Year 3 English: Paragraphs: grouping related sentences
Part of the Year 3 English tense and paragraphs chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Paragraphs: grouping related sentences
A paragraph is a group of sentences about one idea or theme. We start a new paragraph when the idea changes. In handwriting, start each new paragraph on a new line, and leave a small gap at the start of its first line.
Key ideas
- A paragraph is a group of sentences about one idea or theme.
- Start a new paragraph when the idea changes: a new time, a new place or a new idea.
- Each new paragraph starts on a new line, with the first line a little way in.
- A paragraph has several sentences that go together.
1 We ate egg sandwiches on a red blanket.
2 The sand was warm under our feet.
3 Then we shared a cake that Dad baked.
4 Waves rolled gently onto the beach.
5 After lunch, we played a card game.
6 We paddled in the cold, blue water.
Method. Sort the sentences by their idea, then pick out the ones about the topic.
- Read each sentence and decide its idea. Each sentence is about one of the topics in the text.1: the picnic, 2: the sea, 3: the picnic, 4: the sea, 5: the picnic, 6: the sea
- Choose the sentences about the topic. These sentences are about the picnic.1, 3, 5
- Write the answer. 1, 3, 5
Check. There are 3 sentences about the picnic. ✓
Watch out. A sentence can be about the topic even if it does not use the topic word.
(a) The waves were tall and green.
(b) Seagulls flew over the pier.
(c) Mum made a cheese sandwich.
(d) The sand felt soft under our toes.
Method. Look for the sentence that does not share the idea of the others.
- Read each sentence. Three of the sentences are about the sea.the sea
- Find the sentence about something else. Mum made a cheese sandwich. is not about the sea.(c)
- Write the answer. Mum made a cheese sandwich.
Check. The other three sentences all tell us about the sea. ✓
Watch out. A paragraph keeps to one idea. An odd sentence starts a new idea, so it goes in another paragraph.
1 We put on our coats and boots.
2 The path went up a steep hill.
3 Halfway up, we stopped for a drink.
4 The cows at the farm were friendly.
5 One cow let us stroke its nose.
6 Then we walked back to the car.
Method. Look for the sentence where the idea changes.
- Read the sentences in order. Notice when the idea changes.Sentence 3 is about the walk.
- Find the first sentence of the new idea. Sentence 4 starts to talk about the farm.4
- Write the answer. 4
Check. The first sentence of the new paragraph is sentence 4. ✓
Watch out. The new paragraph starts with the first sentence about the new idea.
Watch out
Watch out: do not start a new paragraph after every sentence. A paragraph keeps to one idea. Start a new one only when the idea changes.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Read a short text with your child. Ask: what is this paragraph about? Where does the idea change? Ask your child to put a finger on the place where a new paragraph should start.
Exercise 6E Practice: grouping sentences into paragraphs
1 Mum and I went to the shop on Saturday.
2 Our dog waited for us at the park gate.
3 The shelves were full of bright fruit.
4 The swings were free when we walked past.
5 We bought six apples and a loaf of bread.
6 The lady at the till smiled at me.
Method. Sort the sentences by their idea, then pick out the ones about the topic.
- Read each sentence and decide its idea. Each sentence is about one of the topics in the text.1: the shop, 2: the park, 3: the shop, 4: the park, 5: the shop, 6: the shop
- Choose the sentences about the topic. These sentences are about the park.2, 4
- Write the answer. 2, 4
Check. There are 2 sentences about the park. ✓
Watch out. A sentence can be about the topic even if it does not use the topic word.
(a) We pumped up the tyres before we set off.
(b) The lane was quiet and shaded by trees.
(c) The school play starts at seven o'clock.
(d) My helmet was blue and very comfy.
Method. Look for the sentence that does not share the idea of the others.
- Read each sentence. Three of the sentences are about a bike ride.a bike ride
- Find the sentence about something else. The school play starts at seven o'clock. is not about a bike ride.(c)
- Write the answer. The school play starts at seven o'clock.
