The tools that build clauses, prepositions, progressive and perfect tenses, relative pronouns, and real revising skills for nine- and ten-year-olds.
STSpellingJoy Team
•Last Updated: July 13, 2026
The best grammar apps for 4th grade are SpellingJoy ELA, which puts grammar to work while a student revises, and IXL, the deepest source of adaptive clause, tense, and preposition practice, with BrainPOP as the clearest concept explainer. Fourth grade grammar is about sentence architecture: separating clauses, handling progressive and perfect tenses, and editing a draft so it actually reads well.
At nine or ten, a student is writing multi-paragraph pieces, and grammar becomes the difference between a clean paragraph and a tangled one. A fourth grader has to tell an independent clause from a dependent one, spot the prepositional phrase that adds detail, choose between "was walking" and "has walked," and connect ideas with a relative pronoun such as who or which. Above all, this is the year of revising: finding the run-on, cutting the fragment, and making a sentence clearer on purpose.
Fourth grade grammar goals
Clauses: distinguishing independent and dependent clauses
Prepositions: identifying prepositions and prepositional phrases
Progressive and perfect tenses: forms such as was walking and has walked
Relative pronouns: using who, which, and that to link ideas
Editing and revising: repairing run-ons and fragments for clarity
How we picked the apps
We reviewed vendor pricing, feature coverage, and app-store listings, then kept only the apps whose grammar content reaches a true fourth grade level. Early-learning programs aimed at ages two to eight were left off this list, since a fourth grader needs clause work, tense contrasts, and revising practice rather than starter phonics. Depth and the quality of explanations carried the most weight.
These titles belong to the wider category of reading and phonics apps, and at this age the reading connection is powerful: encountering complex sentences in real books shows a student how clauses and tenses behave in context. The free SpellingJoy spelling app rounds out the list as a companion; it is not a grammar tool, but automatic spelling lets a fourth grader keep their editing attention on structure instead of on how words are spelled.
† Pricing note: Prices are checked against each vendor's official website or help center at the time of writing, but vendors change plans and prices at any time. Always confirm current pricing on the vendor's own site before purchasing. How we review and verify →
Our pick
1
SpellingJoy ELA
Best guided ELA that teaches grammar
SpellingJoy ELA is a voiced, interactive English Language Arts curriculum for ages 5-10. The child plays a ~20-minute daily lesson alone - the AI tutor reads aloud, the child builds words with tappable tiles, reads back (speech recognition), and writes with AI feedback. Phonics-first, standards-aware, a full 36-week year per grade. Parents review the week's work. It is an AI tutor, not a state-accredited program, and is not COPPA/FERPA certified - parental consent and supervision are the parent's responsibility.
Best for:Grammar applied while a 9-10 year old revises their own writingPrice:$19/month†Grades:K-5Platforms:Web
Pros
7-day free trial - try the full course before you pay
A full 36-week guided ELA year per grade (K-5)
Phonics-first and mapped to Common Core standards
Cons
Card required up front; $19/mo after the 7-day free trial
Web-only (no native mobile app yet)
AI tutor, not a state-accredited program
2
IXL
Best dedicated skill builder
IXL is a comprehensive adaptive learning platform covering all subjects from Pre-K through 12th grade.
Best for:Deep fourth grade clause, tense, and preposition strandsPrice:$79-159/yr†Grades:Pre-K-12Platforms:Web, iOS, Android
Pros
Comprehensive K-12 coverage
Adaptive learning
Detailed analytics
Cons
Expensive
Spelling is small part of ELA
3
BrainPOP
Best concept explainer
BrainPOP uses animated videos to teach concepts across all subjects for K-8 students.
Best for:Animated lessons on clauses, tenses, and sentence structurePrice:$119-159/yr†Grades:K-8Platforms:Web
Pros
Engaging animated videos
Covers all subjects
Quiz assessments
Cons
Expensive
Not spelling-specific
4
Education.com
Best worksheets and printables
Education.com offers thousands of worksheets, printables, and learning activities for Pre-K through 8th grade.
Best for:Printable clause, preposition, and revising exercisesPrice:$120/yr†Grades:Pre-K-8Platforms:Web
Pros
Huge worksheet library
Printable resources
Good for homeschool
Cons
Web only
Expensive
5
SplashLearn
Best game-based practice
SplashLearn offers game-based math and ELA practice for Pre-K through 5th grade. Known for engaging gameplay that keeps kids motivated.
