Grade 4 English Grammar: A Complete Learning Guide

Learning Grade 4 English Grammar helps children build a strong foundation for reading, writing, listening, and speaking English. At this stage, students begin to work with more sentence patterns, verb tenses, question forms, and vocabulary in familiar situations.

Instead of memorizing rules without understanding them, children should learn how each grammar structure works and practice using it in everyday communication. This guide covers essential Grade 4 English Grammar topics, including the verb to be, the Present Simple, the Present Continuous, pronouns, prepositions, and question forms. Examples and exercises are also included to support learning at home.

Why Is Grade 4 English Grammar Important?

Grade 4 is an important stage in a child’s English-learning journey. Students gradually move beyond individual words and short phrases to form complete sentences and describe familiar people, places, activities, and experiences.

Learning grammar helps children:

• Build correct sentences when speaking and writing English.
• Understand questions and respond appropriately.
• Describe daily routines and activities happening at the moment.
• Recognize relationships between people, objects, and places.
• Prepare for more advanced English lessons in later grades.

Parents can support their children by reviewing one grammar topic at a time and encouraging them to use new structures in real-life situations.

Essential Grade 4 English Grammar Rules

The Verb “To Be”: Am, Is, and Are

The verb to be is commonly used to introduce people, describe characteristics, and talk about age, feelings, or locations.

Affirmative sentences

• I + am + …
• He/She/It + is + …
• You/We/They + are + …

Examples:

• I am ten years old.
• She is my best friend.
• They are in the classroom.

Negative sentences

Add not after the verb to be.

• I am not tired.
• He is not at home.
• We are not late.

Questions

Place the verb to be before the subject.

• Are you a student? — Yes, I am.
• Is she your sister? — No, she isn’t.
• Are they happy? — Yes, they are.

Common mistake: Do not use is with I or are with he/she/it in these sentence patterns.

The Present Simple Tense

The Present Simple is used to describe habits, daily routines, general facts, and repeated activities.

Formulas

How to use the Present Simple

Use the Present Simple to talk about routines:

• I get up at six o’clock.
• My father goes to work by car.
• We study English every day.

Use it to describe general facts:

• Birds have wings.
• The sun rises in the east.

Rules for adding -s or -es

With he, she, and it, the main verb usually takes -s or -es in affirmative sentences.

• play → plays
• read → reads
• watch → watches
• go → goes
• study → studies

After does or doesn’t, use the base form of the verb.

Correct: She doesn’t like coffee.

Incorrect: She doesn’t likes coffee.

The Present Continuous Tense

The Present Continuous describes actions happening now or around the time of speaking.

Formula

• Affirmative: S + am/is/are + V-ing.
• Negative: S + am/is/are + not + V-ing.
• Question: Am/Is/Are + S + V-ing?

Examples:

• I am doing my homework.
• He is playing football.
• They are watching television.
• Is your mother cooking dinner? — Yes, she is.

Common time expressions include now, right now, and at the moment.

How to add -ing

• play → playing
• read → reading
• make → making
• run → running

Some verbs require spelling changes before adding -ing. Children should learn these patterns through examples and regular practice.

Present Simple vs. Present Continuous

Personal Pronouns and Possessive Adjectives

Personal pronouns replace nouns to avoid unnecessary repetition. Possessive adjectives show who owns or is associated with something.

Examples:

• I am Peter. My favorite subject is English.
• She is my friend. Her name is Linda.
• They are students. Their teacher is kind.

Remember: A possessive adjective comes before a noun. For example, my pencil and their classroom.

Singular and Plural Nouns

A singular noun refers to one person, animal, place, or thing. A plural noun refers to more than one.

Common plural forms

Examples:

• There is one pencil on the desk.
• There are three pencils in my bag.
• The children are playing in the garden.

When learning plural nouns, children should pay attention to spelling changes and irregular forms rather than adding -s to every noun.

Articles: A and An

The articles a and an are used before singular countable nouns when referring to something nonspecific.

Use a before a consonant sound:

• a book
• a pencil
• a teacher

Use an before a vowel sound:

• an apple
• an egg
• an umbrella

Examples:

• I have a new schoolbag.
• She eats an orange every morning.
• He is a student.

