Reteach 4

Name Date Reteach 1
Sentences
RULES
• A sentence is a group of words that expresses a complete thought.
A sentence names the person or thing you are talking about. It also
tells what happened.
SENTENCE: I received a letter from my pen pal.
• A sentence fragment is a group of words that does not express a
complete thought.
FRAGMENT: Friends for a long time.
Read each group of words. Circle yes if the words make a sentence. Circle
no if they are a sentence fragment.
1. Maritza is my favorite pen pal. yes no
2. Lives in Puerto Rico. yes no
3. I have been writing to Maritza for two years. yes no
4. She is four months older than me. yes no
5. Tall girl with green eyes. yes no
6. We are both in the fourth grade. yes no
7. I visited Puerto Rico with my family. yes no
8. Stayed at Maritza’s house. yes no

McGraw-Hill School Division
9. Maritza introduced me to all her friends. yes no
10. Sometimes her brother. yes no
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Choose a sentence fragment from this page. Add
Grade 4, Unit 1, Sentences, words to make it a sentence. Write your new sentence on a
10 pages 2–3 separate sheet of paper. 1
Name Date Reteach 2
Declarative and Interrogative Sentences
RULES
• A declarative sentence makes a statement.
My pen pal lives in Japan.
It begins with a capital letter. It ends with a period.

• An interrogative sentence asks a question.
Where does your pen pal live?
It begins with a capital letter. It ends with a question mark.
Draw one line under each sentence that makes a statement. Draw two lines
under each sentence that asks a question.
1. My funny letter is in my pocket.

2. Do you need to buy stamps?
3. I will mail my letter at the post office.
4. Many customers are waiting in line.
5. There are three women and two men behind me.
6. How many packages will be mailed today?
7. What is in the big envelope?
8. It contains postcards from Japan.
9. Sayuri, my pen pal, sends me wonderful presents.
10. Can you think of something she would like from the United States? McGraw-Hill School Division
At Home: Write two sentences about the state you live in. McGraw-Hill Language Arts
Then write two questions that you would ask Sayuri about Grade 4, Unit 1, Sentences,
2 Japan. pages 4–5 10
Name Date Reteach 3
Imperative and Exclamatory Sentences
RULES
• An imperative sentence tells or asks someone to do something.
Cook the rice and beans for twenty minutes.
It begins with a capital letter. It ends with a period.

• An exclamatory sentence shows strong feeling.
What a delicious dinner you prepared!
It begins with a capital letter. It ends with an exclamation mark.
Draw one line under each sentence that tells or asks someone to do
something. Draw two lines under each sentence that shows strong feeling.
1. Please help set the table.
2. It’s surprising how many are coming!
3. Put the flowers on the table.
4. What a mess I made!
5. Don’t forget to take out the garbage.
6. Watch for our guests, please.
7. How tired I am!
8. Turn on the radio and close the window.
9. Oh no, I broke a glass!

10. Wow, this is a big party!
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Draw a funny picture. Write three exclamatory
Grade 4, Unit 1, Sentences, sentences to go with your picture.
10 pages 6–7 3
Name Date Reteach 4
Combining Sentences: Compound Sentences
RULES
• A compound sentence is made up of two
sentences joined by and, or, or but.
• Use a comma (,) before and, or, or but when Conjunction Box
you write a compound sentence. and - links ideas
This is a zoo, but animals are not in cages. but - shows contrast
We can visit the new zoo, or we can go or - shows choice
to the planetarium.
Some keepers feed the zoo animals, and
other people study the animals.
Underline the conjunction in each compound sentence.

Then write it on the line.
1. Natasha and I watched the monkeys,

but we didn’t feed them.
2. Zookeepers know what kind of food each animal

eats, and they know how much it needs.
3. Wild animals can get their own food, but zoo

animals must be fed by keepers.
4. Lions don’t eat every day in the wild, and they’re

not fed every day in the zoo, either.
5. Next month we will visit a museum, or we will

go back to the zoo.
At Home: Write a pair of sentences with similar ideas and McGraw-Hill Language Arts
combine them by using the conjunction or. Grade 4, Unit 1, Sentences,
4 pages 8–9 5
Name Date Reteach 5
Mechanics and Usage: Sentence Punctuation
RULES
Every sentence begins with a capital letter.
• A declarative sentence makes a statement.
It ends with a period. The contest begins Friday night.
• An interrogative sentence asks a question.
It ends with a question mark. Who will be the winner?
• An imperative sentence tells or asks someone to do something.
It ends with a period. Please sit down.
• An exclamatory sentence shows strong feeling.
It ends with an exclamation mark. Hooray, I’m the winner!
• Add a comma and the conjunction and, or, or but to join parts of a
compound sentence. Chaz will play violin tonight, or he will play piano.
Underline each sentence that is written correctly.
1. When does the contest begin.
2. Oh, the music is lovely!
3. Please be on time for the show.
4. you and I can sit here.
5. Tell me all about the performance.
6. Do you see Marta and John in

the audience?
7. Clap for all the performers
8. wow, the trumpet player was fabulous!
9. Simon wanted to come tonight, but he

sprained his ankle playing ball.
10. We all gathered in the hallway

during intermission.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Rewrite correctly the sentences that you didn’t
Grade 4, Unit 1, Sentences, underline.
10 pages 10–11 5
Name Date Reteach 6
Mixed Review
RULES
• A declarative sentence makes a statement and ends in a period.
I like to go on picnics.
• An interrogative sentence asks a question and ends in a
question mark.
Would you like to go on a picnic?
• An imperative sentence tells or asks someone to do something and
ends in a period.
Get some hotdogs.
• An exclamatory sentence shows strong feeling and ends in an
exclamation point.
What a terrific idea!
• Use the words and, but, or or to combine two sentences into a
compound sentence. Use a comma before the conjunction.
Picnics are fun. + You have to plan them well.
Picnics are fun, but you have to plan them well.
Circle the word that describes each kind of sentence. Add the correct
end punctuation.
1. Would you like to help me plan a picnic

declarative interrogative imperative compound
2. The weather is going to be perfect
declarative interrogative imperative exclamatory
3. Call some friends and see if they can come
declarative interrogative imperative exclamatory
4. The soda was warm, but we drank it anyway

imperative interrogative compound exclamatory
5. What a perfect day
compound interrogative imperative exclamatory
At Home: Imagine having a family picnic. Write five McGraw-Hill Language Arts
sentences about it. Write one declarative, interrogative, Grade 4, Unit 1, Mixed Review,
6 imperative, exclamatory, and compound sentence. pages 12–13 5
Name Date Reteach 7
Complete Subjects and Complete Predicates
RULES
• The complete subject includes all the words in the subject that tell
whom or what the sentence is about.
• The complete predicate includes all the words in the predicate that
tell what the subject does or is.
Some children read stories to others.
complete subject complete predicate
Tell whether the underlined part of the sentence is a complete subject or a

complete predicate. Circle your answer.
1. Story Theater is a special kind of storytelling.
2. Members of the group are assigned roles.
3. The actors read their parts aloud. complete subject complete predicate
4. Many readers practice reading with expression.
5. They change their voices to sound like the characters.
6. Sometimes one reader is assigned only one page.
7. Many different kinds of stories can be used in Story Theater.
8. The fourth-grade class read “The Courage of Sarah Noble.”

9. My whole family came to the performance.
10. Our reading was a huge success. complete subject complete predicate
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Choose a story you would like to read aloud to a
Grade 4, Unit 1, Sentences, parent or a sibling. Read the first page aloud. Then identify
10 pages 14–15 the complete subject of each sentence. 7
Name Date Reteach 8
Simple Subjects
RULES
• The complete subject includes all the words in the subject that tell
whom or what the sentence is about.
• The simple subject is the main word in the complete
subject. It tells who or what the sentence is about.
complete subject
At first hot air was used to fill big round balloons.
simple subject
The complete subject is underlined in each sentence.

Write the simple subject on the line.
1. Some inventors hoped that hot-air balloons

would become popular.
2. Many people didn’t think balloons should be

used for transportation.
3. Floating in air is like floating in water.

4. Later, propellers were put on huge,
long balloons.
5. Soon airplanes proved to be faster and safer.

6. Today special balloons are used for sport
and to lift weather instruments.
7. My parents took me to an air show.

8. Many fantastic photographs
were on display.
9. An airplane wing is curved on top

and flat on the bottom.
10. The Wright brothers’ Flyer was the world’s

first successful airplane.
At Home: Write two sentences about things that fly. McGraw-Hill Language Arts
Underline the simple subject in each sentence. Grade 4, Unit 1, Sentences,
8 pages 16–17 10
Name Date Reteach 9
Simple Predicates
RULES
• The complete predicate includes all the words that tell what the
subject does or is.
• The simple predicate is the main word in the complete predicate.
It tells exactly what the subject does or is.
complete predicate
Energy gives things power.

simple predicate
The complete predicate is underlined in each sentence. Write the simple

predicate on the line.
1. Your body gets its energy from food.
2. The energy keeps you moving.
3. Energy comes from the sun.
4. All animals store energy from the sun.
5. Moving things use energy, too.
6. A gusty wind pushes a sailboat across the water.
7. An electric current flows through a wire.
8. It makes light and heat.

9. Often, it runs a machine.
10. Electric energy lights our homes.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Write two sentences about how you use energy.
Grade 4, Unit 1, Sentences, Underline the simple predicate in each sentence.
10 pages 18–19 9
Name Date Reteach 10
Combining Sentences: Compound Subjects
RULES
• The compound subject is two or more simple subjects that have the
same predicate. Join simple subjects with and or or.
Ethan
and went to the beach.
Ginny
Join the subject of each sentence pair to make a compound subject. Use the
word in parentheses ( ).
1. Some joggers run on the sand. A dog runs on the sand. (and)
2. Mom will watch Ethan swim. I will watch Ethan swim. (or)
3. Ginny collected beautiful shells.

Doug collected beautiful shells. (and)
4. A pebble is in my shoe. A seashell is in my shoe. (or)

5. The chairs were set up nearby. The tables were set up nearby. (and)
At Home: Write a compound subject to complete this McGraw-Hill Language Arts

sentence: _______floated in the water. Grade 4, Unit 1, Sentences,
10 pages 20–21 5
Combining Sentences: Compound Predicates
RULES
• The compound predicate contains two or more simple predicates that
have the same subject. Join the simple predicates with and, but, or or.
We study and rehearse our lines.
Our teacher laughs or cries after each scene.
She wanted but didn’t get more funding.
Join the predicate of each sentence pair to make a compound predicate. Use
the word in parentheses ( ).
1. Jeanette sings in the play. Jeanette dances in the play. (and)
2. The actors talk before the opening. The actors rest before the opening. (or)
3. The school rented chairs for the performance. The school borrowed chairs
for the performance. (and)
4. My teacher didn’t ask us to make costumes. My teacher persuaded us to

make costumes. (but)
5. My father didn’t sell 20 tickets. My father bought 20 tickets. (but)
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Write a compound predicate to complete this

Grade 4, Unit 1, Sentences, sentence: The audience ____________________ after the
5 pages 22–23 final act. 11
Mechanics and Usage: Correcting Run-on Sentences
RULES
• A run-on sentence contains two or more complete sentences that
run together.
A stonefish looks like a rock this disguise fools other fish.
• To fix a run-on sentence, show each complete sentence by using a
capital letter and the correct end punctuation.
A stonefish looks like a rock. This disguise fools other fish.
• You can also fix a run-on sentence by rewriting it as a compound
sentence.
A stonefish looks like a rock, and this disguise fools other fish.
Tell which sentences are written correctly. Circle run-on or correct.
1. A stonefish never goes hungry. Its food comes right to it! run-on correct
2. Looking like a stone helps the stonefish get its food, run-on correct
and it also protects it from other creatures.
3. One kind of fish looks like a clump of seaweed run-on correct

another looks like a piece of coral.
4. A ferocious inhabitant of a coral reef is the moray eel run-on correct

it is an ugly looking creature.
5. A four-inch-long fish swims straight to the eel. It is run-on correct

unaware of any danger.
6. The little fish swims about the eel it often touches the eel. run-on correct
7. The little fish swims right into the eel’s half-opened run-on correct
mouth then it swims out again.
8. The ever-hungry eel did not try to eat the little fish. run-on correct
The eel remains perfectly still.
9. The little fish is like a doctor, and the eel is like a patient. run-on correct
10. The little fish, called a wrasse, cleans the big fish it run-on correct
rids the big fish of tiny worms and other creatures.
At Home: Choose a run-on sentence from above and McGraw-Hill Language Arts
rewrite it as two complete sentences or a compound Grade 4, Unit 1, Sentences,
12 sentence. pages 24–25 10
Mixed Review
RULES
• The complete subject includes all the words in the subject.
Summer camp offers many summer activities.
• The complete predicate includes all the words that tell what the
subject does or is.
Summer camp offers many summer activities.
• A compound subject has two or more simple subjects that have the
same predicate. The simple subjects are joined by and or or.
The girls play sports. The boys play sports.
The girls and boys play sports.
• A compound predicate has two or more simple predicates that have
the same subject. The simple predicates are joined by and, but, or or.
The campers sleep at the camp. The campers eat at the camp.
The campers sleep and eat at the camp.
A. Underline the complete subject. Circle the complete predicate.
1. Several of my friends go to summer camp.

2. The camp provides many activities.
3. The campers learn about the wilderness.
4. A nature instructor takes them on daily field trips.
5. Several nature trails wind through the camp grounds.
B. Underline the compound subject or circle the compound predicate.
6. Deer and bears live on the camp grounds.

7. The campers look and listen for the animals.

8. Crafts and sports are favorite camp activities.
9. Campers design and make their own projects.
10. Parents and counselors coach sporting events.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Write five sentences describing your favorite summer
Grade 4, Unit 1, Mixed Review, activity. Circle the complete subjects. Underline the complete
10 pages 26–27 predicates. Include one compound subject and predicate. 13
Common Errors: Sentence Fragments and Run-on Sentences
RULES
• A sentence fragment does not express a complete thought.
Have a taste of their own. Dried grapes.
• Correct a sentence fragment by adding a subject or a predicate.
Dried fruits have a taste of their own. Dried grapes are called raisins.
• A run-on sentence contains two or more sentences that should stand alone.
Plums grow on trees dried plums are called prunes.
• Correct a run-on sentence by rewriting it as two sentences or as a
compound sentence.
Plums grow on trees. Dried plums are called prunes.
Read each group of words. Write F if it is a fragment. Write R if it is a run-on

sentence. Write S if it is a complete sentence.
1. People grow grapes many grapes are

grown in California.
2. In warm climates.
3. Grapes grow on vines they hang on the
vines in bunches.
4. Grapes are grown in large fields called
vineyards.
5. Workers pick the grapes they place the
grapes on wooden trays.
6. Placed in the sun.
7. The wooden trays stay in the sun the sun
dries the grapes.
8. Become wrinkled and turn a blackish brown.

