English for FunFirst English sentences: "I see a…" and "This is a…"
Tap a sentence to hear it. Two patterns, many words: change one word and you have a new sentence.
Tap to hear
How the pattern works
- Keep the sentence, swap one word: I see a cat, I see a dog, I see a duck.
- Say "an" before a vowel sound: I see an apple, I see an egg, This is an umbrella.
- "This is" is for something close that you can point to.
- Read the sentence with your finger under each word. Children start to notice that words are separate.
Practise at home
- Look out of the window and take turns: "I see a car." "I see a tree."
- Hold up an object: "This is a spoon." Let your child do the same.
- Write two sentences on paper and let your child swap the picture word.
Practise with I Can Read
I Can Read starts with this pattern on Look Island, which is free. A pattern screen keeps the sentence and changes one word, then the child hears, builds, judges and says whole sentences.
Free printable
A one-page A4 chart for "First English sentences: "I see a…" and "This is a…"". Print it for the fridge, the classroom wall or pointing practice. Free to share.
Questions
Is my child really reading?
At first they read with picture support and memory of the pattern. That is a normal and useful first step towards reading.
Why "an apple" but "a ball"?
"An" goes before a vowel sound (a, e, i, o, u) to make it easier to say.
More topics
Colour and size sentences: "The ball is red", "The cat is big"
"The ball is red." "It is a big red ball." Word order for describing.
"I have…" and "I like…" sentences for kids
"I have a dog." "I like pizza." Talking about me.
Numbers 1 to 20 in English
Hear and say every number from one to twenty, with tips for the tricky ones.
The English alphabet: letter names A to Z
Hear the name of every letter from A to Z, with a picture word for each.