5.2a Year 5: using modal verbs or adverbs to indicate degrees of possibility (adverbs of possibility)

This Real Grammar KS2 resources pack provides everything that you need to successfully explore how adverbs can be used to show degrees of possibility with your pupils in Year 5 or to revisit this learning. Teaching slides, worksheets, games and an opportunity to apply the new learning in a writing task are all included to create a complete resource to teach this area of grammar. There are also opportunities to explore how modal verbs may be used to show degrees of possibility within the resource pack.

What are adverbs?

Adverbs are words that modify verbs but can also modify adjectives, other adverbs or whole sentences. They can give the answers to the following questions within a sentence: How . When . Where…?, How often…? or How much .

Adverbs can, but do not always, end with the suffix -ly.

How do adverbs show possibility?

Adverbs also show degrees of possibility. They are used to indicate how sure or likely an event or situation will be. Examples include certainly, never, always, definitely and rarely.

Rich always remembered to do his homework.
She never eats her peas.
That’s definitely the correct answer.

What are modal verbs?

Adverbs can be used alongside modal verbs to show degrees of possibility. Modal verbs also modify verbs in a sentence and examples include might, will, can, must, would, could and should. A separate Real Grammar resource pack is available on modal verbs.

What is included in this resource pack?

This pack is divided into five parts:

This section includes PowerPoint teaching slides and teaching notes with an optional script to introduce adverbs of possibilty. It can also be used to revisit this aspect of grammar with pupils.

An independent activity for pupils to practise using what they have been taught, allowing teachers to assess understanding.

A series of short, 10-minute activities that can be used following the TEACH session to revisit and rehearse what has been taught. These may be short writing tasks, grammar games or editing/proofreading activities.

A short writing task where pupils can use the grammar skills taught in context to produce independent writing.

Five SATs style test questions, including cloze activities and multiple choice quiz questions, based on the grammar that has been taught.

Teachers can choose which section of the resource pack to use according to their pupils’ needs and could use the activities over a series of lessons or weeks

Teacher notes are provided to show how these quality resources could be used with pupils.

How is this resource differentiated?

The PRACTISE and REVISE sections include three activities differentiated for three levels of ability:

Worksheet 1 for pupils who may need support. Questions will have a lower cognitive domain (what is being asked of pupils) and/or vocabulary used may be simplified where possible.
Worksheet 2 for pupils working at age related expectations.
Worksheet 3 for pupils who may need an additional challenge and may be working at a greater depth in this area. Questions will have a higher cognitive domain with more challenging vocabulary.

SUPPORT and CHALLENGE ideas are also included in the teacher notes of each section where relevant, with ideas of how to support pupils working towards the expected standard or at greater depth in this area.