Year 1 English: The capital letter at the start
Part of the Year 1 English making sentences chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page · Download worksheet (PDF) · Answers (PDF)
The capital letter at the start
Every sentence starts with a capital letter. A capital letter is a big letter. It is taller than the small letters around it.
Look at the small t and the capital T. They are the same letter, but the capital is bigger. When a sentence starts, we use the capital T, as in The bus is red.
Key ideas
- Every sentence starts with a capital letter.
- Only the first letter of the first word changes.
- A capital letter is big and tall. A small letter is little.
- The other words stay small.
Key words. A capital letter is the big letter, like T. A small letter is the little letter, like t.
Method. The first word of a sentence starts with a capital letter.
- Look at the first letter. It is a small letter, so it needs changing.the bus is red.
- Make it a capital letter. A capital letter is the big letter.t → T
- Write the sentence again. Keep the other words the same.The bus is red.
Check. Only the first letter changed. The other words stayed the same. ✓
Watch out. Change the first letter only. Do not change the other words.
Method. Pick the sentence that starts with a capital letter.
- Look at the first letter of each sentence. The first letter of a sentence should be a capital letter.d is a small letter. D is a capital letter.
- Pick the sentence with the capital letter. That one is written correctly.Dogs can run.
- Check the other words. Both sentences have the same words.Only the first letter is different.
Check. Read both sentences aloud. Only the right one starts like a sentence should. ✓
Watch out. A small letter at the start is wrong, even when the rest of the sentence is right.
Key words. A capital letter is the big letter, like T. A small letter is the little letter, like t.
Method. The first word of a sentence starts with a capital letter.
- Look at the first letter. It is a small letter, so it needs changing.my hat is blue.
- Make it a capital letter. A capital letter is the big letter.m → M
- Write the sentence again. Keep the other words the same.My hat is blue.
Check. Only the first letter changed. The other words stayed the same. ✓
Watch out. Change the first letter only. Do not change the other words.
Watch out
Watch out: only the first letter of the sentence is a capital. The Cat Sat. is not right, because Cat and Sat are ordinary words. Names and days need capitals too, and you will learn about them next.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Write a sentence on paper with a small first letter, then ask your child, “Which letter is the first one?” Rewrite it with a capital letter, so your child can see that only the first letter changes.
Exercise 6C Capital letters at the start
Key words. A capital letter is the big letter, like T. A small letter is the little letter, like t.
Method. The first word of a sentence starts with a capital letter.
- Look at the first letter. It is a small letter, so it needs changing.the cat sat.
- Make it a capital letter. A capital letter is the big letter.t → T
- Write the sentence again. Keep the other words the same.The cat sat.
Check. Only the first letter changed. The other words stayed the same. ✓
Watch out. Change the first letter only. Do not change the other words.
Key words. A capital letter is the big letter, like T. A small letter is the little letter, like t.
Method. The first word of a sentence starts with a capital letter.
- Look at the first letter. It is a small letter, so it needs changing.the sun is up.
- Make it a capital letter. A capital letter is the big letter.t → T
- Write the sentence again. Keep the other words the same.The sun is up.
Check. Only the first letter changed. The other words stayed the same. ✓
Watch out. Change the first letter only. Do not change the other words.
Key words. A capital letter is the big letter, like T. A small letter is the little letter, like t.
Method. The first word of a sentence starts with a capital letter.
- Look at the first letter. It is a small letter, so it needs changing.birds can fly.
- Make it a capital letter. A capital letter is the big letter.b → B
- Write the sentence again. Keep the other words the same.Birds can fly.
Check. Only the first letter changed. The other words stayed the same. ✓
Watch out. Change the first letter only. Do not change the other words.
Key words. A capital letter is the big letter, like T. A small letter is the little letter, like t.
Method. The first word of a sentence starts with a capital letter.
- Look at the first letter. It is a small letter, so it needs changing.a boat floats.
- Make it a capital letter. A capital letter is the big letter.a → A
- Write the sentence again. Keep the other words the same.A boat floats.
Check. Only the first letter changed. The other words stayed the same. ✓
Watch out. Change the first letter only. Do not change the other words.