The choice between a and an depends on the beginning sound of the following word, not simply its first written letter.

Prepositions of Place

Prepositions of place explain where a person or object is located.

Children can practice these prepositions by describing objects in their bedrooms or classrooms.

For example:

• The lamp is on the table.
• My shoes are under the bed.
• The school is next to the library.

Wh-Questions in Grade 4 English Grammar

Wh-questions ask for specific information. Students should learn the meaning of each question word and practice choosing the correct one.

Examples of answers:

• What is your favorite subject? — English.
• Where do you live? — I live in Ho Chi Minh City.
• How old are you? — I am ten years old.
• When do you go to school? — I go to school in the morning.

When forming questions, children should pay attention to the verb and word order. For example, use Where do you live? rather than Where you live?

Using “Can” to Talk About Ability

The modal verb can expresses ability. It is followed by the base form of a verb.

Formulas

• Affirmative: S + can + V.
• Negative: S + cannot/can’t + V.
• Question: Can + S + V?

Examples:

• I can swim.
• She can sing beautifully.
• He can’t ride a bike.
• Can you play the piano? — Yes, I can.

Important rule: Do not add -s to the verb after can, even when the subject is he, she, or it.

Correct: She can dance.

Incorrect: She can dances.

Imperative Sentences

Imperative sentences are used to give instructions, make requests, or tell someone what to do.

The sentence usually begins with the base form of a verb.

Examples:

• Open your book.
• Sit down, please.
• Listen to the teacher.
• Close the door.

To tell someone not to do something, use don’t followed by the base form of the verb.

• Don’t run in the classroom.
• Don’t touch the hot water.
• Don’t be late.

Adding please can make an instruction sound more polite.

Grade 4 English Grammar by Unit

Grammar topics may be arranged differently depending on the textbook and school curriculum. The following review plan groups common Grade 4 English Grammar structures into practical learning themes.

Everyday Activities and Routines

Focus on the Present Simple and questions about daily activities.

Examples:

• I have breakfast at seven o’clock.
• She goes to school every morning.
• What time do you get up?

Practice by asking children to describe their daily routines in three to five English sentences.

Activities Happening Now

Focus on the Present Continuous and action verbs.

Examples:

• I am reading a book.
• My friends are playing outside.
• What are you doing?

Use pictures or actions around the house to help children connect grammar structures with real situations.

People, Family, and Possessions

Review personal pronouns, possessive adjectives, the verb to be, and articles.

Examples:

• This is my brother.
• His name is David.
• He is a student.
• He has a new schoolbag.

Encourage children to introduce family members and describe their belongings.

Places and Directions

Practice prepositions of place and questions with where.

Examples:

• The library is next to the school.
• The ball is under the chair.
• Where is your pencil? — It is on the desk.

Children can draw a simple room or neighborhood map and describe where different objects or places are located.

Abilities and Classroom Instructions

Review can/can’t and imperative sentences.

Examples:

• I can ride a bike.
• She can’t swim.
• Please open your notebook.
• Don’t talk during the test.

These structures are useful for classroom communication and everyday conversations.

How to Learn Grade 4 English Grammar Effectively

Understanding grammar takes time and regular practice. Children do not need to memorize every rule in one sitting. Instead, parents can help them develop a manageable study routine.

Learn One Grammar Topic at a Time

Choose one topic for each study session, such as the Present Simple or prepositions of place. Read the formula, study several examples, and then complete a few exercises.

Once the child understands the basic rule, move on to a different topic.

Practice Through Everyday Situations

Connect grammar with activities children already know.

For example, ask:

• What do you eat for breakfast?
• Where is your schoolbag?
• What are you doing now?
• Can you ride a bicycle?

This approach helps children understand when and why a grammar structure is used.

Combine Grammar with Vocabulary

Grammar becomes easier to apply when children know enough words to form sentences. Review vocabulary related to family, school, food, animals, hobbies, and daily activities.

Then use those words to practice sentence patterns.

