Step-by-step English Level 1: Reading a sentence
Part of the Step-by-step English Level 1 reading short sentences chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Reading a sentence
A sentence tells a whole idea. It has a capital letter at the start and a full stop at the end.
The cat sat on the mat. tells us where the cat sat. Read the whole sentence first.
Then look at the choices. Only one sentence matches the picture.
Key ideas
- A sentence tells a whole idea.
- Read the whole sentence before the picture.
- Check every word matches the picture.
Method. Look at the picture, then read each sentence.
- Look at the picture. Say what it shows.cat
- Read each sentence. Find the one about the picture.The cat sat on the mat. / The dog is in the hut. / The pig is in the mud.
- Match the sentence. Choice A tells us about the cat.A: The cat sat on the mat.
- Write the answer. A
Check. Read the sentence again: it talks about a cat. ✓
Watch out. A sentence that talks about something else is wrong, even if it has the same letters.
Method. Look at the picture, then read each sentence.
- Look at the picture. Say what it shows.dog
- Read each sentence. Find the one about the picture.The cat sat on the mat. / The dog is in the hut. / Dad has a red hat.
- Match the sentence. Choice B tells us about the dog.B: The dog is in the hut.
- Write the answer. B
Check. Read the sentence again: it talks about a dog. ✓
Watch out. A sentence that talks about something else is wrong, even if it has the same letters.
Method. Look at the picture, then read each sentence.
- Look at the picture. Say what it shows.hen
- Read each sentence. Find the one about the picture.A hen sat on a nest. / The sun is hot. / Mum has a mug.
- Match the sentence. Choice A tells us about the hen.A: A hen sat on a nest.
- Write the answer. A
Check. Read the sentence again: it talks about a hen. ✓
Watch out. A sentence that talks about something else is wrong, even if it has the same letters.
Watch out
Watch out: The dog is in the hut. and The cat sat on the mat. are both about animals. Read the whole sentence.Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Read each sentence aloud with the child. Ask: which picture does this sentence describe?
Exercise 9B Practice: reading a sentence
Method. Look at the picture, then read each sentence.
- Look at the picture. Say what it shows.pig
- Read each sentence. Find the one about the picture.The pig is in the mud. / Dad can dig in the mud. / The sun is hot.
- Match the sentence. Choice A tells us about the pig.A: The pig is in the mud.
- Write the answer. A
Check. Read the sentence again: it talks about a pig. ✓
Watch out. A sentence that talks about something else is wrong, even if it has the same letters.
Method. Look at the picture, then read each sentence.
- Look at the picture. Say what it shows.bug
- Read each sentence. Find the one about the picture.The bug is on a leg. / The mug is on the rug. / The pot is hot.
- Match the sentence. Choice A tells us about the bug.A: The bug is on a leg.
- Write the answer. A
Check. Read the sentence again: it talks about a bug. ✓
Watch out. A sentence that talks about something else is wrong, even if it has the same letters.
Method. Look at the picture, then read each sentence.
- Look at the picture. Say what it shows.pan
- Read each sentence. Find the one about the picture.My pan is hot. / The pot is on the mat. / The pig is big.
- Match the sentence. Choice A tells us about the pan.A: My pan is hot.
- Write the answer. A
Check. Read the sentence again: it talks about a pan. ✓
Watch out. A sentence that talks about something else is wrong, even if it has the same letters.
Method. Look at the picture, then read each sentence.
- Look at the picture. Say what it shows.ant
- Read each sentence. Find the one about the picture.The ant is on a map. / The cat is on a bed. / Mum has a mug.
- Match the sentence. Choice A tells us about the ant.A: The ant is on a map.
- Write the answer. A
Check. Read the sentence again: it talks about a ant. ✓
Watch out. A sentence that talks about something else is wrong, even if it has the same letters.
Method. Look at the picture, then read each sentence.
- Look at the picture. Say what it shows.tent
- Read each sentence. Find the one about the picture.I am in the tent. / The hut is red. / She has a red cup.
- Match the sentence. Choice A tells us about the tent.A: I am in the tent.
- Write the answer. A
Check. Read the sentence again: it talks about a tent. ✓
Watch out. A sentence that talks about something else is wrong, even if it has the same letters.
Method. Look at the picture, then read each sentence.
- Look at the picture. Say what it shows.mug
- Read each sentence. Find the one about the picture.Mum has a mug. / She has a pan. / Ben has a bus.
- Match the sentence. Choice A tells us about the mug.A: Mum has a mug.
- Write the answer. A
Check. Read the sentence again: it talks about a mug. ✓
Watch out. A sentence that talks about something else is wrong, even if it has the same letters.
Method. Check the first letter and the end mark of each line.
- Look at the first letter of each line. It should be a capital letter.the cat sat on the mat / The cat sat on the mat.
- Look at the end of each line. It should end with a full stop.The cat sat on the mat. ends with a full stop
- Pick the correct line. Only one line has both.choice B
- Write the answer. B
Check. Choice B starts with a capital and ends with a full stop. ✓
Watch out. Every sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop.
Method. Check the first letter and the end mark of each line.
- Look at the first letter of each line. It should be a capital letter.dad has a red hat / Dad has a red hat.
- Look at the end of each line. It should end with a full stop.Dad has a red hat. ends with a full stop
- Pick the correct line. Only one line has both.choice B
- Write the answer. B
Check. Choice B starts with a capital and ends with a full stop. ✓
Watch out. Every sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop.
Method. Check the first letter and the end mark of each line.
- Look at the first letter of each line. It should be a capital letter.the bug is on a leg / The bug is on a leg.
- Look at the end of each line. It should end with a full stop.The bug is on a leg. ends with a full stop
- Pick the correct line. Only one line has both.choice B
- Write the answer. B
Check. Choice B starts with a capital and ends with a full stop. ✓
Watch out. Every sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop.
Method. Check the first letter and the end mark of each line.
- Look at the first letter of each line. It should be a capital letter.Ben can get the red cup. / ben can get the red cup
- Look at the end of each line. It should end with a full stop.Ben can get the red cup. ends with a full stop
- Pick the correct line. Only one line has both.choice A
- Write the answer. A
Check. Choice A starts with a capital and ends with a full stop. ✓
Watch out. Every sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop.
Method. Check the first letter and the end mark of each line.
- Look at the first letter of each line. It should be a capital letter.We go to the park. / we go to the park
- Look at the end of each line. It should end with a full stop.We go to the park. ends with a full stop
- Pick the correct line. Only one line has both.choice A
- Write the answer. A
Check. Choice A starts with a capital and ends with a full stop. ✓
Watch out. Every sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop.