Year 2 Grammar: Word Detectives
Key Stage 1 • Ages 6–7 • Beginner
Instructions: Read each example carefully and use the grammar clue to help you. Write one answer in each box; for the joining-word activity, choose from the word bank. Check that each sentence makes sense when you have finished.
Spot the Noun, Verb and Adjective
A noun names a person, place or thing. A verb tells us what someone or something does, and an adjective describes a noun. Write the word named in each question in the box.
1. The rabbit hops. Write the noun.
2. Sam laughs. Write the verb.
3. A shiny shell gleams. Write the adjective.
4. The teacher reads. Write the noun.
5. The baby crawls. Write the verb.
Describe It More
An expanded noun phrase gives extra detail about a noun. Add the adjective in brackets before the noun to make each phrase more interesting. Copy the whole expanded noun phrase into the box.
Example: the (fluffy) cat → the fluffy cat
1. the (stripy) sock
2. a (bright) star
3. the (tiny) mouse
4. a (crunchy) apple
Choose a Joining Word
Use each word from the word bank to join the ideas. Choose the word that makes the sentence make sense. Write one joining word in each box.
Word bank: and, or, but, when, because
1. I put on my coat ___ it was cold.
2. Would you like milk ___ water?
3. The dog is small ___ strong.
4. We cheered ___ our team scored.
5. I smiled ___ my friend told a funny joke.
Add an Adverb
An adverb can tell us how an action happens. Choose the best adverb from the word bank for each sentence and write it in the box. Use each word once.
Word bank: slowly, loudly, carefully, happily
1. The tortoise walked ___.
2. The children sang ___.
3. Mia carried the glass ___.
4. Ben smiled ___.
Past or Present?
A present-tense verb tells what is happening now. A past-tense verb tells what has already happened. Write the correct form of the verb in brackets to complete each sentence.
1. Every day, Tom ___ to school. (walk)
2. Yesterday, Tom ___ to school. (walk)
3. Now, the birds ___ in the tree. (sing)
4. Last night, the birds ___ in the tree. (sing)
5. Today, I ___ my lunch. (pack)
Make the Sentence Work
Choose a joining word from the bank to complete each sentence. The words when, if, that and because can join a main idea to extra information. Read each sentence aloud to check your choice makes sense.
Word bank: when, if, that, because
1. I know ___ our class can win.
2. We will play outside ___ the rain stops.
3. ___ you finish your book, put it away.
4. You can borrow my pencil ___ you return it.
Activity 1: rabbit ; laughs ; shiny ; teacher ; crawls
Activity 2: the fluffy sock ; a bright star ; the tiny mouse ; a crunchy apple
Activity 3: because ; or ; but ; when ; because
Activity 4: slowly ; loudly ; carefully ; happily
Activity 5: walks ; walked ; sing ; sang ; pack
Activity 6: that ; when ; when ; if
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