9. The sun dries the grapes the grapes finally
turn into raisins.
10. Packed and sent to stores and sold.
At Home: Change the sentence fragments labeled above to McGraw-Hill Language Arts
complete sentences or compound sentences. Grade 4, Unit 1, Sentences,
14 pages 28–29 10
Study Skills: Note-Taking and Summarizing
• To remember what you have read, take notes that include enough
words to help you recall important information such as the main ideas
and supporting details.
• Write a summary, including the main topic and supporting details or facts.
A. Read the paragraph about space camp. Then underline the best choice
for each item shown below.
Between the months of February and December every year, students
attend the United States Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama. The students
come from the United States and countries around the world. Their interests
range from math and science to engineering and space flight. They go to
classes and see films about flying on the space shuttle. They also visit the
space flight center. At the center, students get hands-on experience with
model rockets and simulators, which allow them to become familiar with the
weightlessness of space. The high point of the week-long camp is the space
shuttle mission simulation, which includes launching and landing of the shuttle.
1. Topic: a. Huntsville, Alabama
b. United States Space Camp
2. Main Idea: a. one week between February and December
b. students learn about space shuttle flights
3. Supporting Detail: a. films, classes, visit to space flight center
b. students have different interests
4. Supporting Detail: a. people are weightless in space
b. space shuttle mission simulation with launch and landing
B. Write a summary about the paragraph.

5.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Write notes for a section of a textbook or an

Grade 4, Unit 1, Study Skills, encyclopedia article you read. Include a topic, main idea,
5 pages 36–37 and supporting details. 15
Vocabulary: Time-Order Words
• Time-order words can help you understand in what order things

happen in a story. These kinds of words can help you when you are
following a set of directions or learning about an event.
after afterwards this afternoon before as soon as finally first
later last next meanwhile then tomorrow right now yesterday
Circle the time-order word that will complete each sentence correctly.
1. The (first/finally) thing this morning, Mom told me I had to clean my room.
2. (Then/Meanwhile) she told me I had to finish my homework.
3. (Tomorrow/Finally) she said I could work on my computer.
4. (Later/Now) in the day my dad asked if I wanted to play catch with him.
5. I said,“ (As soon as/Next) I finish this e-mail.”
6. (After/Later)I signed off, I got my catcher’s mitt.
7. My dad said, “I am going to give you a workout (a long time ago/

this afternoon).”
8. “Sure, sure,” I teased, “just like you did (today/yesterday).”
9. “(Right now/Later) you are throwing very well,” said Dad.
10. “Maybe (this morning/tomorrow) we’ll work on hitting the ball.”
At Home: Think about how using time-order words in McGraw-Hill Language Arts
directions helps you. Then write a set of directions Grade 4, Unit 1, Vocabulary,
16 explaining how to get from your house to school. pages 38–39 10
Composition: Main Idea
• A paragraph is a group of sentences that tell about a main idea. The

main idea tells what the writing is about.
• A paragraph should include:
A topic sentence that states the main idea.
Supporting details that clarify and develop the main idea.
• To connect ideas within a paragraph, use time-order words.
• If a sentence does not contain a detail that supports the main idea, take it out.
For each paragraph below, the topic sentence with a main idea appears in
dark type. Some of the other sentences of the paragraph contain supporting
details. Other sentences contain details that do not support the main idea.
Underline the detail sentences that do not support the main ideas.
1.-2. I found an old box yesterday. It was lying on the floor of our attic. At
first, I thought it was trash. My house has a basement and a garage. I was
about to throw the old box away. Then, I heard a jiggling sound when I picked
it up. So, I opened the lid. There were at least one hundred photographs of
my father from long, long ago inside of the box. It’s so interesting to see what
he looked like when he was about my age. I called my friend to see if she
wanted to come over for dinner.
3.-4. Stacey and I went skating on the pond yesterday. First, our parents
tested the ice to make sure it was solid and safe. In the summer, I swim in the
pond. We put on our skates and took off over the ice. First, Stacey skated
backwards around the rim of the pond. Next, I skated to the center of the pond
and spun around like a top. Have you seen tops whose colors blur when they
spin? After an hour of skating, Stacey and I collapsed, tired but happy. Finally,
my mother gave us each a cup of hot cocoa from a thermos.
5. I will never forget my first airplane ride. The captain spoke over a loud-
speaker. He welcomed everyone on board. Who invented the airplane? Then,

he asked us all to put on our seat belts and make sure our seats were in their
upright position. The engines roared, and the plane began to move. As the plane
lifted off the runway, it felt like my heart rose up out of my body, too!
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Write a topic sentence for a paragraph that tells about
Grade 4, Unit 1, Composition Skills, the first time you did something special. Then, write sentences
5 pages 40–41 with three or more supporting details to complete the paragraph. 17
Nouns
RULES
• A noun names a person, place, or thing.
person: teacher
place: school
thing: book
• A noun may name more than one person, place, or thing.
teacher-teachers book-books school-schools
Underline the nouns in each sentence. Then write each noun on the chart
under the correct heading. Some headings will have fewer than seven nouns.
1. Mr. Finney taught history at Central School.
2. His students were encouraged to bring in interesting articles about foreign

countries.
3. Usually, the teacher had an interesting historical fact to tell about the news.
4. The older children enjoyed the stories that were shared in his classroom.
5. His amusing tales usually made his listeners laugh.
PERSONS PLACES THINGS

McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Think of a sentence with nouns that are the
Grade 4, Unit 2, Nouns, names of a person, a place, and a thing. Write each noun
5 pages 88–89 in the blank spaces under the correct heading on the chart. 18
Singular and Plural Nouns
RULES
• A singular noun names one person, place, or thing.
• A plural noun names two or more persons, places, or things.
• To identify singular or plural nouns it may be helpful to test a word
with the questions: Can you see one ___? Can you see two ___?
• Add -s to most nouns to form the plural.
one boy → two boys
• Add -es to form the plural of nouns ending in s, x, ch, or sh.
one bus → two buses
one box → two boxes
one church → two churches
one bush → two bushes
Underline the correct plural form of each noun and write it on the line.
1. cup ( cups , cupes, cupps)
2. plate (plats, plaets, plates )
3. house (housse, houses , houzes)
4. box ( boxes , boxs, boxis)
5. stitch (stitchis, stitchs, stitches)
6. boss ( bosses , bosss, boses)
7. scratch (scratched, scratches , scratchs)
8. bush (busses, bushes, bushs)
9. light (lights, lightes, lites)

10. candle (candels, candls, candles )
At Home: Write a list of nouns that name equipment and McGraw-Hill Language Arts
people you might expect to find on a playground. Grade 4, Unit 2, Nouns,
19 pages 90–91 10
Nouns Ending with y
RULES
• When forming the plural of nouns ending in y:
Change the y to i and add -es if the noun ends in a consonant + y.
one baby → two babies
Just add -s if the noun ends in a vowel + y.
one day → two days
Write the correct plural noun in parentheses to complete each sentence.
1. Elliott heard that I got two new last month.

(puppys/puppies)
2. They were a special gift for my brother’s and my .

(birthdays/ birthdayes)
3. I had to wait several before receiving my new pets.

(Mondays, Mondais)
4. We had to travel through a few different to get

them. (citys, cities)
5. No could transport us that far. (subwayes, subways)
6. We traveled on two to get to the pet store and

back. (ferrys, ferries)
7. There were several of pets at the store. (varietys,

varieties)
8. I was surprised to find some there for sale.

(monkeys, monkies)
9. My new puppies are different from the I once had.

(kittys, kitties)
10. It will take many before they are properly trained.

(daies, days)
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Write sentences using five of the plural nouns
Grade 4, Unit 2, Nouns, from the above exercise. Read your sentences aloud to a
10 pages 92–93 family member. 20
More Plural Nouns
RULES
• Some nouns do not add -s or -es to form the plural.
Some nouns have special plural forms.
one man → two men
one child → two children
• Some nouns have the same singular and plural forms.
one moose → two moose
one deer → two deer
Write the irregular plural noun from the box that completes each sentence.
one woman → two women one deer → two deer

one tooth → two teeth one mouse → two mice
one goose → two geese one fisherman → two fishermen
one scissors → two scissors one fish → two fish
one foot → two feet one trout → two trout
1. My father helped me learn how to use a fly rod to catch .
2. It is a challenge to catch brook and rainbrow without live bait.
3. My dad and I stood as quiet as two near the edge of the stream.
4. It is impossible to go fly fishing without getting your wet.
5. Most fly wear special fishing boots called waders.
6. They also wear vests with pockets for small tools like pliers and .
7. Without scissors, they would have to bite with their to cut the line.
8. Many also enjoy the sport of fly fishing.
9. On our last trip, we encountered several getting drinks of water.
10. We also enjoyed seeing flocks of migrating overhead.
At Home: Make up a sentence for each plural noun in the McGraw-Hill Language Arts
chart above. Say each sentence to a parent or sibling. Grade 4, Unit 2, Nouns,
21 pages 94–95 10
Common and Proper Nouns
RULES
• Common nouns name people, places, or things.
• Proper nouns name particular people, places, or things and always begin
with a capital letter.
The scientific name for an animal in North America is the same in Europe.
Underline common nouns and write any proper nouns that appear.
1. Red Cliff High School began classes in August, before Labor Day.
2. We learned about scientific classification in Biology 101 last November.
3. We studied that topic until the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.
4. Many centuries ago, a philosopher from Greece named Aristotle developed a

way to classify living organisms.
5. Aristotle grouped animals according to whether they had red blood.
6. A scientist named John Ray classified living organisms by their species.
7. This biologist from England noticed that members of the same species can
breed together.
8. About a century later, Carolus Linnaeus developed the classification system
we use today.
9. Linnaeus was born in the city of Kristianstad, Sweden, in 1707.
10. He first explained his system in a book titled Species Plantarum.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Write the days of the week and months of the
Grade 4, Unit 2, Nouns, year in order. Read your lists to a family member.
10 pages 96–97 22
Mechanics and Usage: Capitalization
RULES
• Proper nouns, including names of days, months, and holidays,
always begin with a capital letter.
Tuesday February St. Valentine’s Day
• Capitalize family names that refer to specific people. Also capitalize
titles of respect that are part of a specific name.
Mother spoke to my teacher, Miss Meg Hargrove.
• Capitalize the first word and all important words in the title of a book,
magazine, song, poem, play, short story, or movie.
My favorite play is Fiddler on the Roof.
Read each pair of sentences. Write the letter C before the sentence that is
correctly written.
1. Dad recently read a book to my brother Ryan called Customs

Around the World for Holidays.
Dad recently read a book to my brother Ryan called Customs around
the World For Holidays.
2. In the United States, the last Monday in may is called memorial Day.
In the United States, the last Monday in May is called Memorial Day.
3. On that day, miss lauren connolly attends a parade in Northville,
michigan, with her Father and Mother.
On that day, Miss Lauren Connolly attends a parade in Northville,
Michigan, with her father and mother.
4. Our father once took Mother, Ryan, and me to a Thanksgiving parade.
Our Father once took mother, Ryan, and me to a thanksgiving
parade.
5. Mayor Frank McGinity wore an orange derby in the parade that

thursday.
Mayor Frank McGinity wore an orange derby in the parade that
Thursday.
At Home: Write a sentence that tells how your family McGraw-Hill Language Arts
celebrates your favorite holiday. Grade 4, Unit 2, Nouns,
23 pages 98–99 5
Mixed Review
RULES
• A singular noun names only one person, place, or thing.
person thing place
A friend of mine formed a club in my neighborhood.

• A plural noun names more than one person, place, or thing. Add -s to
form the plural of most nouns.
My friends and I are interested in outer space.
• Add -es to form the plural of nouns ending in s, x, ch, or sh.
speech es speeches class es classes
• To form the plural of nouns ending with a consonant and y, change
the y to i and add -es. family y i es families
• A proper noun is a noun that names a particular person, place, or
thing. A proper noun always begins with a capital letter.
common nouns: teacher city
proper nouns: Mr. Jarvis Houston
A. Circle the correct form of the plural noun in parentheses.
1. We have been studying the (galaxys, galaxies).

2. Several (country, countries) want to work together to study outer space.
3. There are many (branchs, branches) of space science.
4. In some (citys, cities) there are huge telescopes to look at the stars.
5. Some (friends, friendes) in my neighborhood formed a star club.
B. Write the proper noun(s) in each sentence and capitalize them.

6. Mrs. dunne teaches us about space.

7. She told us about a huge telescope in california.
8. It is at the palomar observatory.
9. The telescope was designed by george hale.
10. He was an american astronomer.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Look at the night sky with a family member. Write
Grade 4, Unit 2, Mixed Review, five sentence about what you see. Include some singular,
10 pages 100–101 plural, and proper nouns. Circle all the nouns you use. 24
Singular Possessive Nouns
RULES
• A singular possessive noun is a word that shows that something
belongs to one person or thing.
the cell’s shape (the shape belongs to one cell)
the plant’s leaves (the leaves belong to one plant)
• Usually, make a singular noun possessive by adding an apostrophe
with the letter s to a singular noun.
The fur of an animal is made up of cells.
animal + ’s = animal’s
An animal’s fur is made up of cells.
Rewrite each sentence using a singular possessive noun to replace some of

the words in each underlined phrase.
Nucleus Cell membrane
Cytoplasm
1. The cells of the body breathe, take in food, and eliminate wastes.
2. The nucleus in the center of a cell is the control point of the cell.
3. A purpose of the cell membrane is to hold the cell together.