For example, after learning food vocabulary, children can write:

• I like apples.
• She eats an egg every morning.
• We are having lunch now.

Review Mistakes Regularly

When a child answers incorrectly, ask them to identify the relevant rule rather than simply providing the correct answer. Keep a notebook of common mistakes, such as confusing do and does, omitting -s in affirmative Present Simple sentences, or using the wrong preposition.

Review these mistakes every week to reinforce learning.

Use Short, Consistent Study Sessions

A short daily session can be more manageable than studying for a long period only once a week. Children can spend a few minutes reviewing a rule, completing exercises, and creating their own sentences.

Parents should adapt the pace to the child’s attention span and school workload.

Grade 4 English Grammar Exercises with Answers

Complete the following exercises to review the main grammar topics covered in this guide.

Exercise 1: Choose the Correct Answer

Question 1. My sister _____ ten years old.

1. am
   B. is
   C. are

Question 2. He _____ football every Sunday.

1. play
   B. plays
   C. playing

Question 3. They _____ watching TV now.

1. is
   B. am
   C. are

Question 4. This is Anna. _____ schoolbag is pink.

1. Her
   B. His
   C. Their

Question 5. I have _____ orange in my lunchbox.

1. a
   B. an
   C. the

Question 6. The cat is _____ the table. You cannot see it because the table is above it.

1. under
   B. on
   C. between

Question 7. _____ do you live?

1. Who
   B. Where
   C. When

Question 8. My brother can _____ very well.

1. swims
   B. swimming
   C. swim

Question 9. There are three _____ in the garden.

1. child
   B. childs
   C. children

Question 10. _____ your book, please.

1. Opens
   B. Open
   C. Opening

Exercise 2: Complete the Sentences

Use the correct form of the word in brackets.

1. She _____ (go) to school every morning.
2. I _____ (do) my homework now.
3. We _____ (be) good friends.
4. He _____ (not like) carrots.
5. They _____ (play) badminton at the moment.

Exercise 3: Put the Words in the Correct Order

1. is / my / This / teacher
2. every day / English / We / study
3. now / is / She / reading
4. live / Where / you / do
5. can / bike / ride / I / a

Answer Key

Exercise 1

1. B — is
2. B — plays
3. C — are
4. A — Her
5. B — an
6. A — under
7. B — Where
8. C — swim
9. C — children
10. B — Open

Exercise 2

1. goes
2. am doing
3. are
4. doesn’t like
5. are playing

Exercise 3

1. This is my teacher.
2. We study English every day.
3. She is reading now.
4. Where do you live?
5. I can ride a bike.

Build a Strong Foundation with Grade 4 English Grammar

Mastering Grade 4 English Grammar helps children become more confident when forming sentences, asking questions, describing activities, and communicating in familiar situations. Key topics include the verb to be, the Present Simple, the Present Continuous, pronouns, articles, plural nouns, prepositions, Wh-questions, can, and imperative sentences.

For steady progress, combine clear explanations with examples, short exercises, vocabulary review, and regular practice. Children should also be encouraged to use English in everyday conversations instead of relying only on memorization. With consistent support, they can strengthen their grammar foundation and prepare for more advanced English lessons.

Frequently Asked Questions About Grade 4 English Grammar

What grammar topics should Grade 4 students learn?

Common topics include the verb to be, the Present Simple, the Present Continuous, personal pronouns, possessive adjectives, singular and plural nouns, a/an, prepositions of place, Wh-questions, can, and imperative sentences. Exact content may vary by textbook and curriculum.

How can parents help children practice Grade 4 English Grammar at home?

Parents can review one topic at a time, use examples from everyday life, ask simple English questions, and provide short exercises. Regular review of mistakes can also help children remember the rules.

Where can I find Grade 4 English Grammar exercises with answers?

Students can practice with textbook exercises, teacher-provided worksheets, and age-appropriate English-learning resources. Exercises that include answer keys allow children to check their understanding and review incorrect answers.

Should children memorize grammar formulas?

Knowing formulas is helpful, but children should also understand how to use them in context. Combining formulas with examples, speaking practice, and sentence-writing activities makes grammar easier to apply.

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