✏️ Sentences and Punctuation
Class 4 English · Unit 9 of 11 · about 120 minutes
Students learn to identify and write four kinds of sentences: statements, questions, commands and exclamations. They practise finding the subject and predicate of a sentence, using commas in lists, and using apostrophes for short forms (contractions). The unit builds sentence sense through sorting, matching and writing short sentences of their own.
What your child will learn
- Students will be able to identify a sentence as a statement, question, command or exclamation based on its purpose and punctuation.
- Students will be able to write the correct end punctuation for a given sentence.
- Students will be able to split a sentence into subject and predicate.
- Students will be able to use commas to separate items in a list of three or more things.
- Students will be able to use apostrophes to form common contractions (short forms) like don't, I'm, she's.
Lessons in this unit
- Four kinds of sentences: Learn to tell apart statements, questions, commands and exclamations by what they do and the mark at the end.
- End marks: . ? !: Choose the correct end mark for a sentence based on its kind.
- Subject and predicate: Split a sentence into the doer (subject) and the doing (predicate).
- Commas in lists: Use commas to separate three or more items in a list, with 'and' before the last item.
- Apostrophe for short forms: Use apostrophes to form contractions like don't, I'm, she's, and understand that the apostrophe shows missing letters.
Key words
- statement
- A sentence that tells something. It ends with a full stop.
- question
- A sentence that asks something. It ends with a question mark.
- command
- A sentence that tells someone to do something. It can end with a full stop or an exclamation mark.
- exclamation
- A sentence that shows strong feeling like surprise or joy. It ends with an exclamation mark.
- subject
- The person, animal or thing the sentence is about. It does the action.
- predicate
- What the subject does or what is said about the subject.
- comma
- A small mark (,) used to separate things in a list.
- apostrophe
- A small mark (') used to show that letters are missing in short forms like don't.
Help your child at home
What to watch for
- A sentence that ends with '!' is always a command.
- Help: Commands tell someone to do something. Exclamations show strong feeling. 'Sit down!' is a command; 'What a big mango!' is an exclamation.
- Every sentence with '!' is an exclamation, even if it is a command.
- Help: Look at the purpose. 'Sit down!' is a command with strong feeling. 'What a mess!' is an exclamation.
- The subject is always the first word of the sentence.
- Help: Ask 'who or what is doing the action?' The subject can be more than one word.
- Use a comma before 'and' in a list.
- Help: In a simple list, we do not put a comma before 'and'. We write 'apples, bananas and grapes'.
Try this at home
- Sort sentences into four columns
- Add the end mark to a sentence
- Ask 'Who or what is this about?' to find the subject, then 'What does it do?' to find the predicate
- Add commas to a list
Quick questions to ask aloud
- What kind of sentence is this? 'Cows give us milk.' (Statement / Question / Command / Exclamation)
Show answer
Statement. This sentence tells a fact. It is a statement. It ends with a full stop. - Choose the correct end mark: 'Can you help me' (. / ? / !)
Show answer
?. The sentence asks a question, so it ends with a question mark. - What is the subject of this sentence? 'The little bird sings sweetly.' (The little bird / sings sweetly / The little)
Show answer
The subject is who the sentence is about. Here it is 'The little bird'.
Frequently asked questions
What will my child learn in "Sentences and Punctuation" (Class 4 English)?
Your child will be able to: identify a sentence as a statement, question, command or exclamation based on its purpose and punctuation.; write the correct end punctuation for a given sentence.; split a sentence into subject and predicate.; use commas to separate items in a list of three or more things.; use apostrophes to form common contractions (short forms) like don't, I'm, she's..
How does MangoMindz teach "Sentences and Punctuation"?
In 5 short parts (Four kinds of sentences, End marks: . ? !, Subject and predicate, Commas in lists, Apostrophe for short forms). Each part has a picture-based lesson read aloud by Mango Teacher, a quick check, and a quiz built from common mistakes children make, with Mango, a study buddy, for questions.
How long does "Sentences and Punctuation" take?
About 120 minutes in total, spread over 5 parts of 15–25 minutes each.
How can I help my child with "Sentences and Punctuation" at home?
Work through a small example together, such as: Sort sentences into four columns; Add the end mark to a sentence. Then ask a quick question aloud: What kind of sentence is this? 'Cows give us milk.' (Statement / Question / Command / Exclamation)
What mistakes do children often make in "Sentences and Punctuation"?
A sentence that ends with '!' is always a command. Fix: Commands tell someone to do something. Exclamations show strong feeling. 'Sit down!' is a command; 'What a big mango!' is an exclamation. Every sentence with '!' is an exclamation, even if it is a command. Fix: Look at the purpose. 'Sit down!' is a command with strong feeling. 'What a mess!' is an exclamation. The subject is always the first word of the sentence. Fix: Ask 'who or what is doing the action?' The subject can be more than one word.
Is "Sentences and Punctuation" free on MangoMindz?
Yes. Every lesson part and quiz in "Sentences and Punctuation" is free on MangoMindz, with no ads.