4. You can see cells using the microscope of the school.
5. The nervous system of the body is made up of branched nerve cells.
At Home: Write sentences telling about three items owned McGraw-Hill Language Arts
by different members of your family. Grade 4, Unit 2, Nouns,
25 pages 102–103 5
Plural Possessive Nouns
RULES
• A plural possessive noun is a word that shows something belongs to
two or more persons or things.
the officials’ plans (the plans belong to more than one official)
• When a plural noun ends in s, add an apostrophe (’) to form the
plural possessive noun. If the plural noun does not end in -s, add an
apostrophe and -s (’s).
the brothers’ baseball gloves women’s sports
Write the letter C next to the phrase that has the same meaning as the
underlined words in the sentence.
1. Groups of students will do 6. Some students will need the
volunteer work. permission of both parents.
groups’ students both parents’ permission
students’ groups both parent’s permission
2. The purposes of the groups will 7. Work will be done under the
be to improve our community. supervision of teachers.
groups’ purposes teacher’s supervision
group’s purposes teachers’ supervision
3. The reasons of my friends for 8. The principal requested
volunteering are admirable. cooperation of people at school.
my friends’ reasons people’s cooperation
my friend’s reasons cooperation’s people
4. Some of the reasons of other 9. Many citizens of the neighborhoods
children are different. will benefit from our work.
other children’s reasons neighborhoods’ citizens
other childrens’ reasons neighborhood’s citizens

5. All the members of the clubs are 10. They will enjoy the benefits of the
anxious to begin their projects. improvements.
members’ clubs benefits’ improvements
clubs’ members improvements’ benefits
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Rewrite five of the above sentences using the
Grade 4, Unit 2, Nouns, correct plural possessive noun.
10 pages 104–105 26
Combining Sentences: Nouns
RULES
• You can combine sentences that have similar ideas by joining two
nouns with the conjunctions and or or.
Combine nouns in the subject:
Andrea works at the library. Andrea and James work at the library.
James works at the library.
Combine nouns in the predicate:
You can borrow books.
You can borrow books or tapes.
You can borrow tapes.
Combine each pair of sentences using the word in parentheses.
1. Do you want to borrow books? Do you want to borrow periodicals? (or)
2. Librarians are helpful for finding information. Card catalogs are helpful for
finding information. (and)
3. Library catalogs can be found on cards. Library catalogs can be found on

computers. (or)
4. The card catalog lists hardbound books. The card catalog lists paperback
books. (and)
5. Is your research for work? Is your research for school? (or)
At Home: Underline the nouns that can be combined in McGraw-Hill Language Arts
each pair of sentences above. Grade 4, Unit 2, Nouns,
27 pages 106–107 5
Mechanics and Usage: Abbreviations
RULES
Most titles of people, days of the week, and months of the year can be
made into a shorter form called an abbreviation.
• Begin abbreviations with a capital letter.
• End abbreviations with a period.
Titles Days Months
Mr. → Mister Mon. → Monday Jan. → January
Dr. → Doctor Wed. → Wednesday Mar. → March
Sen. → Senator Thurs. → Thursday Sept. → September
Gov. → Governor Sun. → Sunday Nov. → November
Circle the correct abbreviation for the underlined word and rewrite the phrase
on the line.
1. a Saturday book club Satur. S.D. Sat.
2. Mister and Mrs. King Mr. Miss Msr.
3. meeting in January Ja. Jun. Jan.
4. lecture by Doctor Bond Drs. Dr. Doc.

5. program about Senator McCord Str. Sentr. Sen.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Write all the days of the week and their
Grade 4, Unit 2, Nouns, abbreviations in the order they appear on the calendar.
5 pages 108–109 28
Mixed Review
RULES
• To make a singular noun possessive, add an apostrophe and -s.
theater ’ s theater’s actors ’ actors’
• To make a plural noun that ends in s possessive, add an apostrophe.
• To make a plural noun that does not end in s possessive, add an

apostrophe and -s.
women ’ s women’s
• You can combine sentences by joining two nouns with and or or.
The theater had one floor. The theater had a balcony.
The theater had one floor and a balcony.
A. Write the correct possessive form of each noun in parentheses.
1. (men) The chorus is very talented.

2. (magician) The show is very clever.
3. (children) The acts are very cute.
4. (dancers) The costumes are very colorful.
5. (singer) The song was very beautiful.
B. Join two nouns with and or or to combine each pair of sentences.

6. I bought tickets. I bought programs.
7. The costumes were very imaginative. The sets were very imaginative.
8. The theater had new seats. The theater had new lounges.
9. The snack bar served sandwiches. The snack bar served drinks.
10. The musicians were great. The actors were great.
At Home: Write five sentences about a place you and your McGraw-Hill Language Arts
family have been. Include possessive nouns. Combine Grade 4, Unit 2, Mixed Review,
29 sentences when you can. pages 110–111 10
Common Errors: Plurals and Possessives
RULES
A plural noun names more than one person, place, or thing.
Most plural nouns are formed by adding -s or -es.
lambs foxes
A possessive noun shows who or what owns or has something.
• A singular possessive noun is formed by adding -’s.
cat + ’s cat’s whiskers
• A plural possessive noun that ends in -s is formed by adding ’.
dogs + ’ dogs’ paws
• A plural possessive noun that does not end in -s is formed by
adding -’s.
mice + ’s mice’s tails
Write the possessive form of each underlined noun.
1. the zoo for children zoo
2. the skin of a snake skin
3. the fur of foxes fur
4. the feathers of geese feathers
5. the horns of a goat horns
6. the claws of an eagle claws
7. the tails of monkeys tails

8. the spines on hedgehogs spines
9. the hooves on a pony hooves
10. the beaks on parrots beaks
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Write three sentences describing your favorite
Grade 4, Unit 2, Nouns, kind of animal. Include a possessive noun in each
10 pages 112–113 sentence. 30
Study Skills: Parts of a Book
Certain parts of a book help you find information quickly.

In the front of a book you may find:
• a title page with the title, author, and the publisher of the book.
• a copyright page with the date the book was published.
• a table of contents listing the titles of chapters and the page numbers
on which they begin.
In the back of a book you may find:
• a glossary with the spelling, pronunciation, and definition of important
words in the book.
• an index with an alphabetical listing of all the topics in the book and
the page numbers on which they can be found.
Look at the pages from a nonfiction book. On the line below each page, identify
whether the page is a title page, copyright page, table of contents, glossary, or
index.
Z
All About the Cell Chapter 10
zygote (zi´got) Cell Studies and
by D. Ortega Medicine . . . . . . . . .89
Developing individual
Chapter 11
produced from germ Cell Research and the
Elsa Saldor Publishers, Inc. Foods We Eat . . . . .101
cells.
San Diego • Chicago • Chapter 12
New York Research for the
Future . . . . . . . . . . .106
1. 2. 3.
© 2001 Microscope, 53
All rights reserved. Mitochondria, 5, 89–91
Elsa Saldor Publishers, Inc. Mitosis,
100 Union Square definition, 27
New York, New York 10000 phases of cell division

Printed in the United States of 40–42
America Molecular Biology, 65
ISBN 0-01—-000034-1/2 Nucleus, 4, 33, 78, 99
4. 5.
At Home: Look at a book you have. Locate the title page, McGraw-Hill Language Arts
copyright page, date of publication, table of contents, Grade 4, Unit 1, Study Skills,
31 index, and glossary. pages 120–121 5
Vocabulary: Compound Words
• A compound word is a word made from two or more smaller words that
are joined together.
brain + storm = brainstorm down + stairs = downstairs
A. Underline the compound word or words in each sentence. Put a diagonal

line (/) between the smaller words that make up the compound word.
1. I wear my backpack to school every day.

2. I also carry my lunchbox to school.
3. When I go to a football game, I pack a sandwich and a thermos with a hot
drink.
4. After school, I swap trading cards with my classmates.
5. On Saturday afternoon, I usually visit Granny, who gives me homemade
cookies.
B. Choose words from the word box to complete each compound word in a
sentence.
row sand sea some star summer
6. I love the time when we can go to the beach.
7. I help my little brother build castles.
8. We found a beautiful fish that had washed ashore.
9. We always collect shells that we can paint.

10. Dad takes us fishing in a boat.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Choose words from the word box and make up
Grade 4, Unit 2, Vocabulary, other compound words. Read your list to a family member.
10 pages 122–123 32
Composition: Writing Descriptions
• A good description is a vivid picture you create with words. Your word
picture makes the reader feel like he or she knows the person, place,
thing, or idea you are writing about.
• Put the pieces of the description together in logical order, such as from
top to bottom or from side to side.
• In your description, include words and details that connect with a
reader’s sense of sight, smell, sound, taste, or touch.
sense of sound sense of smell
The siren hurt my ears. The room smells like sweet vanilla.
On the line, write the sense described in each sentence: sight, smell, touch,
taste, sound.
1. The baby squealed like a happy piglet.
2. The sour candy made my lips pucker.
3. Henry could sniff the smoke from the campfire.
4. The palace blinded me with dazzling gold decorations.
5. The wet sand felt like cool velvet.
6. The train ahead of us groaned like a hurt animal.
7. The bacon sizzled on the griddle.
8. Blooming flowers filled the air with sweet perfume.

9. The wind whipped my hair right to left across my cheeks.
10. The scent of baking cookies lured us into the kitchen.
At Home: What do your five senses tell you? Name each McGraw-Hill Language Arts
sense and tell how it helps you. Grade 4, Unit 2, Composition Skills,
33 pages 124–125 10
Action Verbs
RULES
• An action verb is a verb that expresses action.
• An action verb tells what the subject does or did.
Marsha paints pictures as a hobby.
Marsha draws pictures as a hobby.
Marsha sketches pictures as a hobby.
Write the action verb in each sentence.
1. Marsha taught herself how to paint.
2. She read many books about painting.
3. She watched television shows about painting.
4. She even talked to a few painters.
5. Now Marsha paints whenever she can.
6. She often makes sketches of animals.
7. Sometimes she exhibits her paintings at art shows.
8. She won several prizes for her work at the last show.
9. Several people commented on her paintings.
10. She even sold two of her paintings to complete strangers.

McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Write three sentences about something you like
Grade 4, Unit 3, Verbs, to do. Include an action verb in each sentence. Circle each
10 pages 170–171 action verb you write. 34
Verb Tenses
RULES
The tense of a verb tells you if something takes place in the present,
in the past, or in the future.
• A verb in the present tense tells what happens now.
• A verb in the past tense tells what has already happened.
• A verb in the future tense tells what is going to happen.
To write the future tense, use the special verb will.
Present Tense Past Tense Future Tense

Insects survive They survived millions They will survive in
almost everywhere. of years ago. the future.
Circle whether the underlined verb is in the present, past, or future tense.
1. Our science teacher decided to teach about insects.
present past future
2. She told us about the different kinds of insects.
present past future
3. We will spend several days learning about them.
present past future
4. The class divides into small groups.
present past future
5. Each group chooses a kind of insect to study.
present past future
6. At the end of the week, each group will make a presentation.
present past future
7. The class will take a field trip to see a museum exhibit.
present past future
8. The museum exhibit shows hundreds of kinds of insects.

present past future
9. Everyone voted in favor of taking the trip.
present past future
10. Afterward, the class will discuss what they saw.
present past future
At Home: Write three sentences about a favorite topic. McGraw-Hill Language Arts
Write one sentence in the present tense, one in the past Grade 4, Unit 3, Verbs,
35 tense, and one in the future tense. pages 172–173 10
Subject-Verb Agreement
RULES
• The subject and verb in a sentence must agree. If the subject is
singular, the verb must be singular. If the subject is plural, the verb
must be plural.
Singular Subject Plural Subject
Singular: he, she, or it Plural: we, you, or they
To make most verbs singular, Do not add -s or -es if the subject
add -s. is plural or if it is I or you.
Add -es to verbs ending in
s, ch, sh, x, or z.
A picture hangs on my wall. Several pictures hang on my wall.
Write the correct form of the verb in parentheses.
1. Chen picture postcards. (collect)
2. He his collection in special albums. (keep)
3. The cards him of places he has been. (remind)
4. He cards for his collection on family trips. (buy)
5. Most of the cards scenes from the Southwest.

(show)
6. Chen often there with his family. (visit)
7. Several cards scenes of the Grand Canyon.

(include)
8. Chen often he could visit there again. (wish)
9. Sometimes people Chen picture postcards.

(send)
10. He them to his collection. (add)
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Use a newspaper article to find two sentences with
Grade 4, Unit 3, Verbs, plural subjects and two sentences with singular subjects.
10 pages 174–175 Copy each sentence. Underline each subject. Circle each verb. 36
Spelling Present-Tense and Past-Tense Verbs
RULES
Spelling Rules for Adding -es or -ed to Some Verbs
• Change the y to i before adding -es or -ed to verbs that end
with a consonant and y.
carry = carries or carried
• Double the final consonant before adding -ed to one-syllable verbs
that end with one vowel followed by one consonant.
trim = trimmed
• Drop the e before adding -es or -ed to verbs that end in e.
smile = smiles or smiled
Write the correct present-tense or past-tense form of each verb in parentheses.
1. Cody (shop) for a new camera. present

2. Last week he (stop) at several stores. past
3. They all (carry) many kinds of cameras. present
4. Cody (know) the special features of each kind. present
5. He (remove) a camera from its case. past
6. He (worry) that it was too large and heavy. past
7. He (try) out another one with a zoom lens. past
8. Cody (decide) to buy it. past
9. He (hurry) home to try it out. past
10. That afternoon he (snap) pictures of everything. past
At Home: Look through a book you have read. Find five sentences McGraw-Hill Language Arts
with present-tense verbs. Find five sentences with past-tense verbs. Grade 4, Unit 3, Verbs,
37 List the verbs under the headings Present Tense and Past Tense. pages 176–177 10
Mechanics and Usage: Commas in a Series
RULES
• A comma tells the reader to pause between the words that it
separates.
• Use commas to separate items in a series of three or more words.
• Do not use a comma after the last word in a series.
Ted , Peter , Rosa , and Nora are neighbors.
Rewrite each sentence. Use commas where they are needed.
1. Ted Peter Rosa and Nora made a garden together.
2. They had to buy a rake a shovel and a hoe.
3. Rosa and Peter raked up rocks twigs and litter.
4. Ted and Nora dug turned and raked the soil.
5. Together they decided to plant beans tomatoes carrots and corn.
6. They planted petunias sunflowers and daisies along the edge.
7. Sun rain and care helped things grow quickly.
8. The friends took turns weeding hoeing and watering.

