Unusual sentences for language development!

As a child enters mid -elementary, it is a sign of healthy language development that types of sentences start to vary. We have simple sentences - with regular subjects and verbs. We have complex sentences with conjunctions.

But there are some other sentences that are less easy to think of, which still become a part of language inventory.

They are -

1. Passive sentences - where the subject is not doing the action. For example, "the boy was followed by the cat"

2. Indirect sentences- these are sentences which do not mean what they actually say. For example, "we don't shout in class" really means "please don't shout in class."

Passive sentences tend to be in the receptive / expressive language area, whereas indirect sentences tend to test social language more.

However, we can work on both types of sentences in the following ways!

1. Pointing out the sentences when reading books! If you encounter a sentence with _____ by, for example, point it out, and repeat it. "That's a cool sentence. The dog was followed by the cat." And repeat a few times. Good news : you do not have to say "that's a passive sentence." Labeling it does not matter. Or, "that was not that polite. What does she really mean? She means thank you." Explaining instances of indirect language which occurs in books (or in TV shows) is a great way to develop the skill of explaining, and critical thinking in your child

2. Start modeling passive sentences and indirect sentences more! Just when you're driving or walking with your child is a great time. "We're being followed by dad" or "this car is being driven by mom" or "that's not very nice - meaning, I would like you to say sorry please," are great natural ways to boost understanding these sentences, and maybe even saying them. The trick, though, is to focus on one type for a week. That way, you can really hone in on the sentence type with more ease.

3. Use worksheets! If you can find language resources that target these skills, feel free! Just be sure to combine with a game, for easier compliance. Or check out Smarter Speech's worksheets on passive voice and indirect language on tpt!
   

Happy Talking!

Disclaimer : Smarter Speech is a pediatric speech therapy / speech-language pathology practice for toddlers and children providing in-home and teletherapy services in and around Mountain View, CA and Los Gatos, CA. Smarter Speech Blog aims to provide free speech and language tips for parents educators and therapists. However, this post is not providing speech-language pathology services. This is general information, not speech -language pathology or speech therapy. This article does not assume or create a client – SLP relationship. The author is not liable for any losses or damages due to actions or failure to act based on the content in this article. If you need assistance with a child’s speech or language needs, please contact a speech-language pathologist in your area.