The Case of the Bold Word

This mystery-themed grammar worksheet helps students in Grades 4 and 5 strengthen their understanding of adjectives, adverbs, and sentence meaning through careful analysis of bolded words in context. Learners read each sentence closely and determine whether the highlighted word modifies a noun or a verb, adjective, or another adverb, reinforcing grammar conventions, reading comprehension, and precise interpretation of language.

Skills Reinforced

• Adjective vs. Adverb Recognition (Grades 4-5)
  Students identify whether a bolded word functions as an adjective or an adverb based on what it modifies.
• Grammar in Context
  Learners use sentence clues to analyze how modifiers affect meaning.
• Reading Comprehension & Analysis
  Close reading supports accurate grammatical reasoning and interpretation.
• Sentence Structure Awareness
  Practice builds understanding of how descriptive and modifying words fit within sentences.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource
  Designed by educators to align with upper-elementary grammar standards.
• Engaging Mystery Format
  The detective-style approach promotes focus and deductive thinking.
• Clear, Consistent Practice
  Bolded target words help students concentrate on a single grammar skill at a time.
• Flexible Classroom Use
  Suitable for independent work, grammar lessons, centers, review, or homework.

This printable worksheet gives students repeated, meaningful practice with modifier identification and grammar analysis. By deciding how each bolded word functions within a sentence, learners strengthen grammatical accuracy, reading fluency, and confidence with parts of speech. Ideal for both classroom and homeschool settings, this no-prep resource supports clear thinking, careful reading, and correct modifier usage in everyday language.

This worksheet is part of our Adjective and Adverb Confusion collection.