Year 5 in England

4th grade punctuation

5 4th grade punctuation skills, each with a worked example, free practice that checks every answer, and a printable worksheet. Start with a mixed review, or jump to the skill you need.

Mixed review

Ten questions drawn from every skill below.

Print a review worksheet Riddle puzzle on screen Bingo

Apostrophes for possession

CCSS L.2.2.CCCSS L.4.1England: Y2 GPS (singular possession)England: Y4 GPS (plural possession)England: KS2 SATs GPS

Example

Which shows possession correctly? the shoes of James

One owner: add 's. Plural owner ending in s: add ' after the s. Plural not ending in s (children, men): add 's.
A singular name ending in s usually takes 's (James's); James' is also seen.
So the answer is: James's shoes

Answer: James's shoes

Builds on: Apostrophes in contractions

Leads to: Proofreading for punctuation, Possessives, plurals and non-essential elements (SAT), Possessive apostrophes: singular, plural and irregular plurals

Print a worksheet ✏️ Write on screen Flashcards

Commas after fronted adverbials and subordinate clauses

CCSS L.4.2.CCCSS L.5.2.BEngland: Y4 GPS (commas after fronted adverbials)England: KS2 SATs GPS

Example

Which sentence has the comma in the right place? • Yes I would, love to come. • Yes I, would love to come. • Yes, I would love to come. • Yes I would love, to come.

Put a comma after a fronted adverbial or an opening subordinate clause, after yes/no, and after the name of someone you are addressing.
So the answer is: Yes, I would love to come.

Answer: Yes, I would love to come.

Builds on: Commas in lists

Leads to: Brackets, dashes and commas for parenthesis, Commas: restrictive vs non-restrictive, coordinate adjectives, Commas after openers, yes and no, tag questions and names, Commas after introductory words, phrases and clauses

Print a worksheet ✏️ Write on screen Flashcards

Plural or possessive? (cats, the cat's, the cats')

CCSS L.4.2CCSS L.2.2.CEngland: Y4 GPS (plural possessive apostrophe)England: KS2 SATs GPS

Example

The rabbits' burrows were under the hedge. What does "rabbits'" show?

Plural: dogs. One owner: the dog's lead. More than one owner: the dogs' leads. Irregular plural owners: the children's toys.
So the answer is: more than one owner

Answer: more than one owner

Builds on: Apostrophes for one owner (the dog's bone)

Print a worksheet ✏️ Write on screen Flashcards

Punctuating direct speech: ? and ! inside, split speech, new speakers

CCSS L.4.2.BEngland: Y4 GPS (punctuation of direct speech)England: KS2 SATs GPS

Example

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

The spoken words end with ! inside the speech marks; then "yelled Nadia" continues in lower case.
So the answer is: "Goal!" yelled Nadia.

Answer: "Goal!" yelled Nadia.

Builds on: Commas in dialogue: Mum said, "…" and "…," said Mum

Leads to: Commas after openers, yes and no, tag questions and names

Print a worksheet ✏️ Write on screen Flashcards

Comma before and, but, or, so in compound sentences

CCSS L.4.2.CEngland: Y4 GPS (commas)England: Y3/4 Writing (proofreading)

Example

Does this sentence need a comma before the joining word? The puppy was tired but happy.

Use a comma before and, but, or or so when it joins two complete sentences.
So the answer is: No: it is just one sentence

Answer: No: it is just one sentence

Builds on: Simple or compound sentence?, Commas in lists

Print a worksheet ✏️ Write on screen Flashcards

Keep exploring

Math, English and science that click.