9. Soon they were picking cooking and eating things from the garden.
10. Making the garden was enjoyable successful and practical.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Write about something you have done with
Grade 4, Unit 3, Verbs, friends. Include at least three sentences that have a series
10 pages 178–179 of three or more words. 38
Mixed Review
RULES
• Action verbs in the present tense tell what is happening now.
• Action verbs in the past tense tell what happened in the past.
• Action verbs in the future tense tell what will happen in the future.
• Add -s to most present-tense verbs if the subject is singular. Add -es

to verbs that end in s, ch, sh, x, or z. Do not add -s or -es if the subject
is plural or I or you.
• For verbs ending in a consonant and y, change the y to i before

adding -es or -ed.
• For one-syllable verbs ending in one vowel and one consonant,

double the consonant before adding -ed.
• For verbs ending in e, drop the e before adding -ed.
A. Circle the correct tense of the underlined verb.
1. My father learned to play the piano at an early age. present past future
2. He enjoys playing the piano for friends. present past future
3. Practice will make him even better than he is now. present past future
4. I like to listen to guitar music on the radio. present past future
5. Someday I will take guitar lessons. present past future
B. Write the verb in parentheses ( ) that completes each sentence.
6. Two of my friends (play, plays) musical instruments.

7. Marta (take, takes) piano lessons every week.
8. John (practice, practices) the saxophone.

9. My parents (want, wants) me to learn how to play.
10. It (amaze, amazes) me when I see people playing
music.
At Home: Find out if someone in your family plays a McGraw-Hill Language Arts
musical instrument. Write a paragraph about it. Include Grade 4, Unit 3, Mixed Review,
39 some verbs in the present, past, and future tense. pages 180–181 10
Main Verbs and Helping Verbs
RULES
• The main verb is the most important verb in a sentence. Helping
It tells what the subject does or is. Verbs
The puppet show will begin in an hour. am, is, are,
• A helping verb is a verb that comes before the main verb. was, were,
It helps the main verb show an action or make a statement. has, have,
The puppet show will begin in an hour. had, will
Read each sentence.

Write the helping verb in
the first column and the
main verb in the second column.
1. A theater group was

performing a puppet show.
2. The puppets were dressed
in colorful costumes.
3. The puppet theater was
designed like an ancient castle.
4. The puppets are attached
to strings.
5. The puppeteers were standing
above the puppet theater.
6. They will work the strings to
bring the puppets to life.
7. They are using a different
voice for each character.
8. The children are watching

in amazement.
9. Even the adults were enjoying
themselves.
10. The puppets had won
everyone’s admiration.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Write three sentences about something

Grade 4, Unit 3, Verbs, interesting you have watched. Include a helping verb and a
10 pages 182–183 main verb in each sentence. 40
Using Helping Verbs
RULES
• Has, have, and had are helping verbs. You can use them with the
past-tense form of a verb to show an action that has already happened.
Use has with a singular subject and he, she, or it.
My sister has sailed on a boat.
She has sailed many times.
Use have with plural subjects and I, you, we, or they.
Many people have sailed on the ocean.
I have sailed on the lake.
Use had with singular or plural subjects.
My friend had sailed last summer.
My friends had sailed at camp.
Write the correct form of the helping verb in parentheses.
1. Whale watching attracted many tourists. (have, has)
2. Many people enjoyed the thrill of seeing whales.

(have, has)
3. My friends and I decided to go whale watching. (have, has)
4. The boat sailed several times that day. (have, had)
5. On the first trip, the passengers spotted many whales.

(has, had)
6. The whales discovered a good feeding area. (have, has)

7. The boat’s captain sighted them not far away. (have, had)
8. One whale surfaced beside the boat. (have, has)
9. A few whales leaped into the air. (has, had)
10. Now they crashed back into the water. (have, has)
At Home: Find a picture in a magazine that you like. Write McGraw-Hill Language Arts
three sentences about it. Use the helping verbs have, has, Grade 4, Unit 3, Verbs,
41 or had in each sentence. pages 184–185 10
Linking Verbs
RULES
• An action verb tells what the subject does or did.
Nocturnal animals sleep during the day.
• A linking verb links the subject of a sentence to a
noun or adjective in the predicate. A linking verb
does not express action.
Nocturnal animals are creatures of the night.
• The words am, is, are, was, and were are
important linking verbs. They are forms of the verb be.
Tell whether each underlined verb is an action verb or a linking verb. Write
your answer.
1. Nocturnal animals are nighttime creatures.

2. They sleep during most of the day.
3. Bats are nocturnal animals.
4. They live in caves during the day.
5. They hunt for food during the night.
6. Bats are the only mammals that can fly.
7. There are more than 900 kinds of bats.
8. I am one of their greatest fans.
9. Once I was at the entrance to a bat cave.
10. At dusk, the bats flew out of the cave.
11. It was a terrific and awesome sight.
12. One large bat is the flying fox.

13. It makes its home in tropical forests.
14. Brown bats are much smaller.
15. They inhabit many parts of the United States.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Read a paragraph from a magazine or

Grade 4, Unit 3, Verbs, newspaper article to a family member. Identify any linking
15 pages 186–187 verbs you see. 42
Using Linking Verbs
RULES
• Am, is, and are are present-tense linking verbs. They must agree
with the subject of the sentence. Subjects can be singular or plural.
Singular: I, he, she, it Plural: you, we, they
She is a musician. (singular) You are musicians. (plural)
• Was and were are past-tense linking verbs. They must agree with
the subject of the sentence. Subjects can be singular or plural.
She was a musician. (singular) They were musicians. (plural)
Rewrite the sentence with the correct form of the linking verb in parentheses.
1. Anita (is, are) a member of the orchestra.
2. Orchestras (is, are) large groups of musicians.
3. Anita (is, were) one of the violin players.
4. I (am, were) one of the cellists.
5. Last year our concerts (was, were) very popular.
6. Our conductor (was, were) Mr. Ortez.
7. All of our musicians (is, are) first rate.
8. They (are, was) wonderful when they play together.

9. Everyone (is, were) very proud to be a member.
10. Our first concert this year (was, were) a huge success.
At Home: Write three sentences about music. Use linking McGraw-Hill Language Arts
verbs in each sentence. Grade 4, Unit 3, Verbs,
43 pages 188–189 10
Irregular Verbs
RULES
• You do not always add -ed to form the past tense of verbs. Verbs that
do not add -ed to form the past tense are called irregular verbs.
• Most irregular verbs change their spelling to form the past tense.
Here are some examples.
Verb Past Past with has, have, or had
go went gone
do did done
see saw seen
run ran run
come came come
give gave given
sing sang sung
eat ate eaten
make made made
bring brought brought
Write the correct past tense form of the verb in parentheses.
1. Rosa and Luis had (go) to the wild animal park.
2. They have (see) some of the exhibits before.
3. Some of the animals (come) out to play.
4. Monkeys (run) through an artificial rain forest.
5. The large cats (give) a roaring performance.
6. The elephants (make) loud trumpeting sounds.
7. Rosa and Luis had (bring) a picnic lunch with them.

8. They (eat) it near the tropical bird exhibit.
9. Some of the birds (sing) unfamiliar songs.
10. Rosa and Luis had (do) this before.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Write about something you have done with
Grade 4, Unit 3, Verbs, friends. Include at least three sentences that use irregular
10 pages 190–191 verbs in the past tense. 44
More Irregular Verbs
RULES
• Irregular verbs do not add -ed to form the past tense. Instead, the
spelling of an irregular verb changes.
Verb Past Past with has, have, or had
begin began begun
draw drew drawn
drive drove driven
fly flew flown
grow grew grown
ride rode ridden
swim swam swum
take took taken
throw threw thrown
write wrote written
Circle the correct form of the verb in parentheses.
1. My family has (did, done) many interesting things.
2. My brother (fly, flew) in a helicopter.
3. My sister has (swam, swum) in many swimming meets.
4. I have (rode, ridden) in bicycle marathons.
5. My mom has (drew, drawn) pictures of us.
6. My dad (began, begun) to take flying lessons.
7. My grandfather has (driven, drove) race cars.

8. My grandmother (wrote, written) a book.
9. My parents have (took, taken) dancing lessons.
10. My uncle has (grew, grown) prize-winning roses.
At Home: Write three sentences about something you used McGraw-Hill Language Arts
to do when you were younger. Use an irregular verb in Grade 4, Unit 3, Verbs,
45 each sentence. pages 192–193 10
Mechanics and Usage: Contractions with Not
RULES
• A contraction is a shortened form of two words. An apostrophe (’)
takes the place of one or more letters that are left out. Several
contractions are made by combining a verb and the word not.
does + not = does + n’t = doesn’t
is not isn’t has not hasn’t
are not aren’t have not haven’t
was not wasn’t had not hadn’t
were not weren’t do not don’t
will not won’t did not didn’t
A. Draw lines to match the contractions and the words.

1. was not aren’t
2. has not isn’t
3. do not wasn’t
4. will not won’t
5. have not doesn’t
6. does not hasn’t
7. is not haven’t
8. did not weren’t
9. are not didn’t
10. were not don’t
B. Write the two words that make up each contraction in parentheses.
11. I (haven’t) seen a purple sky.

12. I (don’t) have green hair.

13. Trees (aren’t) blue and gold.
14. A car (doesn’t) talk to you.
15. I (won’t) ever see a cow that flies.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Read an article in a newspaper or magazine.

Grade 4, Unit 3, Verbs, Make a list of all the contractions you find.
15 pages 194–195 46
Mixed Review
RULES
• The main verb in a sentence shows what a
subject does or is. It is the most important verb.
I acted in the class play.
• A helping verb comes before the main verb. Helping Verbs
It helps the main verb show an action or make am, is, are, was, were,
a statement. has, have, had, will
I had learned my lines well.
• A linking verb links the subject of a sentence Linking Verbs
to a noun or adjective in the predicate. A linking am, is, are, was, were
verb does not express action.
The play was a great success.
Draw one line under each main verb. Draw two lines under each helping
verb. Circle each linking verb.
1. I am a member of the class play.
2. Many of my friends are in the play, too.
3. We have written our own play to perform.
4. My friend Jill is the lead character.
5. She has learned all her lines well.
6. The cast has rehearsed many times.
7. Our teacher has helped us every night.
8. She thinks we are doing a great job.

9. The costumes and props will surprise everyone.
10. Putting on a play is a hard job.
At Home: Write a paragraph about a movie or television McGraw-Hill Language Arts

show you have watched. Use main, helping, and linking Grade 4, Unit 3, Mixed Review,
47 verbs. pages 196–197 10
Common Errors: Subject-Verb Agreement
RULES
• When parts of a compound subject are joined by and, use a plural verb.
Juan and Mario play trumpets.
• When the parts of a compound subject are joined by or, the verb agrees
with the subject that is closer to it.
Songs or a dance begins the show.
Either a table or trays hold snacks.
• When a verb ends with a consonant and y, change the y to i and add
-es to form a singular verb. fly → flies
• When a verb ends with a vowel and y, add -s to form a singular verb. Do
not change the spelling of the verb. spray → sprays
Complete each sentence. Write the verb in parentheses ( ) that agrees with
the compound subject of each sentence.
1. The music class or art club having a talent show. (is, are)
2. The girls and boys variety acts. (presents, present)
3. Linda and Kelly a duet. (sings, sing)
4. My sister and brother bicycle tricks. (performs,

perform)
5. Either Mark or Shelly magic tricks. (do, does)
6. Either my teacher or her husband the guitar.

(plays, play)
7. Taki and Miko together on the piano. (plays, play)

8. My family and friends in the audience. (sits, sit)
9. Cheers or applause from everywhere. (comes, come)
10. Both performers and audience the show. (enjoys, enjoy)
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Write three sentences about the talents you or
Grade 4, Unit 3, Verbs, family members have. Include compound subjects in each
Study Skills: Card Catalog
• Use the alphabetically arranged card catalog to locate a book in the

library. You will find it in a set of drawers or on a computer.
• Look at the author cards, title cards, or subject cards in the card
catalog. Each kind of card gives the same information in a different order.
• Use the call number on the upper-left part of the card. Each kind of
card for the same book shows the same call number.
629.8 629.45
D M
D’Ignazio, Fred Animals in Orbit.
Working Robots. McGlade Marko, Katherine
New York: Lodestar Books, © 1982. New York: Franklin Watts, © 1991.
149 p.: illus. 61 p.: illus.
The author card lists the author’s 629.44 SPACE

last name first. C
Cross, Wilbur and Susanna
The title card shows the title first. Space Shuttle.
Chicago: Children’s Press, © 1988.
The subject card begins with the
134 p.: illus.
subject of the book.
Use the sample catalog cards above to answer each question.

1. What is the title of the book about space?
2. Who wrote the book Animals in Orbit?
3. In what year was the book Animals in Orbit published?
4. How many of the books have illustrations?
5. Which of the three books has the most pages?
6. Which book has a title card on this page?
7. What is the call number of the book about the space shuttle?
8. In what year was the book Working Robots published?
9. Which book was published in Chicago?
10. Who is the author of the book about robots?
At Home: Think about a subject that interests you. Then McGraw-Hill Language Arts
make up the information for a book on this subject and Grade 4, Unit 3, Study Skills,
49 write a subject card for it. pages 206–207 10
Vocabulary: Prefixes
• A prefix is a word part added to the beginning of a Prefix Meaning

word. A prefix changes the meaning of the base word. dis not, opposite of
im not, without
• A base word is a word to which a prefix is added. in not without
in + complete dis + obey im + perfect mis wrongly or
• You can figure out the meaning of a word by putting opposite of
non not
together the meaning of the prefix with the meaning
re again
of the base word.
Choose a word from the word box that completes each sentence. Write it on
the line. Then circle the prefix of the word you write.
uncomfortable multiscreen impossible dislike previews

impatient unreal recount misunderstand disbelief
1. I go to movies at a theater.
2. I like to watch movie .
3. Sometimes I am with the action.
4. That’s when I the story to my friends.
5. Some movies make me feel .
6. I lots of gooey romantic stuff.

7. Special effects can show things that are .
8. My sister doesn’t like movies that are .
9. I just listen to her in .
10. Maybe I just her.

McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: In a dictionary, look up each prefix you circled
Grade 4, Unit 3, Vocabulary, and write its definition.
10 pages 208–209 50
Composition Skills: Leads and Endings
• The first sentence in a persuasive composition is the lead. It should

capture the attention of your reader.
I remember when I first met Max.
• The last sentence is the ending. To help your reader feel that your
writing is complete, end by drawing a conclusion, summarizing the main
idea, or restating it.
Now I believe in happy endings.
Circle the word lead or ending for each sentence.

