And adds an idea. But shows a contrast. Because gives a reason.
Choose the joining word that matches your meaning.
See it. Say it. Understand it.
Easy / Start here
I have a pen and a book.
Moderate / Add a little
I am tired, but I can help.
Challenge / Try when ready
I stayed at home because I was ill.
More detail for teachers and confident learners
A conjunction connects words, phrases, or clauses. And adds, but contrasts, and because introduces a reason. Compare 'I was tired, but I finished' with 'I finished because it was important': the relationship changes even though both sentences mention effort. A clear writer chooses the connection first, then the linking word. Do not place because in a sentence unless the reader can identify both the reason and the main idea. Sentence variety is useful, but a long chain of ands can hide the most important relationship.
Work from meaning to form. Read the first model, identify what the words are doing, and compare it with the second model. Explain the difference aloud before using the pattern in a new sentence. When checking a draft, locate the relevant word or clause and test it in its full sentence; a rule used in isolation may miss the intended meaning.
At Stage 3, connect this skill to a short story or a familiar school activity. Move from an oral explanation to a few connected written sentences, keeping events and references clear. A partner should be able to explain the main meaning after hearing or reading the response once. Revisit any wording that causes a different interpretation.
වැඩි විස්තර අවශ්ය විට පමණක් මෙම කොටස කියවන්න.
Optional extra unit worksheet
Practise the whole unit and receive a separate answer or model guide.
An adverb can add information about a verb, adjective, another adverb, or a whole clause.
In 'She spoke quietly', quietly tells us how she spoke.
Adverbs may also tell us when, where, or how often.
See it. Say it. Understand it.
Easy / Start here
She spoke quietly.
Moderate / Add a little
Only Ravi borrowed the book.
More detail for teachers and confident learners
An adverb can add information about a verb, adjective, another adverb, or a whole clause. In 'She spoke quietly', quietly tells us how she spoke. Adverbs may also tell us when, where, or how often. Not every adverb ends in -ly: soon and often are adverbs, while friendly is usually an adjective. Place an adverb where its connection is clear. Compare 'Only Ravi borrowed the book' with 'Ravi borrowed only the book': the position of only changes the meaning.
Work from meaning to form. Read the first model, identify what the words are doing, and compare it with the second model. Explain the difference aloud before using the pattern in a new sentence. When checking a draft, locate the relevant word or clause and test it in its full sentence; a rule used in isolation may miss the intended meaning.
At Stage 3, connect this skill to a short story or a familiar school activity. Move from an oral explanation to a few connected written sentences, keeping events and references clear. A partner should be able to explain the main meaning after hearing or reading the response once. Revisit any wording that causes a different interpretation.
වැඩි විස්තර අවශ්ය විට පමණක් මෙම කොටස කියවන්න.
Optional extra unit worksheet
Practise the whole unit and receive a separate answer or model guide.
Description helps the reader experience a person, place, or moment.
Choose a viewpoint and move through the scene deliberately, perhaps from a wide view to one small detail.
Use precise nouns and verbs as well as sensory detail: 'water dripped from the torn awning' is more specific than 'it was a bad place'.
See it. Say it. Understand it.
Easy / Start here
Water dripped from the torn awning.
Moderate / Add a little
A single lamp trembled in the dark shop window.
More detail for teachers and confident learners
Description helps the reader experience a person, place, or moment. Choose a viewpoint and move through the scene deliberately, perhaps from a wide view to one small detail. Use precise nouns and verbs as well as sensory detail: 'water dripped from the torn awning' is more specific than 'it was a bad place'. Select a few connected impressions rather than forcing all five senses into every paragraph. A description can contain movement, but a task focused on description should not turn into a plot-heavy narrative.
Plan before drafting: identify the reader, the purpose, and the information that must be included. Select a small number of useful details and place them in a logical order. After writing, check the effect on a reader who does not know your intentions. Revise unclear meaning first, then check sentence boundaries, verb forms, spelling, and punctuation.
At Stage 3, connect this skill to a short story or a familiar school activity. Move from an oral explanation to a few connected written sentences, keeping events and references clear. A partner should be able to explain the main meaning after hearing or reading the response once. Revisit any wording that causes a different interpretation.
වැඩි විස්තර අවශ්ය විට පමණක් මෙම කොටස කියවන්න.
Optional extra unit worksheet
Practise the whole unit and receive a separate answer or model guide.
The paid worksheet brings together all the lessons in this unit. A separate answer or model guide is included. Page count depends on the skills and activities.
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