Check the spelling rule first.
Method. Use -er for two things, and -est for three or more things.
- Count the things. There are three or more things, so we use -est.-est
- Find the describing word. The describing word is wide.wide
- Check the spelling. It ends in e, so add only r or st.wide becomes widest
- Write the answer. widest
Check. Two things use -er, three or more use -est, so widest is right. ✓
Watch out. Add -er for two things and -est for three or more. Check the spelling rule first.
Method. Use -er for two things, and -est for three or more things.
- Count the things. There are three or more things, so we use -est.-est
- Find the describing word. The describing word is fast.fast
- Check the spelling. Add the ending to the word.fast becomes fastest
- Write the answer. fastest
Check. Two things use -er, three or more use -est, so fastest is right. ✓
Watch out. Add -er for two things and -est for three or more. Check the spelling rule first.
Method. Two people race, so use -er.
- Count the people. Sam and Ali are two people, so use -er.two people
- Find the describing word. The describing word is fast.fast
- Add the ending. Fast does not need a double letter, so add -er.fast becomes faster
- Write the answer. faster
Check. Sam is faster than Ali. ✓
Watch out. Two people use -er, not -est.
Method. Count the balls, then fix the ending.
- Count the balls. Priya is talking about two balls, so use -er.two balls
- Find the describing word. The describing word is big.big
- Change the ending. Big doubles the g, then adds -er.big becomes bigger
- Write the answer. bigger
Check. The bigger ball is red. ✓
Watch out. Two things use -er. Three or more use -est.
Describing words ending in -ful and -less
Two endings change a word into a describing word (an adjective):
-ful means full of. Help + ful = helpful, full of help.
-less means without. Care + less = careless, without care.
Both endings describe a noun: a helpful friend, a careless mistake.
If the word ends in y, change the y to i before -ful: beauty becomes beautiful.
Key ideas
- -ful means full of: helpful.
- -less means without: careless.
- Both endings make describing words.
- Write -ful with one l at the end.
- Change the y to i before -ful: beautiful.
Method. Add the ending to the word, then check the spelling.
- Start with the word. The word is care.care
- Add the ending. -ful means full of.care + ful = careful
- Check the spelling. Keep every letter, and write one l at the end.careful
- Write the answer. careful
Check. Say it aloud: careful. ✓
Watch out. -ful means full of. Check that the word fits its meaning.
Method. Add the ending to the word, then check the spelling.
- Start with the word. The word is hope.hope
- Add the ending. -less means without.hope + less = hopeless
- Check the spelling. Keep every letter, and write two s letters at the end.hopeless
- Write the answer. hopeless
Check. Say it aloud: hopeless. ✓
Watch out. -less means without. Check that the word fits its meaning.
Method. Find the word whose ending gives the meaning.
- Read the meaning. The meaning is: full of help.full of help
- Look at the first word. Check whether its ending gives this meaning.helpless
- Look at the other word. Its ending gives a different meaning.helpful
- Write the answer. helpful
Check. helpful means full of help. ✓
Watch out. Check the ending: -ful means full of, and -less means without.
Watch out
Watch out: write helpful with one l at the end, and careless with two s letters. Careful means full of care. Careless means without care.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Say the meaning of each ending: “full of hope” and “without hope”. Then give a word, such as care, and ask your child to add -ful and -less and say what each new word means.
Exercise 6C Practice: -ful and -less
Method. Add the ending to the word, then check the spelling.
- Start with the word. The word is help.help
- Add the ending. -ful means full of.help + ful = helpful
- Check the spelling. Keep every letter, and write one l at the end.helpful
- Write the answer. helpful
Check. Say it aloud: helpful. ✓
Watch out. -ful means full of. Check that the word fits its meaning.
Method. Add the ending to the word, then check the spelling.
- Start with the word. The word is care.care
- Add the ending. -less means without.care + less = careless
- Check the spelling. Keep every letter, and write two s letters at the end.careless
- Write the answer. careless
Check. Say it aloud: careless. ✓
Watch out. -less means without. Check that the word fits its meaning.
Method. Add the ending to the word, then check the spelling.
- Start with the word. The word is hope.hope
- Add the ending. -ful means full of.hope + ful = hopeful
- Check the spelling. Keep every letter, and write one l at the end.hopeful
- Write the answer. hopeful
Check. Say it aloud: hopeful. ✓
Watch out. -ful means full of. Check that the word fits its meaning.
Method. Add the ending to the word, then check the spelling.
- Start with the word. The word is use.use
- Add the ending. -less means without.use + less = useless
- Check the spelling. Keep every letter, and write two s letters at the end.useless
- Write the answer. useless
Check. Say it aloud: useless. ✓
Watch out. -less means without. Check that the word fits its meaning.
