South Dakota ELA 4.L.1.c

ELA4th GradeLanguage

The Standard

4.L.1: Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

Use auxiliary verbs to convey various conditions to clarify meaning.

South Dakota English Language Arts Standards (2025)

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students choose helping verbs such as can, might, should, and must to show ability, possibility, advice, or a rule. They check whether the verb matches what they mean.
What Mastery Looks Like: A student writes, 'We might leave early' when leaving is possible, and 'We must leave early' when it is required. They can explain how the meaning changes.
Common Misconceptions: Students may use must when they mean might, making a possibility sound like a rule. They may also confuse can, which can show ability, with may, which can show permission.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Fill each blank and explain your choices: 'I ___ go to the library' (possible) and 'I ___ go to the library' (required).

Lesson moves

Give pairs cards labeled might, should, must, and will to place in 'We ___ leave before the storm,' then compare meanings.
Ask students to write 'I ___ bring a coat' twice, using might and must, and tell a partner what changed.
Play a matching game with sentence cards and labels for ability, possibility, advice, and requirement.
Show a forecast with a 30% chance of rain and ask students to write a packing tip using might and should.

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