Best for:Grammar games that keep a fourth grader engagedPrice:$80/yr†Grades:Pre-K-5Platforms:Web, iOS, Android
Pros
Strong math AND reading content
Game-based learning kids love
Personalized learning paths
Cons
Reading is newer than math content
Can be addictive for some kids
6
Reading Eggs
Best reading-linked practice
Reading Eggs provides a comprehensive reading program for children ages 2-13 with lessons, games, and books.
Best for:Grammar reinforced by leveled reading through age 13Price:$70-100/yr†Grades:Ages 2-13Platforms:All platforms
Pros
Wide age range
Comprehensive program
Includes spelling component
Cons
Expensive
Can be overwhelming
Our pick
7
SpellingJoy
Free spelling companion
SpellingJoy is a 100% free spelling practice platform for K-6 students. Unlimited spelling games, unlimited tests, 134+ word lists, custom list creation, and progress tracking - all completely free with no subscriptions and no hidden costs.
Best for:Free spelling reps that keep editing focused on grammarPrice:100% Free†Grades:K-6Platforms:Web
Pros
100% free - unlimited games, tests, and lists
No subscription or hidden costs ever
K-6 curriculum with 134+ word lists
Cons
Web-only (no native mobile apps yet)
Classroom features coming soon
Frequently asked questions
What grammar does a 4th grader learn?
Fourth grade grammar moves into sentence architecture. Students separate independent and dependent clauses, identify prepositions and the phrases they start, use progressive tenses such as was walking and perfect tenses such as has walked, add relative pronouns like who, which, and that, and revise their own drafts to fix run-ons and fragments. The emphasis shifts from writing a correct sentence to editing for clarity.
Are there free grammar apps for 4th grade?
Free options thin out at this level, but they exist. Education.com hosts many free printable clause and preposition sheets, SplashLearn and Reading Eggs offer limited free access before their paid tiers, and the SpellingJoy spelling app is fully free for the spelling reps that keep editing focused on grammar. For deep tense and clause work, a paid tool is usually the better value.
Does a 4th grader still need a grammar app?
By fourth grade the payoff of targeted grammar practice is real. Students are writing multi-paragraph pieces, and the difference between a clear paragraph and a tangled one often comes down to clause and punctuation control. An app that lets a child practice fixing run-ons and choosing the right tense, then apply it to a draft, sharpens writing faster than reading alone.
How much grammar practice should a 4th grader do weekly?
Twenty to twenty-five minutes, three or four times a week, works for most nine- and ten-year-olds. Because fourth grade grammar is about revising, the highest-value routine is a quick skill session followed by editing a paragraph the student already wrote. Marking clauses and prepositional phrases in their own work builds control faster than extra worksheets.
Can SpellingJoy ELA teach 4th grade grammar on its own?
It can anchor daily practice, with two honest caveats. First, the program is AI-led rather than officially accredited. Second, its deepest content sits in the earlier grades today, with fourth grade lessons expanding over time. It teaches grammar inside a voiced ELA lesson rather than as a certified course, so pairing it with IXL gives a fourth grader the deep, sortable clause and tense practice this year demands.
Which app is best for teaching clauses and prepositions?
IXL is the dedicated grammar workhorse for clauses, prepositions, and tenses, with adaptive questions that pinpoint weak spots. When a student needs the idea explained before drilling it, BrainPOP breaks sentence structure into a short animated lesson. Watching the concept, practicing it in IXL, then marking clauses in their own draft is the sequence that sticks best.
Our Verdict
For fourth grade, SpellingJoy ELA is our top pick because it has a student apply grammar while revising inside a voiced lesson, with two honest caveats: the program is AI-led rather than officially accredited, and its deepest content still sits in the earlier grades today. For the most rigorous clause and tense practice, IXL is the dedicated grammar workhorse this year needs.
To explain a tricky structure before drilling it, BrainPOP has the sharpest short lessons on clauses and tenses, and SplashLearn keeps the repetition feeling like a game rather than a chore.
For extra practice, Education.com is the best source of printable clause and preposition exercises, while Reading Eggs keeps grammar tied to leveled reading that stretches well beyond this grade.
Keep the free SpellingJoy spelling app on hand as a companion. It does not cover grammar, but effortless spelling means a fourth grader can pour their editing energy into clauses, tenses, and clarity instead of into spelling.
ST
About the Author
SpellingJoy Team
The SpellingJoy team is dedicated to creating free, high-quality spelling resources for K-6 students and their families. We test every app we review and provide honest assessments to help parents make informed decisions.