Method. Add the ending to the word, then check the spelling.
- Start with the word. The word is use.use
- Add the ending. -ful means full of.use + ful = useful
- Check the spelling. Keep every letter, and write one l at the end.useful
- Write the answer. useful
Check. Say it aloud: useful. ✓
Watch out. -ful means full of. Check that the word fits its meaning.
Method. Add the ending to the word, then check the spelling.
- Start with the word. The word is beauty.beauty
- Add the ending. -ful means full of.beauty + ful = beautiful
- Check the spelling. The y changes to i before -ful.beautiful
- Write the answer. beautiful
Check. Say it aloud: beautiful. ✓
Watch out. -ful means full of. Check that the word fits its meaning.
Method. Add the ending to the word, then check the spelling.
- Start with the word. The word is fear.fear
- Add the ending. -less means without.fear + less = fearless
- Check the spelling. Keep every letter, and write two s letters at the end.fearless
- Write the answer. fearless
Check. Say it aloud: fearless. ✓
Watch out. -less means without. Check that the word fits its meaning.
Method. Find the word whose ending gives the meaning.
- Read the meaning. The meaning is: full of pain.full of pain
- Look at the first word. Check whether its ending gives this meaning.painless
- Look at the other word. Its ending gives a different meaning.painful
- Write the answer. painful
Check. painful means full of pain. ✓
Watch out. Check the ending: -ful means full of, and -less means without.
Method. Find the word whose ending gives the meaning.
- Read the meaning. The meaning is: without harm.without harm
- Look at the first word. Check whether its ending gives this meaning.harmless
- Look at the other word. Its ending gives a different meaning.harmful
- Write the answer. harmless
Check. harmless means without harm. ✓
Watch out. Check the ending: -ful means full of, and -less means without.
Method. Find the word that means full of thanks.
- Start with thank. The word is thank.thank
- Add -ful. -ful means full of, so thank + ful = thankful.thank + ful = thankful
- Check the spelling. Keep every letter, and write one l at the end.thankful
- Write the answer. thankful
Check. Full of thanks: thankful. ✓
Watch out. Write thankful with one l at the end.
Method. Check the ending of each word.
- Look at careless. -less means without, so careless means without care.careless = without care
- Look at careful. -ful means full of, so careful means full of care.careful = full of care
- Write the answer. No. Careful means full of care. Careless means without care.
Check. Careful and careless have opposite meanings. ✓
Watch out. Read the ending first, then the word. Also accept: No, careful means full of care and careless means without care.
Adverbs: how something happens
An adverb tells us more about a verb, a doing word. It tells how something happens.
The rabbit hopped quickly. Quickly tells us how the rabbit hopped.
Many adverbs end in -ly. Add -ly to a describing word: quick becomes quickly, loud becomes loudly.
If the word ends in y, change the y to i first: happy becomes happily.
Compare two sentences. The quick rabbit describes the rabbit. The rabbit hopped quickly describes how it hopped.
Key ideas
- An adverb tells how something happens, such as quickly.
- Many adverbs end in -ly.
- An adjective describes a noun. An adverb describes a verb.
- If the word ends in y, change the y to i, then add -ly.
Method. An adverb tells how something happens.
- Read the sentence. Look for a word that tells how something happened.The snail moved slowly.
- Find the doing word. moved tells what happened.moved
- Find the adverb. slowly tells how it happened, so it is an adverb.slowly
- Write the answer. slowly
Check. Read the whole sentence aloud: The snail moved slowly. ✓
Watch out. The adverb tells how the doing word happened. Many adverbs end in -ly.
Method. Add -ly to a describing word to make an adverb.
- Start with the describing word. The word is quick.quick
- Add -ly. An adverb often ends in -ly, and tells how something happens.quick becomes quickly
- Check the spelling. Add -ly to the word. Keep every letter.quickly
- Write the answer. quickly
Check. Say it aloud: quickly. ✓
Watch out. Check the spelling before you add -ly.
Method. An adverb tells how something happens.
- Read the sentence. Look for a word that tells how something happened.The duck swam happily in the pond.
- Find the doing word. swam tells what happened.swam
- Find the adverb. happily tells how it happened, so it is an adverb.happily
- Write the answer. happily
Check. Read the whole sentence aloud: The duck swam happily in the pond. ✓
Watch out. The adverb tells how the doing word happened. Many adverbs end in -ly.
Watch out
Watch out: lovely, friendly and silly end in -ly, but they are describing words. They describe a noun: a friendly dog.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Act out a slow walk and a quick run. Ask: how did you move? Then say the -ly word together, such as slowly or quickly.
Exercise 6D Practice: making and finding adverbs
Method. Add -ly to a describing word to make an adverb.
