English Language Arts Standards » Language » Grade 4

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Standards in this strand:

Conventions of Standard English:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.1
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.1.a
Use relative pronouns (who, whose, whom, which, that) and relative adverbs (where, when, why).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.1.b
Form and use the progressive (e.g., I was walking; I am walking; I will be walking) verb tenses.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.1.c
Use modal auxiliaries (e.g., can, may, must) to convey various conditions.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.1.d
Order adjectives within sentences according to conventional patterns (e.g., a small red bag rather than a red small bag).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.1.e
Form and use prepositional phrases.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.1.f
Produce complete sentences, recognizing and correcting inappropriate fragments and run-ons.*
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.1.g
Correctly use frequently confused words (e.g., to, too, two; there, their).*
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.2
Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English capitalization, punctuation, and spelling when writing.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.2.a
Use correct capitalization.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.2.b
Use commas and quotation marks to mark direct speech and quotations from a text.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.2.c
Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction in a compound sentence.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.2.d
Spell grade-appropriate words correctly, consulting references as needed.

Knowledge of Language:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.3
Use knowledge of language and its conventions when writing, speaking, reading, or listening.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.3.a
Choose words and phrases to convey ideas precisely.*
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.3.b
Choose punctuation for effect.*
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.3.c
Differentiate between contexts that call for formal English (e.g., presenting ideas) and situations where informal discourse is appropriate (e.g., small-group discussion).

Vocabulary Acquisition and Use:

CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.4
Determine or clarify the meaning of unknown and multiple-meaning words and phrases based on grade 4 reading and content, choosing flexibly from a range of strategies.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.4.a
Use context (e.g., definitions, examples, or restatements in text) as a clue to the meaning of a word or phrase.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.4.b
Use common, grade-appropriate Greek and Latin affixes and roots as clues to the meaning of a word (e.g., telegraph, photograph, autograph).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.4.c
Consult reference materials (e.g., dictionaries, glossaries, thesauruses), both print and digital, to find the pronunciation and determine or clarify the precise meaning of key words and phrases.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.5
Demonstrate understanding of figurative language, word relationships, and nuances in word meanings.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.5.a
Explain the meaning of simple similes and metaphors (e.g., as pretty as a picture) in context.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.5.b
Recognize and explain the meaning of common idioms, adages, and proverbs.
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.5.c
Demonstrate understanding of words by relating them to their opposites (antonyms) and to words with similar but not identical meanings (synonyms).
CCSS.ELA-Literacy.L.4.6
Acquire and use accurately grade-appropriate general academic and domain-specific words and phrases, including those that signal precise actions, emotions, or states of being (e.g., quizzed, whined, stammered) and that are basic to a particular topic (e.g., wildlife, conservation, and endangered when discussing animal preservation).