1. The book sale you’ve been waiting for will take place next week.
lead ending
2. So, I ask for your vote as student representative for our class.
lead ending
3. You’ll never regret hiring Darla as your pet sitter.
lead ending
4. Why do students want to be volunteers?
lead ending
5. Never forget that recycling protects the environment.
lead ending
6. Would you like to run faster and feel healthier?
lead ending
7. Some students in our school will start a math tutoring service.
lead ending
8. Now you know that bicycle riders with helmets are also smart riders.
lead ending
9. Have you signed up for an after-school activity yet?

lead ending
10. Talented students are available as tutors in a new student tutoring program.
lead ending
At Home: Pick a lead or ending that you like from the McGraw-Hill Language Arts
exercise above. For a lead, write an appropriate ending. For Grade 4, Unit 3 Composition Skills,
51 an ending, write an appropriate lead. pages 212–213 10
Adjectives
RULES

are words that describe nouns.
Adjectives can tell what kind and how many.
usually come before the nouns they describe.
Elephants are large animals. There are two kinds of elephants.
There are African elephants. There are Indian elephants.
Circle the adjective in each sentence. Write the noun that the adjective
describes.
1. Elephants are strong animals.
2. They are also intelligent animals.
3. The trunk of an elephant is a remarkable feature.
4. It can be used for many purposes.
5. The trunk can be used to drink or spray cool water.
6. It can be used to pick up a small nut.
7. It can also be used to rip up a huge tree.
8. Elephants can be trained to be excellent helpers.
9. They can easily move heavy objects.
10. They can carry people on their strong backs.
11. Elephants live together in large groups.
12. They can live for many years.
13. People used to hunt elephants for ivory tusks.
14. The beautiful tusks were used to make things.

15. Today, strict laws protect elephants from hunters.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Write a description about something or

Grade 4, Unit 4, Adjectives, someone. Include as many adjectives as you can.
15 pages 262–263 52
Articles: a, an, the
RULES
The words a, an, and the are special adjectives called articles.
• Use a and an before singular nouns. Use a if the next word begins
with a consonant sound. Use an if the next word begins with a vowel
sound.
A lynx is an animal.
• Use the before a singular noun that names a particular person, place,
or thing.
The lynx is a kind of wild cat.
• Use the before plural nouns.
The mountains are home to some wildcats.
Choose the correct article in parentheses to complete each sentence. Write it

on the line.
1. elephant may use its trunk to pet her baby. (A, An)
2. ostrich uses its long, powerful toes for defense. (The, A)
3. Stripes on zebra help it hide from its enemies. (a, an)
4. anteater really eats ants. (A, An)

5. At birth, giraffe is about six feet tall. (a, an)
6. Cheetahs are animals that can run the fastest. (an, the)
7. The tongue of chameleon is as long as its body. (a, an)
8. bee hummingbird is the smallest of all birds. (An, The)
9. coconut crab can climb trees. (A, An)

10. eagle’s eyes are made so that it can see from great
distances. (A, An)
At Home: Write five adjectives about your favorite animal. McGraw-Hill Language Arts
Include at least one article in each sentence. Grade 4, Unit 4, Adjectives,
53 pages 264–265 10
Adjectives After Linking Verbs
RULES
• An adjective is a word that describes a noun.
• Sometimes an adjective follows the noun it describes.
• When an adjective follows the noun it describes, the noun and
adjective are connected by a linking verb.
• The linking verb is usually a form of the verb be.
Summer is wonderful. The days are long.
The temperature was high. The days were sunny.
Circle each linking verb. Then write the adjective that describes each
underlined noun.
1. The summer is relaxing.
2. The long days are warm.
3. Sports in the summer are fun.
4. Swimming in the lake is popular.
5. Last summer was perfect for me.
6. Winter days are shorter.
7. Winter weather is colder.
8. Last winter was snowy.

9. Many days were freezing.
10. Sometimes winter days are beautiful.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Look for linking verbs followed by adjectives in a
Grade 4, Unit 4, Adjectives, newspaper or magazine article.
10 pages 266–267 54
Mechanics and Usage: Proper Adjectives
RULES
• Proper adjectives are formed from proper nouns. They refer to a
particular person, place, or thing.
• Proper adjectives are always capitalized.
Europe European European explorers
North America North American North American coast
Underline each proper adjective. Then write the noun it describes.
1. Have you read about American history?

2. Christopher Columbus was an Italian citizen.
3. He sailed to America for a Spanish queen.
4. Columbus landed on a Caribbean island.
5. He never landed on the North American mainland.
6. A German mapmaker named the Americas.
7. Spanish explorers arrived in Mexico.
8. A Portuguese sailor landed in South America.
9. Many Italian explorers traveled to America.
10. John Cabot made the first English voyage
to North America.
11. Jamestown was the first British settlement
in North America.
12. Many Spanish missions were built in the west.
13. The new world also saw the arrival of French
traders.
14. The early colonies were ruled by an English king.
15. People from other European countries also
settled here.
At Home: List the names of five countries you have heard McGraw-Hill Language Arts
of. Then write a sentence about each one. Include a proper Grade 4, Unit 4, Adjectives,
55 adjective in each sentence. pages 268–269 15
Mixed Review
RULES
• An adjective is a word that describes a noun. Adjectives tell what kind
and how many. red flower old house two teams
• When an adjective comes after a noun it describes, the two are
connected by a linking verb.
Summer is wonderful. The temperatures are warm.
• Proper adjectives are formed from proper nouns. A proper adjective is
always capitalized. Europe → European European countries
A. Underline each adjective. Then write the noun it describes.
1. People have interesting hobbies.

2. I knew someone that collected ancient coins.
3. The coins are valuable because of their age.
4. My grandfather makes ship models.
5. He keeps the models in display cases.
6. He has at least seven models on display.
7. My grandmother collects and dries wild flowers.
8. She arranges them in glass vases.
9. I like to make miniature models.
10. I have twelve airplanes hanging in my room.
B. Write each proper adjective correctly. Circle the noun it describes.
11. I saw a collection of native american pottery.

12. There is a collection of asian art at the museum.
13. I have a book about the egyptian pyramids.

14. My brother wrote an article about mexican carvings.
15. The museum has some examples of roman sculpture.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Do you or a member of your family collect something?
Grade 4, Unit 4, Mixed Review, Write a paragraph about the collection. Then underline each
15 pages 270–271 adjective you used and circle the noun it describes. 56
Adjectives That Compare
RULES
• Adjectives that compare nouns often end in -er or -est.
• An adjective + -er compares two people, places, or things.
Cats are faster than dogs.
• An adjective + -est compares more than two people, places, or things.
Cheetahs are the fastest animals.
Write the correct form of the adjective in parentheses.
1. Cats are usually (smaller, smallest) than dogs.

2. Cats are among the (cleaner, cleanest) animals of all.
3. Cats have (sharper, sharpest) vision than humans.
4. Cats have (sharper, sharpest) claws than dogs.
5. Some cats are (quicker, quickest) eaters than others.
6. Persian cats have the (longer, longest) hair of all cats.
7. Rex cats have the (shorter, shortest) hair of any cat.
8. Persian cats have (fuller, fullest) tails than Burmese cats.
9. Siamese cats are among the (louder, loudest) cats.
10. Angora cats are one of the (older, oldest) kinds of all cats.
Maine Manx
Coon
Siamese Persian
At Home: Make a list of adjectives that compare. Try to McGraw-Hill Language Arts
use at least one of the adjectives each day until you have Grade 4, Unit 4, Adjectives,
57 used them all. pages 272–273 10
Spelling Adjectives That Compare
RULES
When adding -er or -est to adjectives, follow these spelling rules:
• If an adjective ends with e, drop the e, then add -er or -est.
little (drop the e): littler littlest
• If an adjective ends with a consonant and a y, change the y to i and
add -er or -est.
heavy (change y to i): heavier heaviest
• If an adjective has a single vowel before a final consonant, double the
final consonant, then add -er or -est.
flat (double final consonant): flatter flattest
Write the correct -er or -est form of the adjective in parentheses ( ).
1. (hot) This summer is than last summer.

2. (nice) My flower garden is than last year’s garden.
3. (pretty) The roses are this year than last year.
4. (lovely) I think red roses are the of all the roses.
5. (large) My neighbor’s vegetable garden is than
mine.
6. (tasty) My tomatoes are than my neighbor’s
tomatoes.
7. (tiny) Cherry tomatoes are than plum tomatoes.
8. (heavy) I grew the squash in the neighborhood.
9. (huge) My uncle grew the pumpkin I ever saw.
10. (happy) Gardeners are the people you’ll ever meet.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Write five sentences about something you like to
Grade 4, Unit 4, Adjectives, do. Include at least one adjective that changes its spelling
10 pages 274–275 in each sentence. 58
Comparing with More and Most
RULES
• Use more or most with most longer adjectives. Use more to compare
two people places or things. Use most to compare more than two
people, places, or things.
I think plays are more enjoyable than movies.
I think plays are the most enjoyable form of entertainment.
• Never use more or most with an adjective that already has an -er or
-est ending.
Choose the word in parentheses that completes each sentence.

1. Our local theater is (more, most) impressive
this year than last year.
2. This year’s play is the (more, most) entertaining
one we have put on.
3. The costumes are the (more, most) beautiful
I have ever seen.
4. The stage sets are (more, most) elaborate
than they were last year.
5. The actors are the (more, most) effective
performers in this state.
6. Last night’s performance was (more, most)
enjoyable than yesterday’s performance.
7. The performers seemed (more, most) relaxed
than they were yesterday.
8. The leading character is the (more, most)
interesting part of all.

9. The actress who plays the part is the (more, most)
popular of all the performers.
10. She is the (more, most) prepared of anyone
in the show.
At Home: Think of two television programs you like to McGraw-Hill Language Arts
watch. Write five sentences comparing them using more or Grade 4, Unit 4, Adjectives,
59 most. pages 276–277 10
Comparing with Good and Bad
RULES
• The adjectives good and bad have special forms when used to compare.
• Use better and worse to compare two people, places, or things.
This summer was better than last summer.
Last summer was worse than this summer.
• Use best or worst to compare more than two people, places, or things.
This was the best summer I can remember.
Last summer was the worst summer I can remember.
Write the correct form of the word in parentheses ( ) to complete each

sentence.
1. This summer camp was than the last one. (good)
2. The lake was the I ever swam in. (good)
3. My swimming team was than my friend’s team. (bad)
4. The camp counselors were the I’ve ever had. (good)
5. The food was the I ever tasted. (bad)
6. The crafts classes were than the woodworking

classes. (good)
7. The soccer coaches were than the baseball

coaches. (bad)
8. Swimming was than hiking. (good)
9. The camp singing was the I ever heard. (bad)
10. Hiking was than bird watching. (good)
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Write five sentences comparing two summers
Grade 4, Unit 4, Adjectives, you can remember. Use forms of good or bad in each
Combining Sentences: Adjectives
RULES
You can sometimes combine sentences by writing the adjective from one
sentence in the other. Leave out the words that are the same in both
sentences.
Rico saw some monkeys. The monkeys were playful.
→ →
Rico saw some playful monkeys.
Write each pair of sentences as one sentence.

1. Rico visited a zoo. The zoo was interesting.
2. He saw some lions. The lions were scary.
3. He watched some elephants. The elephants were enormous.
4. Rico watched the elephants being fed. The elephants were hungry.
5. After they ate, the elephants did some tricks. The tricks were clever.
6. Rico visited the reptile exhibit. The exhibit was new.
7. There were many kinds of snakes. The snakes were exotic.
8. There were also many lizards. The lizards were unusual.

9. Then Rico went to see the birds. The birds were tropical.
10. There were many kinds of parrots. The parrots were colorful.
At Home: Write three pairs of sentences about a place you McGraw-Hill Language Arts
have visited. Then combine each pair into one sentence. Grade 4, Unit 4, Adjectives,
61 pages 280–281 10
Mechanics and Usage: Letter Punctuation
RULES
• The greeting and closing of a letter should begin with capital letters.
• Use a comma after the greeting and the closing of a friendly letter.
• Use a comma between the names of a city and a state.
• Use a comma between the day and the year in a date.
237 Bridge Road
Bangor, Maine ←city and state
July 28, 2001 ←day and year
greeting→ Dear Maria,
I just came back from vacation. My family
and I went to Yellowstone National Park.
I will tell you all about it when you visit.
Your friend, ←closing
Alana
Write each letter part. Add the correct punctuation mark or capital letter.
1. dear Uncle Joe,
2. Madison Wisconsin
3. sincerely yours,
4. dear friend
5. May 7 2001
6. chicago illinois
7. your pal
8. june 6 2001
9. dear mom
10. your friend
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Write a letter to a friend. Check to see if you
Grade 4, Unit 4, Adjectives, punctuated and capitalized correctly
10 pages 282–283 62
Mixed Review
RULES
• An adjective can compare two people, places, or things:
adjective + -er Soccer is a faster game than tennis.
more + adjective I think soccer is more exciting than basketball.
better or worse I play soccer better than baseball.
• An adjective can compare more than two people, places, or things:
adjective + -est We had the fastest team ever.
most + adjective Baseball is the most popular sport of all.
best or worst We had the best game of the season.
• Combine sentences that tell about the same person, place, or thing.
Soccer is a game. Soccer is fast.
Soccer is a fast game.
A. Write the correct form of the word or words in parentheses ( ).
1. Juan is (better, best) at soccer than I am.

2. Hector is the (stronger, strongest) player of all.
3. Megan is a (faster, fastest) runner than Tony.
4. Yoshi had the (higher, highest) score on the team.
5. This was my (worse, worst) year ever at baseball.
B. Write each pair of sentences as one sentence.

6. The soccer game was about to begin. It was the last soccer game.
7. We watched the soccer game. The soccer game was exciting.

8. We cheered for our team. Our team was winning.
9. Our team scored a point. It was the winning point.
10. The fans cheered the team. The team was victorious.
At Home: Write about a sport that you or some member of McGraw-Hill Language Arts
your family enjoys. Circle the adjectives that compare. Grade 4, Unit 4, Mixed Review,
63 pages 284–285 10
Common Errors: Adjectives
RULES
• short adjective + -er compares two people, places, or things
Trees are larger than bushes.
• more + long adjective compares two people, places, or things
Flowers are more colorful than leaves.
• adjective + -est compare more than two people, places, or things
Trees are the largest plants.
• most + long adjective compare more than two people, places, or
things
I think orchids are the most colorful flowers.
• Never use more or most with an adjective that already ends in -er or -est.
Wrong: Trees are more larger than bushes.
Wrong: Trees are the most largest of all plants.
Write the correct form of the adjective in parentheses ( ) on the line.
1. Bristlecone pine trees are the (old) living things

on earth.
2. Giant sequoia trees are the (large) living things.
3. Coconut seeds are the (big) of all seeds.
4. A cactus environment is (dry) than a woodland

forest.
5. A tropical rain forest is (wet) than a grassland.
6. Roses are the (beautiful) of all flowers.