- Start with the describing word. The word is quick.quick
- Add -ly. An adverb often ends in -ly, and tells how something happens.quick becomes quickly
- Check the spelling. Add -ly to the word. Keep every letter.quickly
- Write the answer. quickly
Check. Say it aloud: quickly. ✓
Watch out. Check the spelling before you add -ly.
Method. Add -ly to a describing word to make an adverb.
- Start with the describing word. The word is loud.loud
- Add -ly. An adverb often ends in -ly, and tells how something happens.loud becomes loudly
- Check the spelling. Add -ly to the word. Keep every letter.loudly
- Write the answer. loudly
Check. Say it aloud: loudly. ✓
Watch out. Check the spelling before you add -ly.
Method. Add -ly to a describing word to make an adverb.
- Start with the describing word. The word is soft.soft
- Add -ly. An adverb often ends in -ly, and tells how something happens.soft becomes softly
- Check the spelling. Add -ly to the word. Keep every letter.softly
- Write the answer. softly
Check. Say it aloud: softly. ✓
Watch out. Check the spelling before you add -ly.
Method. Add -ly to a describing word to make an adverb.
- Start with the describing word. The word is happy.happy
- Add -ly. An adverb often ends in -ly, and tells how something happens.happy becomes happily
- Check the spelling. It ends in a consonant and y, so change the y to i, then add -ly.happily
- Write the answer. happily
Check. Say it aloud: happily. ✓
Watch out. Check the spelling before you add -ly.
Method. Add -ly to a describing word to make an adverb.
- Start with the describing word. The word is lucky.lucky
- Add -ly. An adverb often ends in -ly, and tells how something happens.lucky becomes luckily
- Check the spelling. It ends in a consonant and y, so change the y to i, then add -ly.luckily
- Write the answer. luckily
Check. Say it aloud: luckily. ✓
Watch out. Check the spelling before you add -ly.
Method. Add -ly to a describing word to make an adverb.
- Start with the describing word. The word is careful.careful
- Add -ly. An adverb often ends in -ly, and tells how something happens.careful becomes carefully
- Check the spelling. It ends in l, so add -ly and keep both l letters.carefully
- Write the answer. carefully
Check. Say it aloud: carefully. ✓
Watch out. Check the spelling before you add -ly.
Method. Add -ly to a describing word to make an adverb.
- Start with the describing word. The word is sad.sad
- Add -ly. An adverb often ends in -ly, and tells how something happens.sad becomes sadly
- Check the spelling. Add -ly to the word. Keep every letter.sadly
- Write the answer. sadly
Check. Say it aloud: sadly. ✓
Watch out. Check the spelling before you add -ly.
Method. An adverb tells how something happens.
- Read the sentence. Look for a word that tells how something happened.Priya sang loudly at the party.
- Find the doing word. sang tells what happened.sang
- Find the adverb. loudly tells how it happened, so it is an adverb.loudly
- Write the answer. loudly
Check. Read the whole sentence aloud: Priya sang loudly at the party. ✓
Watch out. The adverb tells how the doing word happened. Many adverbs end in -ly.
Method. An adverb tells how something happens.
- Read the sentence. Look for a word that tells how something happened.The cat crept quietly into the room.
- Find the doing word. crept tells what happened.crept
- Find the adverb. quietly tells how it happened, so it is an adverb.quietly
- Write the answer. quietly
Check. Read the whole sentence aloud: The cat crept quietly into the room. ✓
Watch out. The adverb tells how the doing word happened. Many adverbs end in -ly.
Method. Make an adverb from the describing word.
- Find the describing word. Careful describes Tom.careful
- Make the adverb. The adverb tells how Tom walks, so add -ly.careful + ly = carefully
- Check the spelling. The word ends in l, so keep both l letters.carefully
- Write the answer. carefully
Check. Tom walks carefully to school. ✓
Watch out. Careful becomes carefully: two l letters.
Method. Check what the word describes.
- Look at the dog. The word describes the dog, a noun.the dog
- Look at friendly. A word that describes a noun is an adjective, even if it ends in -ly.friendly: adjective
- Write the answer. No. Friendly describes the dog, so it is an adjective. Some describing words end in -ly.
Check. The friendly dog: friendly tells what the dog is like. ✓
Watch out. Ask what the word describes: a noun means an adjective, a verb means an adverb. Also accept: No, friendly describes the dog, so it is an adjective.
Four kinds of sentence
There are four kinds of sentence. Each kind has its own job.
A statement tells something. It ends with a full stop: The sun is hot.
A question asks something. It ends with a question mark: Is the sun hot?
An exclamation shows a strong feeling. It ends with an exclamation mark: What a hot day!
