Year 6 · SPaG · Autumn: Phrases and clauses
Year 6 adverbs of possibility worksheet and PowerPoint
To use adverbs to show degrees of possibility, such as perhaps, probably and certainly.
How certain are you?
Adverbs of possibility tell the reader how certain the writer is. Some show that something is sure to happen, some that it is probable and some that it is only possible.
| certain | certainly, definitely, surely, undoubtedly, obviously, clearly, evidently |
|---|---|
| probable | probably, presumably |
| possible | perhaps, maybe, possibly |
Examples
- It will definitely rain. / It will probably rain. / Perhaps it will rain.
Key words
- adverb of possibility
- shows how likely or certain something is
- certain
- sure to happen or be true
- probable
- likely, but not sure
- possible
- may or may not happen
What is on the worksheet
Every sheet for this lesson has a short teaching box and 12 questions that get gradually harder: 8 fluency questions, then 4 reasoning questions that ask pupils to explain or choose. A writing challenge follows. The questions use the same styles as the key stage 2 grammar and punctuation test (circle, underline, tick, fill the gap, add punctuation, rewrite, explain). They are written for this website, not copied from past papers.
All the answers are on the last page of the same editable Word file. New questions are made every time, so you can print a different sheet for every group or for homework. The same sheet code always gives the same sheet.
Writing challenge: Write a weather forecast for the week. Use at least six different adverbs of possibility, and put them in order from least to most certain.
Pupil target: I can choose adverbs to show how certain I am.
The PowerPoint
A 20-slide lesson deck for the same lesson: a starter that revisits earlier learning, key words, an I do and a You do question on each slide with a countdown timer, answers that appear one click at a time, and a challenge. Download the adverbs of possibility PowerPoint.
Where this lesson fits
This is lesson 13 of 72 in the Year 6 SPaG scheme, in the Autumn term, block “Phrases and clauses”. It is taught before the SATs grammar test in May.
Other lessons in this block
- Expanded noun phrases
- Main and subordinate clauses
- Coordinating and subordinating conjunctions
- Relative clauses
- Modal verbs
This site is not affiliated with, or endorsed by, the Standards and Testing Agency or the Department for Education.