7. Some orchids are the (rare) of all plants.
8. A tree is (tall) than a shrub.
9. A baobob tree is (unusual) than an oak tree.
10. A fern is (delicate) than a cactus.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Look around your house or neighborhood for
Grade 4, Unit 4, Adjectives, plants. Write sentences that compare them. Use the
10 pages 286–287 correct forms of the adjectives that compare. 64
Study Skills: Maps
There are many kinds of maps.

• A political map shows how land is divided into states or countries.
• A physical map shows mountains, plains, deserts, bodies of water, and valleys.
• A road map shows roads in an area.
To understand a map, you can use the following:
• a compass rose to point out the directions north, south, east, and west.
• a legend or key to show the meanings of the symbols on the map.
• a scale to show how far it is from one place to another.
Study the map and

then answer the
questions below. 395
5 97
Spokane
2
90
Olympia 90
WASHINGTON
Mt. Rainier
82 Walla
5 Mt. St. Walla
Helens
84 Pendleton
84
Salem 26 97
Mt. 395
1. What direction would 20 Hood
26
0 50 100 miles
20
26 0 50 100 150 kilometers
you travel if you Eugene OREGON
20 20
Key:
were going from 5 state capitals
Eugene, Oregon, to 97 other cities
395 state boundaries
Olympia, Washington? interstate highways
state highways
mountain peaks
2. What are three mountain peaks on this map?
3. About how far in miles is it from Spokane, Washington, to Pendleton,

Oregon?
4. About how far in kilometers is it from Pendleton, Oregon, to Walla Walla,
Washington?
5. What is the capital of Oregon?
At Home: Plan a trip from Eugene, Oregon, to Spokane, McGraw-Hill Language Arts
Washington. Write out a set of traveling directions and describe Grade 4, Unit 4, Study Skills,
65 what you might see along the way. pages 294–295 5
Vocabulary: Synonyms and Antonyms
• A synonym is a word that means the same or almost the same as

another word.
sad/gloomy huge/enormous pleasant/nice
• An antonym is a word that means the opposite of another word.
happy/sad big/small right/wrong
After each pair of words, write A for antonyms or S for synonyms.

1. gigantic/enormous
2. fiction/nonfiction
3. messy/neat
4. baby/infant
5. old/aged
6. confused/muddled
7. narrow/wide
8. yell/shout
9. small/tiny
10. possess/own
11. moist/dry
12. angry/mad
13. fake/real
14. shiny/dull
15. stop/start
16. high/low
17. breezy/windy
18. opened/closed
19. slowly/quickly
20. quickly/speedily
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Write three pairs of synonyms and three pairs of
Grade 4, Unit 4, Vocabulary, antonyms. Use them in sentences.
20 pages 296–297 66
Composition: Organization
• Certain words and phrases can help you organize your ideas logically.
• Words like inside, outside, over, beside, above, near, next to, and on top
of are spatial words. Spatial words tell where things are found or
arranged.
• Words like first, next, then, later, after that, as soon as, and a long time
ago are time-order words. They show when things happen and in what
order.
Spatial order: Is the book beside the lamp or next to the CD player?
Time order: As soon as your name is called, walk up to the stage.
Underline spatial or time-order words used in each sentence. Then, circle

spatial or time-order to identify the kind of words.
1. There’s an eagle’s nest on top of the cliff. spatial time-order
2. Which did you see first, the mole or the snake? spatial time-order
3. The mother alligator appeared, then a baby

alligator followed. spatial time-order
4. Was it a long time ago that the cat had kittens? spatial time-order
5. An adult bird stands above the babies and feeds

them worms. spatial time-order
6. Our canoe slid over the rocks and white water. spatial time-order
7. The horses happily graze near the barn. spatial time-order
8. Don’t wait until later to feed the hungry chicks. spatial time-order
9. Is the corral behind the house or the barn? spatial time-order
10. After a long walk, we rested. spatial time-order
At Home: Write two sentences about your notebook. McGraw-Hill Language Arts
Organize one sentence with spatial words and the other Grade 4, Unit 4, Composition Skills,
67 with time-order words. pages 296–297 10
Pronouns
RULES
• A pronoun is a word that replaces one or more nouns.
• A pronoun must agree with the noun it replaces.
That boy asked if he could dress up like a soldier.
\ \
singular noun singular pronoun
The soldiers did not realize they had no place to retreat.
/ \
plural noun plural pronoun
Underline the pronoun in each sentence. Then write each noun that the
pronoun replaces.
1. Mrs. Harris said she will teach about the Civil War.
2. The Battle of Antietam is remembered because it was an important battle of
the Civil War.
3. We talked about the generals and how they set out to win.
4. General Robert E. Lee’s soldiers didn’t know they were in a bad position.
5. The Union General George McClellan thought he would drive Lee’s soldiers
into the Potomac.
6. General Stonewell Jackson’s men must have been shocked when they were
attacked by Union soldiers.
7. Jackson’s lines were badly hurt and they were forced to retreat.
8. The Confederates fled to the fields as they
retreated from Union soldiers.

9. Union soldiers were unaware of what
they would soon be facing.
10. Some historians consider the Battle of Antietam a Union victory although
over two thousand soldiers died in it.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Choose pronouns from this page. Use them in
Grade 4, Unit 5, Pronouns, original sentences.
10 pages 344–345 68
Subject Pronouns
RULES
• A subject pronoun is a pronoun that can be used as the subject of a
sentence.
Singular: I, you, he, she, it
I want to be a geologist.
Plural: we, you, they
They try to predict earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Write a pronoun to replace the underlined subject part of each sentence.
1. Dr. David Massaro planned a unit about volcanoes for his science class.
2. Our class just finished learning about earthquakes.

3. A volcano is a destructive natural force.
4. The students in my class learned that most volcanoes occur
in an area called the Ring of Fire.
5. The volcanic eruptions occur as a result of plate movements
within the earth.
6. A volcano releases hot poisonous gases into the air.
7. Some eruptions form volcanic islands.
8. These mountain islands build up from the ocean floor.
9. Valerie wanted to know how far volcanic debris can travel.
10. The teacher explained that erupting debris can travel for miles.
11. The lava from a volcano can affect towns located miles away.
12. Mount St. Helens violently erupted in 1980.

13. Many Washington citizens were not prepared for this eruption.
14. The ashes covered a huge area.
15. Scientists are trying to predict when volcanoes will erupt.
At Home: Rewrite the above sentences using the correct McGraw-Hill Language Arts
subject pronoun in place of the underlined words. Grade 4, Unit 5, Pronouns,
69 pages 346–347 15
Object Pronouns
RULES
• Object pronouns generally appear in the predicate of a sentence.
Singular: me, you, him, her, it
Plural: us, you, them
• Object pronouns may be used after an action verb or after a word
such as for, at, of, with, or to.
The teacher made our class write a report. The teacher made us
write a report.
Students cooperated with the teacher. Students cooperated with her.
Underline the object pronoun in each sentence and write it on the line.
1. You warned me this class would be hard.
2. I told you to plan wisely.
3. Mrs. McMadden gave them work to do.
4. They didn’t expect her to assign a project so soon.
5. She had a report for me to write.
6. The teacher chose the topics for us.
7. Students wondered what topic she would give them.
8. Jimmy said he would ask her for an easy subject.
9. Mrs. McMadden said she was not happy with him.
10. He looked at her with a confused expression.
11. She wanted him to change his attitude.

12. After the teacher gave the topics to them, they were relieved.
13. Each of us had the same topic.
14. They thought that was very kind of her.
15. Now I can work with you on the project.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Make up sentences using the object pronouns
Grade 4, Unit 5, Pronouns, me, us, you, him, her, or them. Say your sentences aloud
15 pages 348–349 to a family member. 70
Mechanics and Usage: Punctuation in Dialogue
RULES
Dialogue is the exact words spoken by the characters in a story.
• Always use quotation marks at the beginning and end of dialogue.
Mother said, “Let’s plan a vacation!”
• Begin a speaker’s words with a capital letter.
“We can go camping,” Dad suggested.
• Begin a new paragraph whenever a new person speaks.
“The National Parks are always fun. Maybe we’ll even see a bear at
our campsite!” Jamie exclaimed.
“I’d rather stay in a hotel,” Sean whined.
Write the letter C before the dialogue that is written correctly.
1. Dad said, “Camping would save us some money.”

“Dad said, camping would save us some money.”
2. “Gee, Dad. We’ve been saving for this trip all year,” Mom said.
Gee, Dad. “We’ve been saving for this trip all year.” Mom said.
3. Well, how about a compromise? “He suggested.”

“Well, how about a compromise?” he suggested.
4. “We could stay in a hotel on our way to one of the National

Parks. Does that sound like a good idea?” Dad asked.
“We could stay in a hotel on our way to one of the National
Parks. “Does that sound like a good idea?” Dad asked.
5. Mom replied, Let’s hear what our children have to say about it.”
“I’ll go along with it, as long as I get to camp out!” said Sean.
Mom replied, “Let’s hear what the children have to say about it.”
“I’ll go along with it, as long as I get to camp out!” said Sean.
At Home: Ask your family to plan a trip. Write down a few McGraw-Hill Language Arts
sentences of your family’s dialogue. Grade 4, Unit 5, Pronouns,
71 pages 350–351 5
Mixed Review
RULES
• A subject pronoun is used as the subject of a sentence.
Singular: I, you, he, she, it → She wants to go to New York City.
Plural: we, you, they → We were planning our summer vacation.
• An object pronoun is used after an action verb or a word such as in,
into, to, with, for, by, or at.
Singular: me, you, him, her, it → They asked me where I
wanted to go.
Plural: us, you, them → Who is going to go with us?
• Use quotation marks before and after a person’s exact words.
“I would like to go someplace unusual,” I said.
Rewrite each sentence. Replace each underlined noun with the correct
pronoun. Add quotation marks and capital letters where needed.
1. Mom said, let’s go to the Statue of Liberty.
2. the Statue of Liberty is in New York City, she told us.
3. it was given to the united states by france, Dad explained.
4. your mother and i saw it many years ago, he said.
5. this summer might be a good time for the family to go, Dad suggested.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Think of some place you have visited with your family. Make
Grade 4, Unit 5, Mixed Review, up a conversation about it with one of your family members. Use some
5 pages 352–353 subject and object pronouns in your conversation. Punctuate correctly. 72
Pronoun-Verb Agreement
RULES
• Add -s or -es to most action verbs in the present tense when using the
pronouns he, she, or it.
He wins the prize. She watches happily.
• When using the pronouns I, we, you, or they, do not add -s or -es to a
present tense action verb.
You ride the bike. I watch the race.
Circle the correct verb in parentheses that agrees with the subject pronoun.
1. He (plan, plans) to run in the triathlon this weekend.
2. She (train, trains) for the race also.
3. We (hope, hopes) one of them will be able to win.
4. At first, they (swim, swims) in the lake for 1.5 miles.
5. Then they (ride, rides) their bikes from the park to the center of town.
6. Finally, it (end, ends) with a three-mile run through the streets downtown.
7. We (hope, hopes) to watch the entire race.
8. They (start, starts) the competition at 7:00 A.M. sharp.

9. It (take, takes) over an hour to complete the course.
10. She (race, races) toward the finish line.
At Home: Write a paragraph about a time you were in McGraw-Hill Language Arts
some kind of competition. Use subject pronouns in your Grade 4, Unit 5, Pronouns,
73 account. pages 354–355 10
Combining Sentences
RULES
• You can combine sentences that have similar ideas by joining
pronouns in either the subject or the predicate.
She planned a class party. I planned a class party.
She and I planned a class party.
Combine each pair of sentences. Use and or or.
1. She will make the decorations. I will make the decorations.
2. Does the scissors belong to you? Does the scissors belong to them?
3. You want to help plan the menu. I want to help plan the menu.
4. You should call the class officers. I should call the class officers.
5. Did he return our phone calls? Did she return our phone calls?
6. You can invite former teachers. I can invite former teachers.
7. I might not recognize him. I might not recognize her.
8. Tim will give a balloon to you. Tim will give a balloon to me.
9. He will be glad to see you. He will be glad to see me.
10. Will he be able to attend? Will she be able to attend?
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Find three sentences above that can be
Grade 4, Unit 5, Pronouns, combined using the word we.
10 pages 356–357 74
Possessive Pronouns
RULES
• A possessive pronoun is a pronoun that shows ownership by one or
more persons, places, or things.
my your his her its our
their mine ours hers yours theirs
• Some possessive pronouns can be used alone.
These are Keri’s fossils. These are hers.
Choose a possessive pronoun from the box above that means the same as
the words in parentheses.
1. Is this ____ book about fossils? (belonging to you)

2. Who is ____ author? (belonging to it)
3. Gina Larocca is ____ name. (belonging to a female)
4. Collecting fossils is a favorite hobby of ____.
(belonging to me)
5. One of ____ teachers in the fourth grade has a
display of mold and cast fossils. (belonging to us)
6. She will show us how to make mold fossils like ____.
(belonging to her)
7. Her mold fossils were made when animals left ____
footprints in a patch of muddy soil. (belonging to them)
8. ____ will be made by making imprints of leaves on
soft clay. (belonging to us)
9. The other science classes will be making hand imprints

in plaster to create _____. (belonging to them)
10. George will try to make a cast fossil from the imprint
of ____ hand by using it as a mold. (belonging to him)
At Home: Choose five possessive pronouns from the box McGraw-Hill Language Arts
above. Make up a sentence for each. Say the sentences Grade 4, Unit 5, Pronouns,
75 aloud to a parent or sister or brother. pages 358–359 10
Mechanics and Usage: Contractions—Pronouns and Verbs
RULES
• A pronoun and a verb can be combined to form a contraction.
She is She’s You are You’re We have We’ve
• The contractions it’s, you’re, and they’re should not be confused with
the possessive pronouns its, your, and their.
It’s time to give your dog its bath.
You’re going to need to bring your supply of towels.
You will find that they’re in their proper place on the shelf.
Underline the word in parentheses that correctly completes the sentence.
1. (Your, You’re) lucky that you were not born in the early 1800s.
2. (It’s, Its) the time when Americans were trying to extend the frontier.
3. (You’ve, You’re) probably heard about the hard life of the pioneers.
4. (They’re, They’d) travel westward by wagon trains.
5. (Its, It’s) hard to imagine traveling by wagon train across the Great Plains.
6. The American frontier has many heroes in (its, it’s) history.
7. (We’re, We’ve) all heard of Daniel Boone and Davy Crockett.
8. (They’re, Their) two of the most famous frontiersmen.
9. Boone explored Kentucky for the pioneers and blazed (they’re, their) trails.
10. (His, He’s) known as a generous leader who led westward-moving settlers
through a route called The Wilderness Road.
11. (It’s, Its) a route through rugged parts of the Appalachian Mountains.
12. (You’re, Your) teacher may have told you about Davy Crockett.
13. (We’ve, We’re) come to associate Davy Crockett’s name with the Alamo.
14. These famous frontiersmen tamed the wilderness through (their, they’re)
hard work.
15. (Your, You’re) library’s encyclopedia has more information about them.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Write sentences correctly using the words its,
Grade 4, Unit 5, Pronouns, it’s, they’re, their, you’re, and your.
15 pages 360–361 76
Mixed Review
RULES
• Present tense verbs must agree with their subject pronouns.
Singular Subject Pronouns: I, you, he, she, it He travels on weekends.
Plural Subject Pronouns: we, you, they They travel on weekends.
• A possessive pronoun takes the place of one or more possessive nouns.
Cindy’s piano teacher was very good. Her piano teacher was very good.
Singular Possessive Pronouns: my, yours, his, her, its
Plural Possessive Pronouns: our, your, their
• A contraction is a shortened form of two words, such as a pronoun and a
verb. An apostrophe (’) shows the missing letters.
I’m = I am we’re = we are they’ll = they will
• Don’t confuse the contractions it’s, they’re, and you’re with the
possessive pronouns its, their, and your.
Rewrite each sentence. Form contractions from the underlined pronouns and
verbs. Substitute possessive pronouns for underlined possessive nouns.
1. It is going to be fun at Mike’s party this weekend.
2. We are going to see my brother’s Little League game.
3. They have bought tickets for my sister’s talent show.
4. She is going to see Betty’s new house.