Key words. A capital letter is the big letter, like T. A small letter is the little letter, like t.
Method. The first word of a sentence starts with a capital letter.
- Look at the first letter. It is a small letter, so it needs changing.the dog is wet.
- Make it a capital letter. A capital letter is the big letter.t → T
- Write the sentence again. Keep the other words the same.The dog is wet.
Check. Only the first letter changed. The other words stayed the same. ✓
Watch out. Change the first letter only. Do not change the other words.
Key words. A capital letter is the big letter, like T. A small letter is the little letter, like t.
Method. The first word of a sentence starts with a capital letter.
- Look at the first letter. It is a small letter, so it needs changing.the cup is full.
- Make it a capital letter. A capital letter is the big letter.t → T
- Write the sentence again. Keep the other words the same.The cup is full.
Check. Only the first letter changed. The other words stayed the same. ✓
Watch out. Change the first letter only. Do not change the other words.
Method. Pick the sentence that starts with a capital letter.
- Look at the first letter of each sentence. The first letter of a sentence should be a capital letter.t is a small letter. T is a capital letter.
- Pick the sentence with the capital letter. That one is written correctly.The bus stops here.
- Check the other words. Both sentences have the same words.Only the first letter is different.
Check. Read both sentences aloud. Only the right one starts like a sentence should. ✓
Watch out. A small letter at the start is wrong, even when the rest of the sentence is right.
Method. Find the first letter of the sentence. Then check whether it is small or capital.
- Look at the first letter. It is the first letter of the first word.t
- Check if it is a capital. It is a small letter, so it needs to change.t is small
- Write the capital letter. The capital letter for t is T.T
Check. Read the sentence with T at the start: Ten ducks swim. ✓
Watch out. The letter is a capital T, not a T with a small shape.
Key words. A capital letter is the big letter, like T. A small letter is the little letter, like t.
Method. The first word of a sentence starts with a capital letter.
- Look at the first letter. It is a small letter, so it needs changing.bees make honey.
- Make it a capital letter. A capital letter is the big letter.b → B
- Write the sentence again. Keep the other words the same.Bees make honey.
Check. Only the first letter changed. The other words stayed the same. ✓
Watch out. Change the first letter only. Do not change the other words.
Key words. A capital letter is the big letter, like T. A small letter is the little letter, like t.
Method. The first word of a sentence starts with a capital letter.
- Look at the first letter. It is a small letter, so it needs changing.frogs can hop.
- Make it a capital letter. A capital letter is the big letter.f → F
- Write the sentence again. Keep the other words the same.Frogs can hop.
Check. Only the first letter changed. The other words stayed the same. ✓
Watch out. Change the first letter only. Do not change the other words.
Key words. A capital letter is the big letter, like T. A small letter is the little letter, like t.
Method. The first word of a sentence starts with a capital letter.
- Look at the first letter. It is a small letter, so it needs changing.birds sing in the trees.
- Make it a capital letter. A capital letter is the big letter.b → B
- Write the sentence again. Keep the other words the same.Birds sing in the trees.
Check. Only the first letter changed. The other words stayed the same. ✓
Watch out. Change the first letter only. Do not change the other words.
Method. Check every word, not only the first one.
- Read Tom’s sentence. He says every word starts with a capital letter.The Cat Sat.
- Find which words need a capital. Only the first word of a sentence needs one. Cat and Sat are ordinary words.Only The
- Write the answer. No. Only the first letter of a sentence needs a capital.
Check. Write it with the right capital: The cat sat. ✓
Watch out. Do not give a capital letter to every word.
Key words. A capital letter is the big letter, like T. A small letter is the little letter, like t.
Method. The first word of a sentence starts with a capital letter.
- Look at the first letter. It is a small letter, so it needs changing.the hen laid an egg.
- Make it a capital letter. A capital letter is the big letter.t → T
- Write the sentence again. Keep the other words the same.The hen laid an egg.
Check. Only the first letter changed. The other words stayed the same. ✓
Watch out. Change the first letter only. Do not change the other words.