A command tells someone to do something. It often starts with a doing word, such as Close, Wash or Look: Close the door.
A command can end with a full stop or an exclamation mark: Stop!
Key ideas
- A statement tells something. It ends with a full stop.
- A question asks something. It ends with a question mark.
- An exclamation shows a strong feeling. It ends with an exclamation mark.
- A command tells someone to do something. It ends with . or !.
Method. Decide what the sentence does, then name its kind.
- Read the sentence. Listen to what the sentence does.Close the door.
- Look at the job. It tells someone to do something.It is a command.
- Look at the end mark. A command can end with a full stop or an exclamation mark.ends with .
- Write the answer. command
Check. Read it aloud and check the job again: Close the door. ✓
Watch out. The end mark helps, but the job of the sentence decides its kind.
Method. Decide what the sentence does, then name its kind.
- Read the sentence. Listen to what the sentence does.What a tall tree!
- Look at the job. It shows a strong feeling.It is a exclamation.
- Look at the end mark. An exclamation ends with an exclamation mark.ends with !
- Write the answer. exclamation
Check. Read it aloud and check the job again: What a tall tree! ✓
Watch out. The end mark helps, but the job of the sentence decides its kind.
Method. Decide what the sentence does, then name its kind.
- Read the sentence. Listen to what the sentence does.Do you like milk?
- Look at the job. It asks us something.It is a question.
- Look at the end mark. A question ends with a question mark.ends with ?
- Write the answer. question
Check. Read it aloud and check the job again: Do you like milk? ✓
Watch out. The end mark helps, but the job of the sentence decides its kind.
Watch out
Watch out: the end mark does not decide the kind on its own. Stop! ends with an exclamation mark, but it tells someone to do something, so it is a command.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Read each sentence aloud and ask: is it telling, asking, showing a feeling, or telling someone to do something? Then check the end mark.
Exercise 6E Practice: the four kinds of sentence
Method. Decide what the sentence does, then name its kind.
- Read the sentence. Listen to what the sentence does.The sun is hot.
- Look at the job. It tells us something.It is a statement.
- Look at the end mark. A statement ends with a full stop.ends with .
- Write the answer. statement
Check. Read it aloud and check the job again: The sun is hot. ✓
Watch out. The end mark helps, but the job of the sentence decides its kind.
Method. Decide what the sentence does, then name its kind.
- Read the sentence. Listen to what the sentence does.Is the sun hot?
- Look at the job. It asks us something.It is a question.
- Look at the end mark. A question ends with a question mark.ends with ?
- Write the answer. question
Check. Read it aloud and check the job again: Is the sun hot? ✓
Watch out. The end mark helps, but the job of the sentence decides its kind.
Method. Decide what the sentence does, then name its kind.
- Read the sentence. Listen to what the sentence does.What a tall tree!
- Look at the job. It shows a strong feeling.It is a exclamation.
- Look at the end mark. An exclamation ends with an exclamation mark.ends with !
- Write the answer. exclamation
Check. Read it aloud and check the job again: What a tall tree! ✓
Watch out. The end mark helps, but the job of the sentence decides its kind.
Method. Decide what the sentence does, then name its kind.
- Read the sentence. Listen to what the sentence does.Close the door.
- Look at the job. It tells someone to do something.It is a command.
- Look at the end mark. A command can end with a full stop or an exclamation mark.ends with .
- Write the answer. command
Check. Read it aloud and check the job again: Close the door. ✓
Watch out. The end mark helps, but the job of the sentence decides its kind.
Method. Decide what the sentence does, then name its kind.
- Read the sentence. Listen to what the sentence does.Stop!
- Look at the job. It tells someone to do something.It is a command.
- Look at the end mark. This ends with !, but it tells someone what to do, so it is a command and not an exclamation.ends with !
- Write the answer. command
Check. Read it aloud and check the job again: Stop! ✓
Watch out. The end mark helps, but the job of the sentence decides its kind.
Method. Decide what the sentence does, then name its kind.
- Read the sentence. Listen to what the sentence does.Who has my hat?
- Look at the job. It asks us something.It is a question.
- Look at the end mark. A question ends with a question mark.ends with ?
- Write the answer. question
Check. Read it aloud and check the job again: Who has my hat? ✓
Watch out. The end mark helps, but the job of the sentence decides its kind.
Method. Decide what the sentence does, then name its kind.
- Read the sentence. Listen to what the sentence does.We went to the park.
- Look at the job. It tells us something.It is a statement.
- Look at the end mark. A statement ends with a full stop.ends with .
- Write the answer. statement
Check. Read it aloud and check the job again: We went to the park. ✓
Watch out. The end mark helps, but the job of the sentence decides its kind.
Method. Decide what the sentence does, then name its kind.
