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Build a sentence

  1. The little blue
    Not whole
    Lily reads a book.
    Whole idea

    A sentence is a whole idea

    A sentence tells a whole idea. The little blue is not a sentence. It leaves you asking, the little blue what? Lily reads a book is a whole idea.

    1. 1The cat
      naming part
    2. 2naps.
      action part

    Two parts

    Most sentences have two parts. The naming part tells who or what. The action part tells what they do. In The cat naps, the cat is who. Naps is what it does.

    1. 1Hana
      who
    2. 2drinks
      action
    3. 3water.
      what

    Put the words in order

    Here are mixed up words: water, Hana, drinks. Start with the naming part, Hana. Then add the action, drinks. Then water. Read it out loud to check.

    1. 1Where
      asking word
    2. 2is
      then
    3. 3my hat?
      question mark

    Asking sentences

    A question often starts with a word like Can, Where or Do. It ends with a question mark. Where is my hat? Can you swim?

  5. kite
    Mia has a kite
    ball
    and a ball

    Join two sentences

    Mia has a kite. Mia has a ball. We can join them with the word and. Mia has a kite and a ball. Now it is one smooth sentence.

For parents

Goal: Your child learns that a sentence has a naming part and an action part, with words in an order that makes sense.

  • Say part of a sentence, like "The tall green," and ask: is that a whole idea?
  • Ask: who or what is this about? That is the naming part. What do they do? That is the action part.
  • Practice joining: I have a pen. I have a cup. Together they become I have a pen and a cup.

Away from the screen: Write a short sentence on paper, cut the words apart, and mix them up. Your child puts them back in order and reads it aloud.

English · Building Sentences
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