Check. The other three sentences all tell us about a bike ride. ✓
Watch out. A paragraph keeps to one idea. An odd sentence starts a new idea, so it goes in another paragraph.
1 Our class grew bean plants this spring.
2 We put the seeds in a cup of damp cotton wool.
3 Each plant needed water and a sunny window.
4 In the summer, we visited the farm shop.
5 The farmer showed us a tractor.
Method. Look for the sentence where the idea changes.
- Read the sentences in order. Notice when the idea changes.Sentence 3 is about beans.
- Find the first sentence of the new idea. Sentence 4 starts to talk about the farm.4
- Write the answer. 4
Check. The first sentence of the new paragraph is sentence 4. ✓
Watch out. The new paragraph starts with the first sentence about the new idea.
1 We waited at the bus stop for ten minutes.
2 The castle walls were tall and grey.
3 The bus was full of singing children.
4 Inside the castle, we saw an old suit of armour.
5 The driver waved as we got off.
Method. Sort the sentences by their idea, then pick out the ones about the topic.
- Read each sentence and decide its idea. Each sentence is about one of the topics in the text.1: the bus, 2: the castle, 3: the bus, 4: the castle, 5: the bus
- Choose the sentences about the topic. These sentences are about the bus.1, 3, 5
- Write the answer. 1, 3, 5
Check. There are 3 sentences about the bus. ✓
Watch out. A sentence can be about the topic even if it does not use the topic word.
(a) Hamsters sleep for much of the day.
(b) My hamster is called Biscuit.
(c) I like football on Saturdays.
(d) Its cage has a wheel and a tunnel.
Method. Look for the sentence that does not share the idea of the others.
- Read each sentence. Three of the sentences are about my pet hamster.my pet hamster
- Find the sentence about something else. I like football on Saturdays. is not about my pet hamster.(c)
- Write the answer. I like football on Saturdays.
Check. The other three sentences all tell us about my pet hamster. ✓
Watch out. A paragraph keeps to one idea. An odd sentence starts a new idea, so it goes in another paragraph.
1 Rain drummed on the roof all morning.
2 We sat by the window and read our books.
3 At lunchtime, the library was busy.
4 Mia found a book about dragons.
Method. Look for the sentence where the idea changes.
- Read the sentences in order. Notice when the idea changes.Sentence 2 is about the rain.
- Find the first sentence of the new idea. Sentence 3 starts to talk about the library.3
- Write the answer. 3
Check. The first sentence of the new paragraph is sentence 3. ✓
Watch out. The new paragraph starts with the first sentence about the new idea.
Method. The first sentence of a set of instructions shows the first step.
- Look for a first step. First tells us the sentence comes at the start.First
- Check the order. Washing your hands comes before spreading and cutting, so it goes first.wash your hands
- Write the answer. First, wash your hands and get two slices of bread.
Check. Read the steps in order. ✓
Watch out. Look for the time words: first, next, then and finally.
Method. Keep to the idea of the paragraph.
- Find the idea. The paragraph is about the sea and the sand.the sea
- Write a sentence about the same idea. Your new sentence must also be about the sea.The waves sparkled in the sun.
- Write the answer. Any sentence about the sea, for example: The waves sparkled in the sun.
Check. Check that your sentence is about the sea and the sand. ✓
Watch out. Do not start a new idea, such as the picnic, in this paragraph.
Method. Think about what a paragraph is for.
- Think about one idea. A paragraph can have several sentences about the same idea.one idea
- Decide when a new paragraph starts. A new paragraph starts only when the idea changes.when the idea changes
- Write the answer. No. A paragraph groups sentences about one idea, so several sentences go together.
Check. Read a paragraph aloud and check that it keeps to one idea. ✓
Watch out. Also accept: No, one idea can need several sentences in the same paragraph.