Use Plazoom’s Sentence Builder Game to develop Year 5 pupils’ use of modal verbs in their sentences. They will do this by: learning how modal verbs are used to indicate possibility; and developing their understanding of the subject and object within a sentence.
Pupils will use the noun, verb and modal verb cards to create sentences, rehearsing them orally before writing. The grammar game will also give pupils the opportunity to use and understand the Year 5 grammar terminology in English appendix 2 when discussing their sentences.
This sentence game for KS2 can be played as a whole class as a fun English lesson starter activity or as the main focus of the lesson. It could also be used as a writing intervention in KS2 for pupils who may need support to when using modal verbs in their sentences.
What is a modal verb?
A modal verb modifies a verb in a sentence. They are used to show possibility or likelihood, necessity or the future. Modal verbs are: will, would, can, could, may, might, shall, should, must, ought.
The word ‘not’ can also be placed after the modal verb to create a negative sentence.
Modal verb examples
- You must attend the meeting.
- Mike can come to the party.
- Mum says I should eat more vegetables.
- Mr Williams would not listen to the advice.
National Curriculum English programme of study links
- Pupils should be taught to develop their understanding of the concepts set out in English Appendix 2 by using modal verbs or adverbs to indicate degrees of possibility
- Pupils should be taught to use and understand the grammatical terminology in English appendix 2 accurately and appropriately when discussing their writing.