5. We have some time before John’s piano recital begins.
At Home: Write five sentences about things your family likes to do McGraw-Hill Language Arts
on weekends. Include some possessive pronouns and contractions. Grade 4, Unit 5, Mixed Review,
77 Be sure the verbs and subjects in your sentences agree. pages 362–363 5
Common Errors: Pronouns
RULES
• Use a subject pronoun as the • Use an object pronoun after an
subject of a sentence. action verb or after words such as
for, at, of, with, in, to, or by.
Singular: I, you, he, she, it Singular: me, you, him, her, it

Plural: we, you, they Plural: us, you, them
I always wanted to learn how to swim. I found a course just right for me.
• Possessive pronouns do not have apostrophes.
The course is famous for its success.
Write a pronoun to take the place of the underlined words.
1. Mario and I took swimming lessons last summer.
2. The lessons lasted for six weeks.
3. A local hotel loaned us the hotel’s pool.
4. The pool was almost olympic size.
5. The instructor was a teacher from our school.
6. He helped Mario and me to relax in the water.
7. Mario and I were swimming in no time.
8. We were able to keep up with the rest

of the class.
9. Everyone was surprised at Mario for taking the

course.
10. His family and friends talked him into it.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Write about something you learned to do.
Grade 4, Unit 5, Pronouns, Include at least three sentences that have pronouns.
10 pages 364–365 78
Study Skills: Dictionary
A dictionary shows the spelling, meaning, and pronunciation of words.

• Guide words indicate the first and last words on a page. They appear at
the top of each dictionary page.
• A pronunciation key shows how to say words. It usually appears at the
bottom of every other page.
• Entry words are the words explained in the dictionary. They appear in
alphabetical order.
• Every entry word includes:
the pronunciation of the word
the part of speech (shown as an abbreviation, like n., v., adj., adv.—
noun, verb, adjective, adverb)
one or more definitions (sometimes with example sentences).
Use the part of the dictionary page below to answer the questions. Underline
the correct answer.
foil (foil) n. 1. a very thin sheet of metal. 2. something that makes another
thing seem better when compared [Martha acted as a foil when she shouted
out the correct answer before Henry could be called on.] 3. a thin sword
with a guard over the point to prevent injury when used in fencing.
1. Which pair of words could be the guide words on this dictionary page?
fly /folk fluffy/focus
2. What does the letter n stand for in the dictionary entry?
no pronunciation available the word is a noun
3. How many definitions are there for the word foil?
2 3
4. Where would you look to find the pronunciation key?

on bottom of this or the next page
next to the guide words
5. Which definition of foil has an example sentence? 1 2 3
At Home: Write an example sentence for a definition of foil McGraw-Hill Language Arts
that doesn’t appear in the entry of this page. Grade 4, Unit 5, Study Skills,
79 pages 372–373 5
Vocabulary: Homophones and Homographs
• Homophones are pairs of words that sound alike but are spelled
differently and mean different things.
fare/fair cents/sense minor/miner scene/seen
• Homographs are words that are spelled alike but have different
meanings. They may be pronounced differently, too.
I opened the trunk of the car. The elephant’s trunk would not fit.
The tree trunk was in our way.
Underline the two words in each sentence that are either homophones or
homographs. Then write homophones or homographs to tell what kind of
words they are.
1. It isn’t fair that I can’t show my pet pig at the fair.
2. My eyes were tearing as I began tearing up my

entry fee.
3. “Bye,” I said to the judge as she passed by.
4. “Would you help me cut this pile of wood?”

asked my grandfather.
5. “My saw was here a minute ago, I know I saw it.”
6. “Next week I will cut the weak tree limb.“
7. “I can go get you a sandwich and a can of soda.”

8. “Stay here, Gramps,” I said, “I can hear the food

vendor coming this way.”
9. When we were just about through, Dad threw

an old flour sack at my feet.
10. They’re all waiting for their champion sack

racer,” he said. “Let’s all go.”
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Write five sentences with the word run. Each use
Grade 4, Unit 5, Vocabulary, of the word should have a different meaning.
10 pages 374–375 80
Composition: Writing Dialogue
• Dialogue is the part of a story that shows the conversation among characters.
• The exact words a character says have quotation marks around them.
• The first word inside of an opening quotation mark is capitalized.
• End punctuation appears before a closing quotation mark.
• Words like said Winston or she explained help the reader know which
character is speaking the words in a dialogue.
• Every time a different character speaks, begin a new paragraph.
Tommy explained, “This is a model of an early airplane.” Then he
asked Sara, “Do you like it?”
Sara exclaimed, “It’s wonderful. May I help you build your next
model, Tommy?”
“Of course you can. We’ll have a great time,” Tommy said.
Read the story. Underline every group of words spoken by story characters.
1.-10. Raymond pushed the door open slowly and said, “Mom, how will I
know which puppy to choose?”
Mrs. Botera thought for a minute and answered, “It’s not an easy decision.
I think, though, that you’ll just know which puppy is right as soon as you meet
it.” She followed Raymond through the door into a hall lined with kennel
cages. “Look, Raymond, a puppy with black spots!” Mrs. Botera directed her
son’s attention.
Raymond saw the dog and said, “It looks like our old dog Jed.” Raymond
asked the attendant to let him see the white puppy with the black spots. “The
spots are smaller, but this dog seems just as friendly as good old Jed,”
Raymond added.
“The dog is a Dalmatian,” the attendant told Raymond as the puppy tumbled
into Raymond’s arms. “It needs to run a lot, but it can be a wonderful pet.”
Raymond said, “I’ll run with it every day because I’m on my school’s track
team.” He and his mother petted the little dog. Raymond thought for awhile.
“Let’s call him Jed II!” he exclaimed.
At Home: Write dialogue that shows a conversation you might McGraw-Hill Language Arts
have with someone about choosing a new pet. Remember to Grade 4, Unit 5, Composition Skills,
81 follow the rules for dialogue from the box on this page. pages 376–377 10
Adverbs That Tell How
RULES
• An adverb is a word that tells more about a verb. Adverbs can tell how
something happened. Many adverbs end in -ly.
Earthquakes happen suddenly.
/ \
verb adverb (tells how)
Write the adverb that describes each underlined verb.
1. An earthquake really scares most people.

2. Scientists can rarely tell when one will strike.
3. Earthquakes generally occur along faults.
4. Mom described it simply as a large crack in the bedrock.
5. Rocks normally move in opposite directions
along a fault.
6. Pressure easily builds as rocks push against one another.
7. Pressure suddenly releases when one rock
slips past the other.
8. The sudden release of energy usually causes vibrations.
9. The vibrations travel quickly in waves.
10. In California, vibrations or tremors occur regularly.
11. The ground vibrates slowly.
12. Unsecured things quickly fall to the ground.
13. Some broken gas lines explode violently.
14. People clearly understand the dangers an

earthquake may bring.
15. They wisely prepare ahead of time by learning
good safety rules.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Choose any five adverbs that you wrote above
Grade 4, Unit 6, Adverbs, and use them in sentences. Say your sentences aloud to a
15 pages 420–421 member of your family. 82
Adverbs That Tell When or Where
RULES
• You already know that an adverb tells more about a verb, such as
how something happened. An adverb can also tell where or when an
action takes place.
Kara, drive slowly! (how)
Look outside. (where)
The trees are changing colors now. (when)
Underline the adverb in each sentence. Write whether the adverb tells when,
where, or how about the action that is taking place.
1. The end of summer comes quickly.

2. Breezes carry the fallen leaves far.
3. Many people enjoy activities outdoors.
4. Apples, gourds, and pumpkins are in orchards nearby.
5. Travelers also plan car trips then.
6. Motorists drive slowly in the countryside.
7. Colorful trees appear everywhere.
8. Maple leaves often turn bright orange or red.
9. Sometimes they turn bright yellow.
10. People always enjoy the brilliant colors.
11. The colorful leaves do not stay forever.
12. Soon the trees are bare.
13. Colder weather will come soon.
14. Heavy snows will fall later.

15. People usually stay indoors during a big snowstorm.
At Home: Rewrite three of the above sentences using McGraw-Hill Language Arts
different adverbs. For example: Heavy snows will fall soon. Grade 4, Unit 6, Adverbs,
83 pages 422–423 15
Adverbs That Compare
RULES
• Adverbs can be used to make comparisons.
• Add -er to short adverbs to compare two actions. Add -est to compare
more than two actions.
Stephanie swims fast at practice.
Stephanie swims faster than Paula.
Stephanie swims fastest of all the swimmers on the team.
Write the adverb in parentheses that correctly completes the sentence.
1. I joined the swim team this year than I did last

year. (later, latest)
2. Swim team fees dropped than they were last
year. (lowest, lower)
3. Our team, the Sharks, practices in the morning
than the Waves team. (earliest, earlier)
4. The Sharks practice than the Waves. (longer, longest)
5. Of all the practices and meets, most teams swim
at a championship meet. (harder, hardest)
6. Jessica does the butterfly stroke than Yolanda.
(slower, slowest)
7. Our best swimmers kick . (harder, hardest)
8. Backstroke swimmers who have long strokes swim
than those with short strokes. (fastest, faster)
9. Olympic stars swim of all. (fastest, faster)

10. Many champions begin training than average
swimmers. (sooner, soonest)
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Tell a family member how you knew which
Grade 4, Unit 6, Adverbs, adverb to choose for your answer in the above sentences.
10 pages 424–425 84
More Adverbs That Compare
RULES
• The words more and most are usually used to form comparisons with
adverbs that end in -ly and with longer adverbs.
• Use more to compare two actions.
A river raft changes its course more abruptly in
rapids than in a gentle stream.
• Use most to compare more than two actions.
Of all white water, class VI rapids churn most powerfully.
Underline the word in parentheses that completes each sentence correctly.
1. Water flows ( more , most) slowly on level ground than in the mountains.
2. Mountain streams flow (more, most ) quickly of all.
3. The Gauley River in West Virginia runs ( more , most) swiftly than the Ocoee
River in Tennessee.
4. River guides paddle ( more , most) cautiously through rapids than through
other moving water.
5. Of all times, rafters smile (more, most ) happily at the end of a safe trip.
6. Compared with all other sports enthusiasts, kayakers play (more, most )
dangerously.
7. Kayakers paddle ( more , most) vigorously than rafters.
8. A well-trained guide travels the river (more, most ) easily of all river runners.
9. Some river outfitters operate

( more , most) safely than others.
10. Of all sports groups, they train

their employees (more, most )
rigorously.
At Home: Write two original sentences using adverbs with McGraw-Hill Language Arts
the words more and most. Grade 4, Unit 6, Adverbs,
85 pages 426–427 10
Mechanics and Usage: Good and Well
RULES
• Use the adjective good when describing a noun.
It is wise to make good decisions.
• Use the adverb well when telling more about a verb.
You will do well if you make wise decisions.
Write the letter C before the sentence that uses good or well correctly.
1. Ryan’s parents are glad that he makes good choices.

Ryan’s parents are glad that he makes well choices.
2. His teachers say he listens good at school.

His teachers say he listens well at school.
3. They noticed that he chooses friends good.

They noticed that he chooses friends well.
4. His parents agree that he has good friends.

His parents agree that he has well friends.
5. They also think that his grades are good.

They also think that his grades are well.
6. He remembers good in history class, but not in math.

He remembers well in history class, but not in math.
7. His idea about doing homework in study hall was a good one.
His idea about doing homework in study hall was a well one.
8. He eats at least three good meals a day and gets plenty of rest.
He eats at least three well meals a day and gets plenty of rest.
9. Ryan should expect a well report card.

Ryan should expect a good report card.
10. His teachers and parents are happy that he is progressing so good.
His teachers and parents are happy that he is progressing so well.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Write a sentence that tells what you do well. Then
Grade 4, Unit 6, Adverbs, write a sentence that tells what is good about it. For example:
10 pages 428–429 I ride a bike well. Riding a bike gives me good exercise. 86
Mixed Review
RULES
• An adverb tells more about a verb. Adverbs tell how, when, or where
an action takes place.
We gladly went to the county fair. tells how
I never miss going with my friends. tells when
It is held here every year in the fall. tells where
• Add -er to short adverbs to compare two actions. Add -est to compare
more than two actions.
My horse jumped higher than her horse.
Of all the horses, this one jumped the highest.
• The words more and most are usually used to form comparisons with
longer adverbs and adverbs that end in -y .
This horse ran more quickly than that horse.
Of all the horses, this one ran the most quickly.
Circle the adverb that correctly completes each sentence. Write whether the
adverb tells how, when, or where.
1. Our county fair usually attracts many people.
2. I arrived earlier at the fair than my friend Emma.
3. We gleefully watch many of the events.
4. Mike eats the most in the hot dog eating contest.
5. The pig race draws a large crowd here.
6. Mr. Jenson’s pig runs the most quickly of all.

