Patina · Building English

Build It: Constructing Sentences

We construct a sentence the way we construct a bookshelf: every part in its place. The order is given: subject, verb, article, adjective, object. You choose the words. Then click 🔊 to hear your sentence.

★ build a sentence  ·  ★★ build three sentences, one with an  ·  ★★★ say it as an instruction, with no subject (Use the old hammer.)

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For the teacher · In class

read the example together and name each part. Then build one sentence out loud, row by row: "Subject? Verb, with or without -s? Article? Adjective? Object?" Students build their own and read them into the chat. Two things go red: the -s, and a before a vowel sound (a old hammer). The objects are the class's tools, so every sentence practises the words.

Build a sentence. The order is always the same: subject, verb, article, adjective, object. You choose the words.

ExampleI tighten the small screw.subject verb article adjective object
subjectverbarticleadjectiveobject.

Verb: with He, She, Nikhil, Paulina, add -s. Article: an before a vowel sound (an old), a before the others (a big). the always works.

1 Subject

2 Verb

3 Article

4 Adjective

5 Object

For the teacher · Answer key

Any choice in each row makes a sentence, with two checks: the verb (he, she, Nikhil, Paulina → -s: needs, carries  ·  I, you, we, they → no -s) and the article (an old, an expensive, an orange  ·  a big, small, new, heavy, red  ·  the always). Model: Paulina needs an old hammer.  ·  ★★★ Use the old hammer.