Reception English and phonics: A sentence starts with a capital letter
Part of the Reception English and phonics reading and writing short sentences chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
A sentence starts with a capital letter
A sentence is a group of words that makes sense. It tells you something.
Sam writes: A cat sat. The first letter is a capital letter, A. At the end is a full stop, .
A capital letter is a big letter. It tells the reader where the sentence starts. A full stop tells the reader where it ends.
Key ideas
- A sentence starts with a capital letter.
- A sentence ends with a full stop.
- A sentence makes sense.
Method. Look at the first letter of each sentence.
- Look at a cat sat. The first letter is small, so this is wrong.a cat sat.
- Look at A cat sat. The first letter is a capital letter, so this is right.A cat sat.
- Write the answer. A cat sat.
Check. A cat sat. starts with a capital letter. ✓
Watch out. Check the first letter only.
Method. Look at the end of the sentence. A full stop goes there.
- Look at the end. The last word is pond.pond
- Add a full stop. A full stop goes after the last word.pond.
- Write the answer. The dog ran to the pond.
Check. The sentence ends with a full stop. ✓
Watch out. Put the full stop straight after the last word, with no space.
Method. Change the first letter to a capital letter.
- Look at the first letter. The first letter is small.t
- Change it to a capital. Use a capital letter for the start of the sentence.T
- Write the answer. Keep the other letters small.The cat sat.
Check. The cat sat. starts with a capital letter. ✓
Watch out. Only the first letter is a capital letter.
Watch out
Watch out: a capital letter is for the start of a sentence and for names. Do not write every letter as a capital.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask: “Where does this sentence start?” and “Where does it stop?” Point to the capital and the full stop.
Exercise 9A Capital letters and full stops
Method. Look at the first letter of each sentence.
- Look at a dog ran. The first letter is small.a dog ran.
- Look at A dog ran. The first letter is a capital letter.A dog ran.
- Write the answer. A dog ran.
Check. Only A dog ran. starts with a capital letter. ✓
Watch out. Check the first letter.
Method. Check the start and the end of the sentence.
- Look at the first letter. A sentence starts with a capital letter.the pig is big.
- Look at the last mark. A sentence ends with a full stop.. is the last mark
- Write the sentence correctly. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.The pig is big.
Check. Read the sentence again: The pig is big. ✓
Watch out. Use a capital letter for the first word, and a full stop at the end.
Method. Look at the end of the sentence.
- Look at the end. The last word is pond.pond
- Add a full stop. A full stop goes after the last word.pond.
- Write the answer. A duck sat on the pond.
Check. The sentence ends with a full stop. ✓
Watch out. Put the full stop straight after the last word.
Method. Think about where a sentence stops.
- Think about the end. A sentence stops at the end, with a full stop.the end
- Check the choices. A comma is used inside a sentence, not at the end.comma
- Write the answer. a full stop
Check. A full stop shows where the sentence ends. ✓
Watch out. A full stop is a small dot.
Method. Check both the start and the end of each sentence.
- Look at a cat sat. It has no capital letter and no full stop.a cat sat
- Look at A cat sat. It has a capital letter but no full stop.A cat sat
- Look at A cat sat. It has a capital letter and a full stop.A cat sat.
- Write the answer. A cat sat.
Check. Only A cat sat. has both. ✓
Watch out. Check both the start and the end.
Method. Check the start and the end of the sentence.
- Look at the first letter. A sentence starts with a capital letter.the sun is hot
- Look at the last mark. A sentence ends with a full stop.no full stop
- Write the sentence correctly. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.The sun is hot.
Check. Read the sentence again: The sun is hot. ✓
Watch out. Use a capital letter for the first word, and a full stop at the end.
bus
Method. Check the start and the end of the sentence.
- Look at the first letter. a is a small letter.a
- Look at the end. There is no full stop.no full stop
- Give your answer. Say what needs to change.Accept any answer that says no: it needs a capital letter at the start, and a full stop at the end.
Check. A bus is red. ✓
Watch out. Check both the start and the end.
Method. Check the start and the end of the sentence.
- Look at the first letter. A sentence starts with a capital letter.a red hen is in the pen
- Look at the last mark. A sentence ends with a full stop.no full stop
- Write the sentence correctly. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.A red hen is in the pen.
Check. Read the sentence again: A red hen is in the pen. ✓
Watch out. Use a capital letter for the first word, and a full stop at the end.
Method. Look for a full stop at the end of each sentence.
- Find the first full stop. A cat sat. is one sentence.sentence 1
- Find the second full stop. The dog ran. is another sentence.sentence 2
- Write the answer. 2 sentences.
Check. Two full stops, so two sentences. ✓
Watch out. Each full stop ends one sentence.
Method. Check the start and the end of the sentence.
- Look at the first letter. A sentence starts with a capital letter.i can see the sun.
- Look at the last mark. A sentence ends with a full stop.. is the last mark
- Write the sentence correctly. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.I can see the sun.
Check. Read the sentence again: I can see the sun. ✓
Watch out. Use a capital letter for the first word, and a full stop at the end.
Method. Think about the word I.
- Look at I. I is written with a capital letter.I
- Look at the middle of a sentence. I stays a capital letter, even in the middle.I can go.
- Give your answer. Say whether Sam is right.Accept any answer that says yes: I is always a capital letter, even in the middle of a sentence.
Check. I is always a capital letter. ✓
Watch out. I is always written as a capital.