- Read the sentence. Listen to what the sentence does.Wash your hands.
- Look at the job. It tells someone to do something.It is a command.
- Look at the end mark. A command can end with a full stop or an exclamation mark.ends with .
- Write the answer. command
Check. Read it aloud and check the job again: Wash your hands. ✓
Watch out. The end mark helps, but the job of the sentence decides its kind.
Method. Decide what the sentence does, then name its kind.
- Read the sentence. Listen to what the sentence does.How cold the water is!
- Look at the job. It shows a strong feeling.It is a exclamation.
- Look at the end mark. An exclamation ends with an exclamation mark.ends with !
- Write the answer. exclamation
Check. Read it aloud and check the job again: How cold the water is! ✓
Watch out. The end mark helps, but the job of the sentence decides its kind.
Method. Decide what the sentence does, then name its kind.
- Read the sentence. Listen to what the sentence does.Hop over the log!
- Look at the job. It tells someone to do something.It is a command.
- Look at the end mark. This ends with !, but it tells someone what to do, so it is a command and not an exclamation.ends with !
- Write the answer. command
Check. Read it aloud and check the job again: Hop over the log! ✓
Watch out. The end mark helps, but the job of the sentence decides its kind.
Method. A command tells the person what to do, so it does not need you.
- Look at the statement. You sit down tells someone what they do.You sit down.
- Remove you. A command starts with the doing word.sit down.
- Start with a capital letter. The first word of a sentence starts with a capital.Sit down.
- Write the answer. Sit down.
Check. Read it aloud: Sit down. ✓
Watch out. A command starts with the doing word. Also accept: Sit down, please.
Method. Check what the sentence does.
- Read the sentence. Wait for me tells someone what to do.Wait for me.
- Check the job. A question asks something, and this does not ask.it is a command
- Write the answer. No. It tells someone to do something, so it is a command.
Check. Wait for me tells someone what to do. ✓
Watch out. A question asks something and ends with a question mark. Also accept: No, it is a command.
Joining ideas: and, but, or, because, when, if and that
Joining words link two ideas in one sentence.
And adds another idea: Leo has a ball and Sam has a kite.
But shows a difference: The sea is cold but the sun is hot.
Or gives a choice: Would you like tea or juice?
Because gives a reason: We stayed in because it was raining.
When tells us the time: Priya smiles when she sees her dog.
If says what must happen first: We can play outside if the rain stops.
That joins an idea after words like know and think: I know that the shop is open.
Key ideas
- And adds another idea. But shows a difference.
- Or gives a choice.
- Because gives a reason. When tells the time.
- If says what must happen first.
- That comes after words like know and think.
Method. Read both ideas, then choose the joining word that gives the right meaning.
- Read the sentence with a gap. Look at the two ideas.We stayed inside ___ it was raining.
- Think about the meaning. because gives the reason.because
- Try the other word. or does not give the right meaning here.or
- Write the answer. because
Check. Read the whole sentence aloud: We stayed inside because it was raining. ✓
Watch out. because gives the reason. Read the sentence with each word to check it.
Method. Read both ideas, then choose the joining word that gives the right meaning.
- Read the sentence with a gap. Look at the two ideas.Do you want tea ___ juice?
- Think about the meaning. or gives a choice.or
- Try the other word. and does not give the right meaning here.and
- Write the answer. or
Check. Read the whole sentence aloud: Do you want tea or juice? ✓
Watch out. or gives a choice. Read the sentence with each word to check it.
Method. Put the two ideas together with the joining word between them.
- Read the two ideas. Each idea is a short sentence.Leo has a ball. Sam has a kite.
- Choose the joining word. and adds another idea.and
- Join them. Write the first idea, then the joining word, then the second idea. Use a small letter for the second idea, unless it starts with a name.Leo has a ball and Sam has a kite.
- Write the answer. Leo has a ball and Sam has a kite.
Check. Read it aloud: Leo has a ball and Sam has a kite. ✓
Watch out. The second idea starts with a small letter, unless it is a name.
Watch out
Watch out: read the sentence with your joining word to check the meaning. Use because for a reason and when for a time.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask your child to finish these: “We went out because ___.” Then “We went out when ___.” Notice how the joining word changes the meaning.
Exercise 6F Practice: joining ideas
Method. Read both ideas, then choose the joining word that gives the right meaning.
- Read the sentence with a gap. Look at the two ideas.We stayed inside ___ it was raining.
- Think about the meaning. because gives the reason.because
- Try the other word. or does not give the right meaning here.or
- Write the answer. because
Check. Read the whole sentence aloud: We stayed inside because it was raining. ✓
Watch out. because gives the reason. Read the sentence with each word to check it.
