Intermediate Phase · Grade 4

IsiZulu First Additional Language

ulimi lwakho lunamandla 🌱
Grade 4 CAPS Aligned Free Papers + Memos
Overview
What to expect in Grade 4

IsiZulu First Additional Language in Grade 4 introduces learners to isiZulu as a practical communication tool. The CAPS curriculum builds functional literacy in isiZulu — reading simple texts with understanding, writing short sentences and paragraphs, and using basic language structures. Learners develop core isiZulu vocabulary, basic grammar and reading comprehension skills through contexts connected to their everyday world. By the end of Grade 4, learners should be able to write a short isiZulu paragraph and answer basic comprehension questions.

Weekly FAL time
4–5 hours per week
Assessment weighting
Formal tasks: 75% · Informal: 25%
Main text types
Inganekwane, izincazelo, iziyalezo ezilula
Key progression
Ukuqonda amagama → imisho → isigaba esifushane
CAPS curriculum
Term-by-term breakdown
Term 1
Introduction & simple isiZulu texts
  • Basic isiZulu vocabulary — greetings (sanibonani, sawubona), family, colours, numbers
  • Simple narrative texts — read and answer literal questions
  • Common nouns (amagama aqondisa izinto) — people, animals, things
  • Present tense of common isiZulu verbs
  • Write short isiZulu sentences about yourself and your family
  • Oral: basic isiZulu greetings and classroom conversations
Term 2
Description & vocabulary building
  • Read descriptive isiZulu texts and identify key information
  • Adjectives (amagama achazayo) — colour, size, shape
  • Singular and plural forms of simple isiZulu nouns
  • Basic punctuation in isiZulu texts
  • Write a short description of a picture or place in isiZulu
  • Oral: describe a picture using simple isiZulu sentences
Term 3
Informational texts & past tense
  • Read simple isiZulu informational texts — notices, instructions
  • Simple past tense (isikhathi esedlule) of regular isiZulu verbs
  • Synonyms — vocabulary expansion in isiZulu
  • Prepared reading with focus on isiZulu pronunciation and tone
  • Write a short report about an activity or event in isiZulu
  • Oral: tell about a past experience using isiZulu past tense
Term 4
Revision & poetry
  • Simple persuasive and poetic isiZulu texts — identify the main idea
  • Rhyme (ukuphinda) and rhythm in simple isiZulu poems (izinkondlo)
  • Revision of nouns, verbs and adjectives in isiZulu
  • Revision of present and past tense in isiZulu
  • Write a simple short isiZulu poem or rhyme
  • Oral: recite a memorised isiZulu poem or rhyme (inkondlo)
Assessment
How marks are split
Ukufunda nokuqonda
40%
Izakhiwo zolimi
25%
Ukubhala
25%
Ukuphawula nokulalelisisa
10%
Key skills
What a strong Grade 4 student can do
Funda imibhalo elula ngokuqonda Chaza amagama aqondisa izinto Sebenzisa isikhathi samanje nesedlule Bhala imisho emifushane echazayo Sebenzisa amagama achazayo Yakha ubunyingi bamagama aqondisa izinto alula Phendula imibuzo elula yokuqonda Bona ukuphinda kwenzinkondlo Sebenzisa amagama abalulekile ngokufanele
Practice materials
Grade 4 papers & memos
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Study smarter
Tips for Grade 4
📖

Akha ulwazi lwamagama nsuku zonke. Funda amagama amahlanu esiZulu amatsha nsuku zonke. Abhale phansi nezincazelo zawo, usebenzise isigaba ngesigaba. Phakathi kwenyanga uzoba namagama amahlanu ngo-150.

✏️

Funda umbuzo ngaphambi kwesiqeshana. Ezihlolweni zokuqonda, ukwazi lokho okweshandiwe kwenza kube lula ukuthola impendulo.

📝

Ukuqonda — thola impendulo embhalweni. Izimpendulo eziningi zezibuzo zamazwi aqondile zitholakala ngqo embhalweni onikwayo.

🌱

Ungethukile ukwenza amaphutha. Indlela engcono yokufunda isiZulu ukusebenzisa — noma kungenagcwele. Iphutha ngalinye lithuba lokufunda.