English lesson plan · 4th grade (Year 5 in England) · 30 minutes
Action verb or linking verb? (tastes the soup, tastes salty)
Grammar
CCSS L.4.1CCSS L.3.1.AEngland: Y4 GPS (verbs)England: Y5/6 GPS (subject complements)
Objective and success criteria
Students will: Action verb or linking verb? (tastes the soup, tastes salty).
- I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
- I can explain each step and say why it works.
- I can check my answer and spot a mistake.
Before and after
Needs first: Helping verbs and main verbs (is, has, can, will, must)
Leads to: the next skill in this area.
Materials: Sentence strips, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).
Warm-up · 4 min
- Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Helping verbs and main verbs (is, has, can, will, must)). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
- Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.
- Which word is the HELPING verb? You should drink more water. (water / more / should / drink) → shouldPrompt: Find the main action word first.
- Which word is the MAIN verb? The scientists had tested the robot twice. (tested / had / twice / robot) → testedPrompt: Which word names the action or state?
- Choose the helping verb that fits the meaning. You ___ eat so many sweets. They are bad for your teeth. (shouldn't / can't / mightn't / couldn't) → shouldn'tPrompt: Read the sentence after the gap for clues.
Hook · 3 min
- Show a sentence with the grammar point used wrongly and ask what sounds odd.
- Share the objective: Action verb or linking verb? (tastes the soup, tastes salty). Read the success criteria together.
I do: model it · 7 min
- Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
- Example: The puppy chased the ball. Is "chased" an action verb or a linking verb here?
- Step 1: An action verb shows what the subject does. A linking verb joins the subject to a word that describes it (is, seems, becomes, looks, feels).
- Step 2: So the answer is: action verb
- Answer: action verb
- Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.
We do: guided practice · 6 min
- Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
- Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.
- The flowers smell lovely. Is "smell" an action verb or a linking verb here? (action verb / linking verb) → linking verbPrompt: Does the subject DO something, or is the verb just linking the subject to a describing word?
- Read the question. Which sentence uses "grow" as a LINKING verb? (They grow rice in Japan. / Gran grows herbs. / We grew sunflowers. / The crowd grew quiet.) → The crowd grew quiet.Prompt: Swap the verb for 'is' or 'are'. Does it still make sense?
You do: independent practice · 7 min
- Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
- Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.
The 6 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.
Exit ticket · 3 min
- Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.
- Grandpa looks tired today. Is "looks" an action verb or a linking verb here? (action verb / linking verb) → linking verbPrompt: Does the subject DO something, or is the verb just linking the subject to a describing word?
- Read the question. Which sentence uses "smell" as a LINKING verb? (The cookies smell sweet. / Dogs smell everything. / I smell the cookies. / We smell smoke!) → The cookies smell sweet.Prompt: Swap the verb for 'is' or 'are'. Does it still make sense?
Watch out for
- Naming the feature but not using it in their own sentences.
- Thinking a sentence is right because it sounds right when spoken casually.
Support and stretch
Support
- Review first: Helping verbs and main verbs (is, has, can, will, must).
- Use concrete materials: sentence strips.
- Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
- Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.
Stretch
- Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
- Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.
Homework and more practice
Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-4.
Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder