Reading and writing short sentences
By the end of this chapter you will be able to
- I can read a short sentence from left to right, to the full stop
- I can find the main thing a sentence is about
- I can put the words of a sentence in order
- I can write a short sentence with a capital letter and a full stop
- I can check my own sentence so that another person can read it
You should already know
- Blending words (Chapter 6)
- Common tricky words (Chapter 8)
- Segmenting and writing words (Chapter 7)
Where this leads
- Reading and writing in Year 1 (the next stage after Reception)
Early Years Foundation Stage for England, English. Content: Read a short sentence with a capital letter and a full stop, Find the main animal or thing in a sentence and match it to a picture, Put the words of a short sentence in the right order, Write a short sentence with a capital letter, a full stop and known letters, Check that a sentence starts with a capital letter, ends with a full stop and reads correctly.
Exercise P Do you remember?
Method. Think about the meaning of the word.
- Think about the meaning. The word that means belonging to me is my.belonging to me
- Check the letters. my has two letters: m and y.m - y
- Write the answer. my
Check. my is a tricky word. ✓
Watch out. Read the word on sight.
Method. A tricky word does not follow the sounds, so learn how it looks.
- Look at the whole word. Learn the shape of the word.the
- Say the word. Say it the same way each time.the
- Find it again. Compare each word in the list with the word you are looking for.the is the word.
Check. Read the word again. It is the. ✓
Watch out. Tricky words cannot be sounded out in the usual way, so look at the whole word.
pig
pen
pan
Method. Read the parts in order. Then say the sounds together, faster and faster, to make the word.
- Read each part, one at a time. Each part makes one sound. Read them from left to right.p - i - g
- Say the sounds, then join them. Blending means joining the sounds together into one word./p/ /i/ /g/
- Write the word. The blended sounds make the word./p/ /i/ /g/ = pig
Check. Check the picture of a pig. The picture matches the word. ✓
Watch out. Do not say each sound as a separate word. Join them together.
Method. Say the word, sound by sound. Then write one letter, or one group of letters, in each box.
- Say the name of the picture. A grown-up says the word slowly.go
- Say each sound in order. Each sound is written as one box.g - o
- Write the letters in order. The letters go in the same order as the sounds.g-o
Check. Read the letters back: g-o. They spell go. ✓
Watch out. Write the sounds from left to right, and leave no box out.
ship
chick
van
Method. Find the picture whose name starts with the sound /sh/.
- Look at the start of each name. The first letter, or first letters, give the first sound. A grown-up can read each name aloud.ship starts with sh · chick starts with ch · van starts with v
- Find the sound /sh/. Only one name starts with this sound./sh/ is at the start of ship.
- Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.ship
Check. Say ship slowly, sound by sound. It starts with /sh/. ✓
Watch out. Look at the start of the name, not at the end or the middle.
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.
Reading a sentence and finding the main thing
Read the sentence A dog sat on a mat. Read it from the start to the full stop. Read each word in order.
The sentence is about a dog. The dog is the main animal. The picture shows the dog.
dog
mat
Key ideas
- Read the sentence from the capital letter to the full stop.
- Find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.
- Other words tell you where, or what happened.
dog
mat
cat
Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.
- Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.A dog sat on a mat.
- Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.dog
- Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.dog
Check. The sentence is about the dog. ✓
Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.
pig
duck
mum
Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.
- Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.The pig ran to the pond.
- Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.pig
- Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.pig
Check. The sentence is about the pig. ✓
Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.
hen
pen
pig
Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.
- Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.A hen is in a pen.
- Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.hen
- Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.hen
Check. The sentence is about the hen. ✓
Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.
Watch out
Watch out: the mat is where the dog sat, but the sentence is about the dog. Find the main animal or thing.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask: “Who or what is this sentence about?” Then ask the child to point to the picture.
Exercise 9B Reading sentences and finding the main thing
cat
mat
sun
Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.
- Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.A cat sat on a mat.
- Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.cat
- Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.cat
Check. The sentence is about the cat. ✓
Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.
duck
cup
dog
Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.
- Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.The dog ran to the pond.
- Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.dog
- Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.dog
Check. The sentence is about the dog. ✓
Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.
bus
pig
hen
Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.
- Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.I can see a big pig.
- Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.pig
- Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.pig
Check. The sentence is about the pig. ✓
Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.
hen
pen
pig
Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.
- Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.She has a red hen.
- Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.hen
- Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.hen
Check. The sentence is about the hen. ✓
Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.
car
tree
boat
Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.
- Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.We are in a boat.
- Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.boat
- Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.boat
Check. The sentence is about the boat. ✓
Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.
boat
bus
car
Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.
- Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.My bus is red.
- Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.bus
- Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.bus
Check. The sentence is about the bus. ✓
Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.
duck
hen
dog
Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.
- Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.A duck sat on the pond.
- Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.duck
- Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.duck
Check. The sentence is about the duck. ✓
Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.
sun
moon
tree
Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.
- Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.They can see a tree.
- Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.tree
- Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.tree
Check. The sentence is about the tree. ✓
Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.
mat
cup
bed
Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.
- Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.Mum has a cup.
- Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.cup
- Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.cup
Check. The sentence is about the cup. ✓
Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.
sun
moon
Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.
- Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.The sun is hot.
- Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.sun
- Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.sun
Check. The sentence is about the sun. ✓
Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.
pig
Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.
- Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.A pig is in the mud.
- Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.pig
- Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.pig
Check. The sentence is about the pig. ✓
Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.
bus
car
Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.
- Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.Sam has a red bus.
- Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.bus
- Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.bus
Check. The sentence is about the bus. ✓
Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.
boat
fish
Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.
- Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.A boat is on the pond.
- Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.boat
- Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.boat
Check. The sentence is about the boat. ✓
Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.
duck
Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.
- Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.The duck can swim.
- Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.duck
- Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.duck
Check. The sentence is about the duck. ✓
Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.
cat
mat
Method. Read the sentence and find what it is about.
- Read the sentence. Read each word in order.A - cat - sat - on - a - mat
- Find the main thing. The cat sat, so the cat is the main animal.cat
- Give your answer. Say what the mat is.Accept any answer that says no: the sentence is about the cat. The mat is only where the cat sat.
Check. The main thing is the cat. ✓
Watch out. Find the animal or thing that does the action.
moon
sun
Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.
- Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.I can see the moon.
- Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.moon
- Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.moon
Check. The sentence is about the moon. ✓
Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.
Putting the words in order
Kit has some words on cards: sat, cat, A. The words are mixed up.
Put them in order to make a sentence: A cat sat. Read it again to check it makes sense.
Key ideas
- Words must go in an order that makes sense.
- Read the sentence to check the order.
- The capital letter goes at the start.
Method. Look at the words. Put the first word in the right place, then the rest in order.
- Look at the words. The words are not in the right order yet.sat / cat / A
- Put them in order. Read the words to check that they make sense.A cat sat.
- Check the capital and the full stop. The first word has a capital letter and the sentence ends with a full stop.A cat sat.
Check. Read it again: A cat sat. ✓
Watch out. Read the sentence aloud with a grown-up, and check the order.
Method. Look at the words. Put them in the order that makes sense.
- Look at the words. The first word is The.The / dog / ran / to / pond
- Put them in order. Read them to check they make sense.The dog ran to the pond.
- Check the capital and the full stop. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.The dog ran to the pond.
Check. The dog ran to the pond. ✓
Watch out. Read the sentence to check the words make sense.
Method. Look at the words. Put them in the order that makes sense.
- Look at the first word. This starts the sentence.This
- Put the rest in order. Read the words in order to check they make sense.This is a big pig.
- Check the capital and the full stop. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.This is a big pig.
Check. This is a big pig. ✓
Watch out. Read the sentence back to check it makes sense.
Watch out
Watch out: a sentence can have the right words in the wrong order. Read it back to check.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Write the words on cards. Let the child move them until the sentence makes sense. Then read it aloud.
Exercise 9C Putting the words in order
Method. Look at the words. Put the first word in the right place, then the rest in order.
- Look at the words. The words are not in the right order yet.dog / A / ran
- Put them in order. Read the words to check that they make sense.A dog ran.
- Check the capital and the full stop. The first word has a capital letter and the sentence ends with a full stop.A dog ran.
Check. Read it again: A dog ran. ✓
Watch out. Read the sentence aloud with a grown-up, and check the order.
Method. Look at the words. Put the first word in the right place, then the rest in order.
- Look at the words. The words are not in the right order yet.sun / the / is / hot
- Put them in order. Read the words to check that they make sense.The sun is hot.
- Check the capital and the full stop. The first word has a capital letter and the sentence ends with a full stop.The sun is hot.
Check. Read it again: The sun is hot. ✓
Watch out. Read the sentence aloud with a grown-up, and check the order.
Method. Look at the words. Put the first word in the right place, then the rest in order.
- Look at the words. The words are not in the right order yet.big / pig / A / is
- Put them in order. Read the words to check that they make sense.A pig is big.
- Check the capital and the full stop. The first word has a capital letter and the sentence ends with a full stop.A pig is big.
Check. Read it again: A pig is big. ✓
Watch out. Read the sentence aloud with a grown-up, and check the order.
Method. Look at the words. Put the first word in the right place, then the rest in order.
- Look at the words. The words are not in the right order yet.mat / the / on / sat / cat / The
- Put them in order. Read the words to check that they make sense.The cat sat on the mat.
- Check the capital and the full stop. The first word has a capital letter and the sentence ends with a full stop.The cat sat on the mat.
Check. Read it again: The cat sat on the mat. ✓
Watch out. Read the sentence aloud with a grown-up, and check the order.
Method. Look at the words. Put the first word in the right place, then the rest in order.
- Look at the words. The words are not in the right order yet.sat / a / on / mat / cat / A
- Put them in order. Read the words to check that they make sense.A cat sat on a mat.
- Check the capital and the full stop. The first word has a capital letter and the sentence ends with a full stop.A cat sat on a mat.
Check. Read it again: A cat sat on a mat. ✓
Watch out. Read the sentence aloud with a grown-up, and check the order.
Method. Look at the words. Put the first word in the right place, then the rest in order.
- Look at the words. The words are not in the right order yet.ran / to / pond / the / dog / The
- Put them in order. Read the words to check that they make sense.The dog ran to the pond.
- Check the capital and the full stop. The first word has a capital letter and the sentence ends with a full stop.The dog ran to the pond.
Check. Read it again: The dog ran to the pond. ✓
Watch out. Read the sentence aloud with a grown-up, and check the order.
Method. Look at the words. Put the first word in the right place, then the rest in order.
- Look at the words. The words are not in the right order yet.is / hot / sun / The
- Put them in order. Read the words to check that they make sense.The sun is hot.
- Check the capital and the full stop. The first word has a capital letter and the sentence ends with a full stop.The sun is hot.
Check. Read it again: The sun is hot. ✓
Watch out. Read the sentence aloud with a grown-up, and check the order.
Method. Read the words in Ben’s order.
- Read the words. Read them in the order Ben put them.cat - A - sat
- Check the order. A cat sat makes sense. cat A sat does not.A cat sat
- Give your answer. Say what the right order is.Accept any answer that says no: the order should be A cat sat.
Check. A cat sat makes sense. ✓
Watch out. Read the words in order to check them.
Method. Look at the words. Put the first word in the right place, then the rest in order.
- Look at the words. The words are not in the right order yet.hen / red / a / has / She
- Put them in order. Read the words to check that they make sense.She has a red hen.
- Check the capital and the full stop. The first word has a capital letter and the sentence ends with a full stop.She has a red hen.
Check. Read it again: She has a red hen. ✓
Watch out. Read the sentence aloud with a grown-up, and check the order.
boat
Method. Think of a short sentence about a boat.
- Think of the words. Use words you know.A - boat - is - red
- Put them in order. Read them to check they make sense.A boat is red.
- Give your answer. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.Accept any sentence about a boat that starts with a capital letter, such as A boat is red.
Check. A boat is red. ✓
Watch out. Read the sentence back to check it.
Writing a short sentence about a picture
Ali draws a picture of a hen. Ali writes a sentence under it: A hen is red.
Ali starts with a capital letter. Ali uses letters and words that he knows. Ali ends with a full stop.
hen
Key ideas
- Write a sentence about the picture.
- Use letters and words that you know.
- Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.
cat
Method. Think of a short sentence about the cat.
- Think of a short sentence. Use words you know.A cat sat.
- Check the capital letter and full stop. Start with A and end with a full stop.A cat sat.
- Write the answer. A cat sat.
Check. Read it back: A cat sat. ✓
Watch out. Check the first letter and the last mark.
duck
Method. Think of a short sentence about the duck.
- Think of a short sentence. Use words you know.A duck is on a pond.
- Check the capital letter and full stop. Start with A and end with a full stop.A duck is on a pond.
- Write the answer. A duck is on a pond.
Check. Read it back: A duck is on a pond. ✓
Watch out. The duck is the main thing, so it comes first.
bus
Method. Think of a short sentence about the bus.
- Think of a short sentence. Use words you know.The bus is red.
- Check the capital letter and full stop. Start with The and end with a full stop.The bus is red.
- Write the answer. The bus is red.
Check. Read it back: The bus is red. ✓
Watch out. Check the first letter and the last mark.
Watch out
Watch out: do not forget the capital letter at the start, and the full stop at the end.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask the child to say the sentence first. Then write it, one word at a time. Check it with a grown-up.
Exercise 9D Writing short sentences about pictures
cat
Method. Choose a short sentence about the cat.
- Choose the words. Use words you know.A - cat - sat
- Check the start and the end. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.A cat sat.
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence about a cat with a capital letter and a full stop, such as A cat sat.
Check. Read it back. It starts with a capital and ends with a full stop. ✓
Watch out. Check both the start and the end.
dog
Method. Choose a short sentence about the dog.
- Choose the words. Use words you know.A - dog - ran
- Check the start and the end. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.A dog ran.
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence about a dog with a capital letter and a full stop, such as A dog ran.
Check. Read it back. It starts with a capital and ends with a full stop. ✓
Watch out. Check both the start and the end.
pig
Method. Choose a short sentence with is in it.
- Choose the words. Use the word is in the sentence.A - pig - is - big
- Check the start and the end. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.A pig is big.
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence about a pig that uses is, such as A pig is big.
Check. Read it back. The word is is in it. ✓
Watch out. Check the word is in your sentence.
hen
Method. Choose a short sentence with red in it.
- Choose the words. Use the word red in the sentence.The - hen - is - red
- Check the start and the end. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.The hen is red.
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence about a hen that uses red, such as The hen is red.
Check. Read it back. The word red is in it. ✓
Watch out. Check the first letter and the last mark.
boat
Method. Choose a short sentence with in in it.
- Choose the words. Use the word in in the sentence.A - boat - is - in
- Check the start and the end. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.A boat is in the sea.
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence about a boat that uses in, such as A boat is in the sea.
Check. Read it back. The word in is in it. ✓
Watch out. Check the spelling of each word.
bus
Method. Choose a short sentence with my in it.
- Choose the words. Use the tricky word my.My - bus - is - red
- Check the start and the end. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.My bus is red.
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence about a bus that uses my, such as My bus is red.
Check. Read it back. The tricky word my is in it. ✓
Watch out. Read the tricky word on sight.
duck
Method. Choose a short sentence with on in it.
- Choose the words. Use the word on in the sentence.The - duck - is - on - the - pond
- Check the start and the end. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.The duck is on the pond.
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence about a duck that uses on, such as The duck is on the pond.
Check. Read it back. The word on is in it. ✓
Watch out. Check the spelling of on.
tree
Method. Choose a short sentence with see in it.
- Choose the words. Use the word see in the sentence.I - can - see - a - tree
- Check the start and the end. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.I can see a tree.
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence about a tree that uses see, such as I can see a tree.
Check. Read it back. The word see is in it. ✓
Watch out. Check the capital letter for I.
fish
Method. Check the start and the end of the sentence.
- Look at the first letter. A is a capital letter.A
- Look at the end. The sentence ends with a full stop.pond.
- Give your answer. Say whether it is correct.Accept any answer that says yes: it starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop.
Check. The sentence has a capital letter and a full stop. ✓
Watch out. Check the start and the end.
sun
Method. Choose a short sentence with is in it.
- Choose the words. Use the word is in the sentence.The - sun - is - hot
- Check the start and the end. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.The sun is hot.
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence about the sun that uses is, such as The sun is hot.
Check. Read it back. The word is is in it. ✓
Watch out. Read the whole sentence back.
Checking sentences
Mia writes a sentence: the bus is big. Mia checks it.
She sees that the first letter is small. She adds a capital letter, The. She adds a full stop at the end.
Key ideas
- Check the first letter: is it a capital letter?
- Check the last mark: is it a full stop?
- Read the sentence to check it makes sense.
bus
car
boat
Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.
- Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.The bus is big.
- Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.bus
- Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.bus
Check. The sentence is about the bus. ✓
Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.
Method. Check the start and the end of the sentence.
- Look at the first letter. A sentence starts with a capital letter.the bus is big
- 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 bus is big.
Check. Read the sentence again: The bus is big. ✓
Watch out. Use a capital letter for the first word, and a full stop at the end.
cat
mat
Method. Put the words in order, then check the capital letter and full stop.
- Choose the words. The sentence is about the cat and the mat.The - cat - sat - on - the - mat
- Check the start. The first letter is a capital letter.The
- Check the end. The sentence ends with a full stop.The cat sat on the mat.
Check. The cat sat on the mat. ✓
Watch out. Read the sentence back to check it.
Watch out
Watch out: a sentence that looks right may still be wrong. Check the capital letter, the full stop and the order.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Read the sentence together. Ask the child to point to the capital letter, then to the full stop.
Exercise 9E Checking sentences
mat
bed
cat
Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.
- Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.The cat sat on the mat.
- Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.cat
- Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.cat
Check. The sentence is about the cat. ✓
Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.
hen
pig
pen
Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.
- Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.A hen is in the pen.
- Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.hen
- Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.hen
Check. The sentence is about the hen. ✓
Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.
Method. Check the start and the end of the sentence.
- Look at the first letter. A sentence starts with a capital letter.the bird is red
- 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 bird is red.
Check. Read the sentence again: The bird is red. ✓
Watch out. Use a capital letter for the first word, and a full stop at the end.
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 a boat.
- 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 a boat.
Check. Read the sentence again: I can see a boat. ✓
Watch out. Use a capital letter for the first word, and a full stop at the end.
Method. Check the start and the end.
- Look at the first letter. A is a capital letter.A
- Look at the end. The sentence ends with a full stop.mat.
- Write the answer. yes
Check. The sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop. ✓
Watch out. Check both the start and the end.
Method. Check the start and the end.
- Look at the first letter. A is a capital letter.A
- Look at the end. The sentence ends with a full stop.hot.
- Write the answer. yes
Check. The sentence is correct. ✓
Watch out. Check both the start and the end.
Method. Look at the words. Put the first word in the right place, then the rest in order.
- Look at the words. The words are not in the right order yet.pig / is / The / big
- Put them in order. Read the words to check that they make sense.The pig is big.
- Check the capital and the full stop. The first word has a capital letter and the sentence ends with a full stop.The pig is big.
Check. Read it again: The pig is big. ✓
Watch out. Read the sentence aloud with a grown-up, and check the order.
pig
Method. Choose a short sentence about the pig.
- Choose the words. Use words you know.A - pig - is - in - a - pen
- Check the start and the end. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.A pig is in a pen.
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence about a pig with a capital letter and a full stop, such as A pig is in a pen.
Check. Read it back. It starts with a capital and ends with a full stop. ✓
Watch out. Check both the start and the end.
hen
Method. Check the start and the end.
- Look at the first letter. a is small. It should be a capital letter.a -> A
- Look at the end. There is no full stop.add .
- Give your answer. Say what Ben should change.Accept any answer that says no: he should write A hen sat. with a capital A and a full stop.
Check. A hen sat. is correct. ✓
Watch out. Change the first letter, then add the full stop.
Method. Think about both rules.
- Think about the start. A sentence starts with a capital letter.capital
- Think about the end. A sentence ends with a full stop.full stop
- Give your answer. Say what a sentence needs.Accept any answer that says no: a sentence needs a capital letter at the start and a full stop at the end.
Check. Both rules are needed. ✓
Watch out. Check both the start and the end.
Method. Write one sentence, then check it.
- Write the sentence. Use words you know.A cat sat.
- Check the start and the end. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.A cat sat.
- Give your answer. Check that another person can read it.Accept any sentence that starts with a capital letter, ends with a full stop and makes sense.
Check. Read it back. Another person can read it. ✓
Watch out. Read it aloud to check it makes sense.
Chapter summary
| Skill | Method |
|---|---|
| Capital letter | Start every sentence with a capital letter |
| Full stop | End every sentence with a full stop |
| Reading a sentence | Read from the capital letter to the full stop, then find the main thing |
| Putting words in order | Read the sentence back to check it makes sense |
| Writing a sentence | Use letters and words you know, with a capital letter and a full stop |
Can you…?
- I can read a short sentence from the capital letter to the full stop
- I can find the main animal or thing in a sentence
- I can put the words of a sentence in order
- I can write a short sentence with a capital letter and a full stop
- I can check my sentence so that another person can read it
Key terms
- sentence
- a group of words that makes sense
- capital letter
- a big letter, such as A or I, used at the start of a sentence
- full stop
- a small dot that ends a sentence
- main thing
- the animal or thing that a sentence is about
Exercise 9Z Check-up
Method. Look at the first letter of each sentence.
- Look at a sun is hot. The first letter is small.a sun is hot.
- Look at A sun is hot. The first letter is a capital letter.A sun is hot.
- Write the answer. A sun is hot.
Check. Only A sun is hot. starts with a capital letter. ✓
Watch out. Check the first letter.
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. 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.
hen
pen
pig
Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.
- Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.A hen is in a pen.
- Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.hen
- Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.hen
Check. The sentence is about the hen. ✓
Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.
duck
fish
cat
Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.
- Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.The duck can swim.
- Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.duck
- Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.duck
Check. The sentence is about the duck. ✓
Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.
Method. Look at the words. Put the first word in the right place, then the rest in order.
- Look at the words. The words are not in the right order yet.pig / big / a / is / This
- Put them in order. Read the words to check that they make sense.This is a big pig.
- Check the capital and the full stop. The first word has a capital letter and the sentence ends with a full stop.This is a big pig.
Check. Read it again: This is a big pig. ✓
Watch out. Read the sentence aloud with a grown-up, and check the order.
Method. Check the start and the end of the sentence.
- Look at the first letter. A sentence starts with a capital letter.the bus is red
- 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 bus is red.
Check. Read the sentence again: The bus is red. ✓
Watch out. Use a capital letter for the first word, and a full stop at the end.
cat
Method. Choose a short sentence about the cat.
- Choose the words. Use words you know.A - cat - sat
- Check the start and the end. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.A cat sat.
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence about a cat with a capital letter and a full stop, such as A cat sat.
Check. Read it back. It starts with a capital and ends with a full stop. ✓
Watch out. Check both the start and the end.
Method. Look for a full stop at the end of each sentence.
- Find the first full stop. The sun is hot. is one sentence.sentence 1
- Find the second full stop. The mat is red. 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.
cat
mat
Method. Read the sentence and find what it is about.
- Read the sentence. Read each word in order.The - cat - is - on - the - mat
- Find the main thing. The sentence is about the cat.cat
- Give your answer. Say what the mat is.Accept any answer that says no: the sentence is about the cat, and the mat is where the cat is.
Check. The main thing is the cat. ✓
Watch out. Find the animal or thing the sentence is about.
boat
Method. Write a short sentence about a boat.
- Think of the words. Use words you know.A - boat - is - red
- Check the start and the end. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.A boat is red.
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence about a boat with a capital letter and a full stop, such as A boat is red.
Check. Read it back. It starts with a capital and ends with a full stop. ✓
Watch out. Check both the start and the end.
Total 17 marks. Allow about 17 minutes.
Exercise 9X Practice test questions
Method. Check both the start and the end of each sentence.
- Look at a bus is red. No capital letter and no full stop.a bus is red
- Look at A bus is red. A capital letter, but no full stop.A bus is red
- Look at A bus is red. A capital letter and a full stop.A bus is red.
- Write the answer. A bus is red.
Check. Only A bus is red. has both. ✓
Watch out. Check both the start and the end.
cow
pig
hen
Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.
- Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.A cow is on a farm.
- Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.cow
- Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.cow
Check. The sentence is about the cow. ✓
Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.
Method. Check the start and the end of the sentence.
- Look at the first letter. A sentence starts with a capital letter.the moon is up
- 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 moon is up.
Check. Read the sentence again: The moon is up. ✓
Watch out. Use a capital letter for the first word, and a full stop at the end.
Method. Look at the words. Put the first word in the right place, then the rest in order.
- Look at the words. The words are not in the right order yet.sat / cat / The
- Put them in order. Read the words to check that they make sense.The cat sat.
- Check the capital and the full stop. The first word has a capital letter and the sentence ends with a full stop.The cat sat.
Check. Read it again: The cat sat. ✓
Watch out. Read the sentence aloud with a grown-up, and check the order.
tree
sun
Method. Read the sentence from left to right. Then find the main animal or thing that the sentence is about.
- Read each word in order. Read the whole sentence, one word at a time.The tree is green.
- Find the main thing. The main thing is the animal or object in the sentence.tree
- Write the answer. Use the word written under the picture.tree
Check. The sentence is about the tree. ✓
Watch out. Read to the full stop, then decide what the sentence is about.
Method. Look at the words. Put the first word in the right place, then the rest in order.
- Look at the words. The words are not in the right order yet.ran / A / dog
- Put them in order. Read the words to check that they make sense.A dog ran.
- Check the capital and the full stop. The first word has a capital letter and the sentence ends with a full stop.A dog ran.
Check. Read it again: A dog ran. ✓
Watch out. Read the sentence aloud with a grown-up, and check the order.
duck
Method. Choose a short sentence about the duck.
- Choose the words. Use words you know.A - duck - is - on - the - pond
- Check the start and the end. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.A duck is on the pond.
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence about a duck with a capital letter and a full stop, such as A duck is on the pond.
Check. Read it back. It starts with a capital and ends with a full stop. ✓
Watch out. Check both the start and the end.
pig
Method. Check the start and the end.
- Look at the first letter. a is small. It should be a capital letter.a -> A
- Look at the end. There is no full stop.add .
- Give your answer. Say what Ben should change.Accept any answer that says Ben should write A pig is in the mud. with a capital A and a full stop.
Check. A pig is in the mud. is correct. ✓
Watch out. Change the first letter, then add the full stop.
hen
Method. Write one sentence, then check it.
- Write the words. Use words you know.The - hen - is - red
- Check the start and the end. Start with a capital letter and end with a full stop.The hen is red.
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence about a hen with a capital letter and a full stop, such as The hen is red.
Check. Read it back. It starts with a capital and ends with a full stop. ✓
Watch out. Read it aloud to check it makes sense.
Method. Count the full stops, one at the end of each sentence.
- Look at the first sentence. A cat sat. ends with a full stop.full stop 1
- Look at the other sentences. The dog ran. and A pig is big. each end with a full stop.full stops 2 and 3
- Write the answer. 3 full stops.
Check. Three sentences, three full stops. ✓
Watch out. Each sentence ends with one full stop.