20 first English sentences for children (with audio)

Five patterns to build on

• I see a… / This is a…: naming things.
• The ball is red. / The cat is big.: colour and size.
• I have… / I like…: talking about me.
• I can run. / The bird can fly.: actions.
• in, on, under: where things are. And I am happy: feelings.

20 sentences, tap to hear

• I see a cat.On a walk, pointing at an animal.
• This is a ball.Handing your child a toy.
• What is it?Hiding something in a bag to guess.
• It is a cat.The answer to "What is it?".
• The ball is red.Sorting toys by colour.
• It is a big red ball.Describing a toy: size first, then colour.
• The cat is big.Comparing a big and a small thing.
• I have a hat.Getting dressed to go out.
• I like milk.Breakfast time.
• I like rice.Dinner, naming a favourite food.
• I can run.At the playground.
• I can jump.Hopscotch or skipping.
• The bird can fly.Seeing a bird out of the window.
• I can run and jump.Joining two actions with "and".
• The cat is on the bed.Hide-and-seek with a teddy.
• The fish is in the bowl.Putting things into a box or bowl.
• The dog is under the chair.Finding something under the table.
• I am happy.When your child is smiling.
• I am hungry.Before a meal.
• I am sleepy.At bedtime.

Using them at home

• Pick 3–4 sentences a week and use them again and again at the right moment.
• Speak slowly and point or act it out, so no translation is needed.
• Swap one word to make a new sentence: I see a cat, I see a dog, I see a bus.
• Practise building sentences with the Sentence Builder: put the words in order, then hear it.
• For more, I Can Read has over 140 sentences like these; the first island is free.