7. Mark confidently enters the frog jumping contest.
8. The frog that jumps the farthest of all wins a prize.
9. My frog never wins the jumping contest.
10. We left the fair more reluctantly than we did last year.
At Home: Talk to family members or friends about the McGraw-Hill Language Arts
most unusual contest they have seen. Write a paragraph Grade 4, Unit 6, Mixed Review,
87 about it. Circle each adverb you include. pages 430–431 10
Negatives
RULES
• Negatives are words that mean “no.” Usually they contain the word no
or a contraction for not, such as: not, nobody, nowhere, none, no one.
• Never use more than one negative at a time in a sentence.
INCORRECT: I can’t make no decisions.
CORRECT: I can’t make any decisions.
Underline the double negatives in each sentence. Then rewrite the sentence
correctly by replacing one of the negatives with the word in parentheses.
1. There isn’t nothing worse than being the new kid at school. (is)
2. It feels like I’m not never going to make any friends. (ever)
3. I thought I told you I didn’t know nobody at school. (anybody)
4. I guess that nobody listens to me no more. (anymore)
5. By now you should understand why I can’t invite no one over. (anyone)
6. You know I don’t like going nowhere alone. (anywhere)
7. There aren’t no teachers around to help make the introductions. (are)
8. Isn’t there nothing I can do about this? (something)

9. I am not trying nothing new until I make at least one new friend. (anything)
10. We aren’t moving nowhere ever again! (anywhere)
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Rewrite sentences 1, 5, and 7 a different way

Grade 4, Unit 6, Adverbs, without changing the meaning. Replace the other negative
10 pages 432–433 instead. 88
Prepositions
RULES
• A preposition is a word that comes before a noun or a pronoun and
relates it to another word in a sentence. Here are some prepositions:
about over from in for
above under through across
after behind until on
by near with off
Underline the preposition in each sentence.
1. Lisa decided she would wear a red sweater over her blouse.
2. First, she looked in the dresser where she keeps her sweaters.
3. She found her red sweater with the others.
4. It was under her favorite blue sweater.
5. Then she spotted her gray sweater across the room.
6. The beautiful gray sweater was sitting on the floor.
7. This sweater was a gift from her Aunt Marge.
8. Aunt Marge would be disappointed if she knew about this.
9. Lisa quickly lifted the sweater off the floor.
10. For a brief moment, Lisa thought she would wear the gray sweater.
11. Lisa donned the sweater and then looked in the mirror.
12. She decided the gray sweater didn’t look good with this outfit.
13. She tied the red sweater around her waist.
14. Lisa turned and looked at her reflection again.
15. This is exactly what Lisa would wear to the school dance.
At Home: Write several versions of sentence three. Each time, use a McGraw-Hill Language Arts
different preposition and noun or pronoun to tell where she found Grade 4, Unit 6, Adverbs,
89 the red sweater. For example, She found her red sweater on the bed. pages 434–435 15
Prepositional Phrases
RULES
• A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a
preposition and ends with a noun or pronoun.
There are many hot springs and geysers inside the park.
Write the prepositional phrase and underline the noun or pronoun that it ends with.
1. Our family went to Yellowstone National Park.
2. Our best friends traveled with us.

3. First, we flew a plane into Salt Lake City.
4. Then we borrowed a rental van from an agency.
5. We spent about a day exploring the Great Salt Lake.
6. The huge lake was filled with shrimp.
7. We left and headed for Wyoming.
8. Driving across Utah was interesting.
9. Next we passed through Idaho.
10. We finally arrived in a town called Jackson.
11. Jackson, Wyoming, is the home of Grand Teton National Park.
12. Yellowstone National Park is north of this area.

13. We headed toward the Tetons.
14. We arrived at Yellowstone.
15. Once inside the park, we visited Old Faithful and other interesting volcanic
features.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: List the prepositions you wrote in the above
Grade 4, Unit 6, Adverbs, exercises.
15 pages 436–437 90
Combining Sentences: Complex Sentences
RULES
• A complex sentence contains two related sentences that have been
combined with a conjunction other than and, but, or or.
• You can combine two short sentences to form a complex sentence.
Some people harvest saguaro fruit. It makes good preserves.
Some people harvest saguaro fruit because it makes good preserves.
Combine the short sentences into one complex sentence by using a conjuction
from the box. Don’t forget correct punctutation.
because before although if unless until
wherever when while
1. You will see the desert. You travel to Arizona.
2. Be sure to go on a hike. You are there.
3. You will see cactus. You hike in the desert.
4. Bring bottled water. There is no water available.
5. I never saw a saguaro cactus. I visited Tucson.
6. You may not see this cactus. You go there.
7. The saguaro looks like a barrel. It is very young.

8. Arms don’t grow. The cactus is more mature.
9. They have flowers and fruit. Saguaros don’t have leaves.
10. Desert creatures eat its ripe pulp. The fruit splits open.
At Home: Find a complex sentence in a local newspaper. McGraw-Hill Language Arts

Break it down into two separate sentences. Grade 4, Unit 6, Adverbs,
91 pages 438–439 10
Mechanics and Usage: Commas
RULES
• A comma shows a pause in your writing.
No, I didn’t realize the five senses are part of our nervous system.
• Use a comma to set off the name of the person you are speaking to.
David, didn’t you listen in health class?
• Use a comma to set off an introductory word.
Well, it’s time you started to pay attention.
Insert commas where needed.
1. Betsy don’t touch that hot stove!
2. Phillip why are you shouting at me?
3. Well you were about to burn your fingers!
4. Yes but I would have pulled my hand quickly away.
5. Sure but not quickly enough to keep from getting hurt.
6. Thank you for caring enough to warn me Phillip.
7. Did you know Betsy that your fingertips can send a message to your brain?
8. Yes but how does the message get there?
9. The messages travel through special nerve cells called neurons Betsy.
10. That sounds interesting Phillip.
11. For example neurons in your fingers sense that the stove is hot.
12. Next the message is translated as an electronic impulse.
13. Phillip that sounds amazing!

14. Finally the impulse travels across a network of nerve cells all the way to your
brain.
15. Yes I’ve heard that’s how it works.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Ask a family member to use your name as they
Grade 4, Unit 6, Adverbs, speak directly to you. Write the first few sentences of your
15 pages 440–441 conversation. 92
Mixed Review
RULES
• A negative means “no.” Never use two negatives in one sentence.
I have not never been on an airplane.
• A preposition, such as about, of, with, to, through, upon, comes
before a noun or pronoun and links it to the rest of the sentence.
The airport was full of people.
• A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begins with a
preposition and ends in a noun or pronoun.
I walked eagerly toward the plane.
• A complex sentence combines two ideas by using words that tell
where, when, why, how, and under what circumstances.
I was very excited. I walked onto the plane.
I was very excited when I walked onto the plane.
A. Combine each pair of sentences into a complex sentence. Correct any

double negatives.
1. I was worried about flying. I was in the air.
2. I couldn’t never tell we were moving. We flew through the sky.
3. We landed smoothly. We reached our destination.
4. I don’t never like to fly. The weather is bad.

5. I enjoy flying. It is very exciting for me.
B. 6.-10. Underline five prepositional phrases in the complex sentences you

wrote.
At Home: Think about when you did something for the first time. Write a McGraw-Hill Language Arts
paragraph describing what it was like. Circle each prepositional phrase Grade 4, Unit 6, Mixed Review,
93 you use. Check to see if you can combine any sentences. pages 442–443 10
Common Errors: Adverbs
RULES
• An adjective describes a noun. An adverb tells more about a verb.
I put the little puzzle together quickly.
• Good is an adjective. Well is an adverb.
My good friend and I work well together.
• Do not use two negative words together in a sentence.
They could not find no any puzzles to do.
• Many adverbs are formed by adding -ly to an adjective. For most
adverbs, do not change the spelling of the base word when you add -ly.
We finally found a puzzle we liked.
Write the word in parentheses ( ) that completes each sentence correctly.
1. I (recent, recently) finished putting another

jigsaw puzzle together.
2. I (frequent, frequently) work on puzzles instead
of watching TV.
3. I have (success, successfully) completed many
kinds of puzzles.
4. I do not buy (any, no) puzzles that have fewer
than a thousand pieces.
5. Three-dimensional puzzles are (good, well)
puzzles to put together.
6. Some puzzles (continue, continually) repeat
the same picture over and over.
7. They are (especial, especially) hard to put together.
8. My brother and I work (good, well) together on

puzzles.
9. He doesn’t have time to work on them (anymore,
no more).
10. I feel great when I (final, finally) complete a puzzle.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Write about something you like to do. Include at
Grade 4, Unit 6, Adverbs, least three sentences that have adverbs.
10 pages 444–445 94
Study Skills: Encyclopedia
• An encyclopedia is a reference work that contains articles on many

subjects. It may be a single book, but it is more often a set of books or
volumes.
• The volumes in a set of encyclopedias are labeled these two ways:
numbers and alphabetically by subject.
• The last volume in an encyclopedia is the index, which lists all the
subjects written about in the encyclopedia. The index is also arranged
alphabetically by subject.
Complete each sentence with the number of the encyclopedia volume in

which you would find an article.
INDEX
C- Ci- S- So- WX-
A B Ch Cz D E F G H I JK L M NO P QR Sn Sz T UV YZ
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22
1. An article on the horseshoe crab 6. You will find an article on

may be found in volume Catherine the Great in volume
2. To find out about coyotes, look in 7. An article on Dodge City would be

volume found in volume
3. Information on the Black Hills may 8. Read the article about the country
be found in volume of Ethiopia in volume
4. Japanese literature may be looked 9. Look up the painter Henri Matisse

up in volume in volume
5. Radioactivity has an article in 10. The article on the author of Uncle

volume Tom’s Cabin, Harriet Beecher
Stowe, may be found in volume
At Home: Think of two subjects you would like to learn McGraw-Hill Language Arts
more about. In what volume of the encyclopedia shown on Grade 4, Unit 6, Study Skills,
95 this page would you look for them? pages 452–453 10
Vocabulary: Suffixes
• A suffix is a word part added to the end of a Suffix Meaning

base word. -er person who
-ful full of
work + er = worker neat + ness = neatness
-ion an act or state
slow + ly = slowly of being
• A suffix changes the meaning of the base word to -ly in a certain way
which it is added. -y like, full of
-less without
-ment the result of
Underline the word in each sentence that has a suffix. Write an equation for it.
(See above for an example.)
1. It is very windy today.
2. I am showing my art project to

my teacher today.
3. Maybe if I walk quickly, my papers

won’t blow.
4. I was successful and made it to class

on time.
5. My teacher gave me a cheerful greeting.
6. When she saw my art work, she

expressed amazement.
7. First her expression worried me.
8. “You used your materials in a wonderful

way,” she said.
9. The bright colors make it look so joyful.
10. My parents’ encouragement helped

me finish my art project.
McGraw-Hill Language Arts At Home: Use a dictionary. Find and list words that are
Grade 4, Unit 6, Vocabulary, formed with the suffix -ist such as artist.
10 pages 454–455 96
Composition: Outlining
• When you need to organize ideas for a report, you can make an
outline. Your writing topic is named in the outline title.
• The main topics are listed next to Roman numerals followed by
periods. (I. II. III.)
• Each main idea will become a paragraph in your report.
• Subtopics are listed with capital letters followed by periods under each
main topic. (A. B. C. ) Subtopics are the details that support or explain
a main topic in a paragraph.
Here is an outline that Julia prepared for a science report about sound.
Complete the outline by writing the correct numerals and letters on the lines.
Title: Sound
1.–10.
A Kind of Energy
Sound waves caused by vibrations.
Waves travel at speed of sound.
Characteristics of Sound
Volume
Pitch
Unusual Sound Conditions
SONAR (sound navigation ranging)
Noise pollution
Hearing impairments
At Home: Think of a topic for a science report you would McGraw-Hill Language Arts
like to research. Outline your ideas. Use main topics, Grade 4, Unit 6, Composition Skills,
97 subtopics, and Roman numerals. Don’t forget a title. pages 456–457 10

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Name Date Reteach 1

1. Maritza is my favorite pen pal. yes no

2. Lives in Puerto Rico. yes no

3. I have been writing to Maritza for two years. yes no

4. She is four months older than me. yes no

5. Tall girl with green eyes. yes no

6. We are both in the fourth grade. yes no

7. I visited Puerto Rico with my family. yes no

8. Stayed at Maritza’s house. yes no

9. Maritza introduced me to all her friends. yes no

10. Sometimes her brother. yes no

It begins with a capital letter. It ends with a period.

It begins with a capital letter. It ends with a question mark.

1. My funny letter is in my pocket.

It begins with a capital letter. It ends with a period.

It begins with a capital letter. It ends with an exclamation mark.

1. Please help set the table.

2. It’s surprising how many are coming!

3. Put the flowers on the table.

4. What a mess I made!

5. Don’t forget to take out the garbage.

6. Watch for our guests, please.

7. How tired I am!

8. Turn on the radio and close the window.

9. Oh no, I broke a glass!

10. Wow, this is a big party!

Underline the conjunction in each compound sentence.

1. Natasha and I watched the monkeys,

2. Zookeepers know what kind of food each animal

3. Wild animals can get their own food, but zoo

4. Lions don’t eat every day in the wild, and they’re

5. Next month we will visit a museum, or we will

go back to the zoo.

Underline each sentence that is written correctly.

1. When does the contest begin.

2. Oh, the music is lovely!

3. Please be on time for the show.

4. you and I can sit here.

5. Tell me all about the performance.

6. Do you see Marta and John in

7. Clap for all the performers

8. wow, the trumpet player was fabulous!

9. Simon wanted to come tonight, but he

sprained his ankle playing ball.

10. We all gathered in the hallway

1. Would you like to help me plan a picnic

4. The soda was warm, but we drank it anyway

complete subject complete predicate

Tell whether the underlined part of the sentence is a complete subject or a

8. The fourth-grade class read “The Courage of Sarah Noble.”

At first hot air was used to fill big round balloons.

The complete subject is underlined in each sentence.

1. Some inventors hoped that hot-air balloons

2. Many people didn’t think balloons should be

3. Floating in air is like floating in water.

5. Soon airplanes proved to be faster and safer.

7. My parents took me to an air show.

9. An airplane wing is curved on top

10. The Wright brothers’ Flyer was the world’s