Method. Read both ideas, then choose the joining word that gives the right meaning.
- Read the sentence with a gap. Look at the two ideas.Do you want tea ___ juice?
- Think about the meaning. or gives a choice.or
- Try the other word. and does not give the right meaning here.and
- Write the answer. or
Check. Read the whole sentence aloud: Do you want tea or juice? ✓
Watch out. or gives a choice. Read the sentence with each word to check it.
Method. Read both ideas, then choose the joining word that gives the right meaning.
- Read the sentence with a gap. Look at the two ideas.Mia likes red ___ blue.
- Think about the meaning. and adds another idea.and
- Try the other word. but does not give the right meaning here.but
- Write the answer. and
Check. Read the whole sentence aloud: Mia likes red and blue. ✓
Watch out. and adds another idea. Read the sentence with each word to check it.
Method. Read both ideas, then choose the joining word that gives the right meaning.
- Read the sentence with a gap. Look at the two ideas.The sea is cold ___ the sun is hot.
- Think about the meaning. but shows a difference.but
- Try the other word. because does not give the right meaning here.because
- Write the answer. but
Check. Read the whole sentence aloud: The sea is cold but the sun is hot. ✓
Watch out. but shows a difference. Read the sentence with each word to check it.
Method. Read both ideas, then choose the joining word that gives the right meaning.
- Read the sentence with a gap. Look at the two ideas.We can play outside ___ the rain stops.
- Think about the meaning. if says what must happen first.if
- Try the other word. because does not give the right meaning here.because
- Write the answer. if
Check. Read the whole sentence aloud: We can play outside if the rain stops. ✓
Watch out. if says what must happen first. Read the sentence with each word to check it.
Method. Read both ideas, then choose the joining word that gives the right meaning.
- Read the sentence with a gap. Look at the two ideas.Priya smiles ___ she sees her dog.
- Think about the meaning. when tells the time.when
- Try the other word. or does not give the right meaning here.or
- Write the answer. when
Check. Read the whole sentence aloud: Priya smiles when she sees her dog. ✓
Watch out. when tells the time. Read the sentence with each word to check it.
Method. Read both ideas, then choose the joining word that gives the right meaning.
- Read the sentence with a gap. Look at the two ideas.I know ___ the shop is open.
- Think about the meaning. that joins an idea after know or think.that
- Try the other word. or does not give the right meaning here.or
- Write the answer. that
Check. Read the whole sentence aloud: I know that the shop is open. ✓
Watch out. that joins an idea after know or think. Read the sentence with each word to check it.
Method. Put the two ideas together with the joining word between them.
- Read the two ideas. Each idea is a short sentence.Tom is happy. He won the race.
- Choose the joining word. because gives the reason.because
- Join them. Write the first idea, then the joining word, then the second idea. Use a small letter for the second idea, unless it starts with a name.Tom is happy because he won the race.
- Write the answer. Tom is happy because he won the race.
Check. Read it aloud: Tom is happy because he won the race. ✓
Watch out. The second idea starts with a small letter, unless it is a name.
Method. Put the two ideas together with the joining word between them.
- Read the two ideas. Each idea is a short sentence.Leo has a ball. Sam has a kite.
- Choose the joining word. and adds another idea.and
- Join them. Write the first idea, then the joining word, then the second idea. Use a small letter for the second idea, unless it starts with a name.Leo has a ball and Sam has a kite.
- Write the answer. Leo has a ball and Sam has a kite.
Check. Read it aloud: Leo has a ball and Sam has a kite. ✓
Watch out. The second idea starts with a small letter, unless it is a name.
Method. Put the two ideas together with the joining word between them.
- Read the two ideas. Each idea is a short sentence.We can walk. We can ride the bus.
- Choose the joining word. or gives a choice.or
- Join them. Write the first idea, then the joining word, then the second idea. Use a small letter for the second idea, unless it starts with a name.We can walk or we can ride the bus.
- Write the answer. We can walk or we can ride the bus.
Check. Read it aloud: We can walk or we can ride the bus. ✓
Watch out. The second idea starts with a small letter, unless it is a name.
Method. Think about the job of the joining word.
- Look at and. And adds another idea, but Ben is giving a reason.and
- Choose the reason word. Because gives the reason for going home.because
- Write the answer. No. Because gives the reason: I went home because it was raining.
Check. I went home because it was raining. ✓
Watch out. Use because when you give a reason. Also accept: No, because gives the reason.
