CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.1c
The Standard
Use modal auxiliaries (e.g., can, may, must) to convey various conditions.
Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts
What This Standard Means
Students need to use words like can, may, must, should, might, and could to show meaning beyond the main verb. They should understand how each word changes the sentence, such as permission, possibility, ability, advice, or requirement.
Mastery looks like choosing the modal that fits the situation and explaining the choice. Students often overuse can for everything, mix up may and might, or miss how must sounds stronger than should. They also need practice hearing how one word changes tone and meaning.
Ways to Teach It
- Give pairs modal word cards and sentence strips, then have them swap modals and sort the new meanings into permission, possibility, ability, and requirement.
- Ask students to write three classroom rule sentences using must, may, and should, then explain how each modal changes the tone.
- Show five sentences with the modal missing and have students choose the best word from can, may, must, could, or might.
- Bring in a school permission slip or game instructions and have students circle modals, then label what each one shows.
Plan a Lesson for CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.1c
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What This Unlocks
Mastery here sets students up for these next.
Related Standards
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.1c
Form and use verbs in the indicative, imperative, interrogative, conditional, and subjunctive mood.
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.8.3a
Use verbs in the active and passive voice and in the conditional and subjunctive mood to achieve particular effects (e.g., emphasizing the actor or the action; ...
- CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.2.1e
Use adjectives and adverbs, and choose between them depending on what is to be modified.