Grade 4 Fall — Persuasive/Argument Writing, Compound-Complex Sentences, Relative Clauses, and Modal Auxiliaries
English · GR
G4
eng.g4.f.gr.modal_auxiliaries
Use modal auxiliaries can, may, must, should, would (L.4.1.c) with appropriate strength
Identify and use the five modal auxiliaries by strength and function: MUST (necessity, strong certainty), SHOULD (recommendation, moderate strength), WOULD (hypothetical, polite, conditional), CAN (ability, possibility), MAY (permission, possibility). Apply modal choice to persuasive claims so the modal matches the strength the writer intends. Vary modals across an essay rather than overusing one.
Mastery threshold
90%
Min instances
12
Typical minutes
35
Spaced intervals (days)
1, 3, 7, 14, 30, 60
Successors
-
eng.g5.f.gr.modal_perfect_construction
(not yet loaded)
Common misconceptions
- Overuses CAN as a weak default for every claim ('We can keep recess, we can plant trees, we can recycle...').
- Confuses MUST and MAY (uses MAY for necessity, MUST for permission).