Chapter summary
| Skill | Method |
|---|---|
| Adjectives | A describing word tells what a noun is like: a red bus, a big dog. It can come after is, are, was or were. |
| -er and -est | Two things: taller. Three or more: tallest. Change the spelling first if needed: nice, big, happy. |
| -ful and -less | Full of: helpful. Without: careless. Change y to i before -ful: beautiful. |
| Adverbs | An adverb tells how something happens, such as quickly. Many end in -ly: quietly, happily. |
| Four kinds of sentence | Statement (tells, full stop), question (asks, ?), exclamation (strong feeling, !), command (tells someone what to do). |
| Joining words | And adds; but shows a difference; or gives a choice; because gives a reason; when tells the time; if says what must happen first; that follows know or think. |
Can you…?
- I can find an adjective, and say what it tells us about a noun
- I can add -er to compare two things, and -est to compare three or more
- I can add -ful (full of) and -less (without) to make a describing word
- I can add -ly to make an adverb, and find the adverb in a sentence
- I can name a statement, a question, an exclamation and a command
- I can join two ideas with and, but, or, because, when, if or that
Key terms
- adjective
- a describing word that tells what a noun is like, such as big or red
- adverb
- a word that tells how something happens, often ending in -ly, such as quickly
- noun
- a word for a person, a place or a thing, such as dog or park
- statement
- a sentence that tells something; it ends with a full stop
- question
- a sentence that asks something; it ends with a question mark
- exclamation
- a sentence that shows a strong feeling; it ends with an exclamation mark
- command
- a sentence that tells someone to do something; it ends with a full stop or an exclamation mark
- joining word
- a word that links two ideas, such as and, but, or, because, when, if or that
- -er and -est
- endings that compare: taller for two things, tallest for three or more
- -ful and -less
- endings that mean full of and without: helpful, careless
Exercise 6Z Check-up
Method. Decide what the sentence does, then name its kind.
- Read the sentence. Listen to what the sentence does.Look at the dog.
- Look at the job. It tells someone to do something.It is a command.
- Look at the end mark. A command can end with a full stop or an exclamation mark.ends with .
- Write the answer. command
Check. Read it aloud and check the job again: Look at the dog. ✓
Watch out. The end mark helps, but the job of the sentence decides its kind.
Method. A describing word tells what a noun is like.
- Read the sentence. Look for a word that tells what a thing is like.The yellow sun rose.
- Find the thing. The sun is the thing being described.sun
- Find the describing word. yellow tells what the sun is like.yellow
- Write the answer. yellow
Check. Read it aloud: The yellow sun rose. ✓
Watch out. Nouns name things. Describing words tell what they are like: their colour, size, shape or feeling.
Method. Use -er for two things, and -est for three or more things.
- Count the things. There are two things, so we use -er.-er
- Find the describing word. The describing word is heavy.heavy
- Check the spelling. It ends in a consonant and y, so change the y to i, then add the ending.heavy becomes heavier
- Write the answer. heavier
Check. Two things use -er, three or more use -est, so heavier is right. ✓
Watch out. Add -er for two things and -est for three or more. Check the spelling rule first.
Method. Use -er for two things, and -est for three or more things.
- Count the things. There are three or more things, so we use -est.-est
- Find the describing word. The describing word is funny.funny
- Check the spelling. It ends in a consonant and y, so change the y to i, then add the ending.funny becomes funniest
- Write the answer. funniest
Check. Two things use -er, three or more use -est, so funniest is right. ✓
Watch out. Add -er for two things and -est for three or more. Check the spelling rule first.
Method. Find the ending that means full of.
- Start with joy. The word is joy.joy
- Add -ful. -ful means full of, so joy + ful = joyful.joy + ful = joyful
- Write the answer. joyful
Check. Full of joy: joyful. ✓
Watch out. Joy keeps its y, so write joyful.
Method. Find the ending that means without.
- Start with help. The word is help.help
- Add -less. -less means without, so help + less = helpless.help + less = helpless
- Write the answer. helpless
Check. Without help: helpless. ✓
Watch out. Helpless ends with two s letters.
Method. An adverb tells how something happens.
- Read the sentence. Look for a word that tells how something happened.The children ran quickly to the gate.
- Find the doing word. ran tells what happened.ran
- Find the adverb. quickly tells how it happened, so it is an adverb.quickly
- Write the answer. quickly
Check. Read the whole sentence aloud: The children ran quickly to the gate. ✓
Watch out. The adverb tells how the doing word happened. Many adverbs end in -ly.
Method. Add -ly to a describing word to make an adverb.
- Start with the describing word. The word is slow.slow
- Add -ly. An adverb often ends in -ly, and tells how something happens.slow becomes slowly
- Check the spelling. Add -ly to the word. Keep every letter.slowly
- Write the answer. slowly
Check. Say it aloud: slowly. ✓
Watch out. Check the spelling before you add -ly.
Method. Read both ideas, then choose the joining word that gives the right meaning.
- Read the sentence with a gap. Look at the two ideas.Sam is tired ___ he is going to bed.
- Think about the meaning. because gives the reason.because
- Try the other word. or does not give the right meaning here.or
- Write the answer. because
Check. Read the whole sentence aloud: Sam is tired because he is going to bed. ✓
Watch out. because gives the reason. Read the sentence with each word to check it.
Method. Use one describing word for a noun and one adverb for a verb.
- Choose a noun. Dog is a noun, so big can describe it.the big dog
- Choose a verb and an adverb. Ran is the doing word, so quickly tells how it happened.ran quickly
- Write the answer. Any sentence with a describing word and an adverb, for example: The big dog ran quickly.
Check. Check that big describes a noun and quickly describes a verb. ✓
Watch out. Check that every describing word goes with a noun, and every adverb goes with a verb. Also accept: any sentence with a describing word for a noun and an adverb for a verb, such as The little cat slept softly.
Total 12 marks. Allow about 12 minutes.
Exercise 6X End-of-chapter quiz
Method. Find the describing word.
- Look at run. Run is an action word, so it is a verb.run: verb
- Look at tall. Tall tells what a thing is like, so it is an adjective.tall: adjective
- Write the answer. tall
Check. Tall describes a thing. ✓
Watch out. Quickly is an adverb, because it tells how.
Method. Decide what the sentence does, then name its kind.
- Read the sentence. Listen to what the sentence does.Please close the window.
- Look at the job. It tells someone to do something.It is a command.
- Look at the end mark. A command can end with a full stop or an exclamation mark.ends with .
- Write the answer. command
Check. Read it aloud and check the job again: Please close the window. ✓
Watch out. The end mark helps, but the job of the sentence decides its kind.
Method. An adverb tells how something happens.
- Read the sentence. Look for a word that tells how something happened.The dog barked softly at the door.
- Find the doing word. barked tells what happened.barked
- Find the adverb. softly tells how it happened, so it is an adverb.softly
- Write the answer. softly
Check. Read the whole sentence aloud: The dog barked softly at the door. ✓
Watch out. The adverb tells how the doing word happened. Many adverbs end in -ly.
Method. Use -er for two things, and -est for three or more things.
- Count the things. There are two things, so we use -er.-er
- Find the describing word. The describing word is long.long
- Check the spelling. Add the ending to the word.long becomes longer
- Write the answer. longer
Check. Two things use -er, three or more use -est, so longer is right. ✓
Watch out. Add -er for two things and -est for three or more. Check the spelling rule first.
Method. Use -er for two things, and -est for three or more things.
- Count the things. There are three or more things, so we use -est.-est
- Find the describing word. The describing word is thin.thin
- Check the spelling. It has one short vowel between two consonants, so double the last letter before the ending.thin becomes thinnest
- Write the answer. thinnest
Check. Two things use -er, three or more use -est, so thinnest is right. ✓
Watch out. Add -er for two things and -est for three or more. Check the spelling rule first.
Method. Find the ending that means full of.
- Start with wonder. The word is wonder.wonder
- Add -ful. -ful means full of, so wonder + ful = wonderful.wonder + ful = wonderful
- Write the answer. wonderful
Check. Full of wonder: wonderful. ✓
Watch out. Wonderful has one l at the end.
Method. Find the ending that means without.
- Start with thought. The word is thought.thought
- Add -less. -less means without, so thought + less = thoughtless.thought + less = thoughtless
- Write the answer. thoughtless
Check. Without thought: thoughtless. ✓
Watch out. Keep every letter of thought.
Method. Read both ideas, then choose the joining word that gives the right meaning.
- Read the sentence with a gap. Look at the two ideas.Would you like a biscuit ___ a bun?
- Think about the meaning. or gives a choice.or
- Try the other word. and does not give the right meaning here.and
- Write the answer. or
Check. Read the whole sentence aloud: Would you like a biscuit or a bun? ✓
Watch out. or gives a choice. Read the sentence with each word to check it.
Method. An exclamation shows a strong feeling and ends with !.
- Think of a feeling. Choose a strong feeling about a cake.yummy
- Write the sentence. Start with a word such as what, and end with !.What a yummy cake!
- Write the answer. Any exclamation about a cake, for example: What a yummy cake!
Check. Read it aloud with a big smile. ✓
Watch out. An exclamation ends with an exclamation mark. Also accept: any exclamation about a cake, such as Yum, what a big cake!
Method. An adverb tells how something happened, so it needs -ly.
- Look at the verb. Ran tells what the dog did.ran
- Change the word that tells how. Quick must become quickly to tell how the dog ran.quick becomes quickly
- Write the answer. The dog ran quickly.
Check. The dog ran quickly. ✓
Watch out. Add -ly to make an adverb.