Short sentences give children an easy place to start reading in English. There are only a few words to decode, the meaning is clear, and there is a question to talk about afterwards.
This reading sheet has 32 easy English sentences in four levels, from three words to two short sentences together. Each one comes with a question you can ask once your child has read it.
Reading is more than saying the words. After each sentence, ask the question. Answering it shows your child that the words mean something, and it turns reading into a small conversation.
All 32 sentences and questions on 4 A4 pages, with tick boxes and reading games. Free to print for home or classroom.
32 easy English sentences for kids to read
Begin with Level 1. Move up when your child reads a level smoothly and enjoys it, not when you think they should. Children move at different speeds, and it is fine to stay on a level for as long as it takes.
1. Level 1: three or four words
| Read | Ask |
|---|---|
| The cat sat. | Who sat? |
| I see a dog. | What do you see? |
| The sun is hot. | Is the sun hot or cold? |
| I like milk. | What do you like? |
| A bird can fly. | What can a bird do? |
| The ball is red. | What colour is the ball? |
| I am happy. | How do you feel? |
| We run fast. | Who runs fast? |
2. Level 2: five or six words
| Read | Ask |
|---|---|
| The dog is on the bed. | Where is the dog? |
| I can see a big tree. | What can you see? |
| My mum has a red bag. | Whose bag is red? |
| The fish swims in the water. | Where does the fish swim? |
| We eat rice for lunch. | What do we eat for lunch? |
| The baby is sleeping now. | Who is sleeping? |
| I wash my hands with soap. | What do you wash your hands with? |
| The moon is bright tonight. | What is bright? |
3. Level 3: longer sentences
| Read | Ask |
|---|---|
| The little bird sits on a branch and sings. | What does the little bird do? |
| After school, I eat a snack and do my homework. | What do you do after school? |
| My grandmother tells me a story at bedtime. | Who tells the story? |
| The rain stopped, so we went outside to play. | Why did we go outside? |
| I put on my shoes because we are going to the park. | Why do you put on your shoes? |
| The boy shared his apple with his sister. | Who got a piece of the apple? |
| We planted a seed and watered it every day. | What did we do every day? |
| The bus was late, so we waited at the stop. | Where did we wait? |
4. Level 4: two sentences together
| Read | Ask |
|---|---|
| It is raining. I take my umbrella. | Why do I take my umbrella? |
| The shop is open. We buy some bread. | What do we buy? |
| My friend is sad. I give her a hug. | What do I do for my friend? |
| The lights are off. It is time to sleep. | What time is it? |
| I am hungry. I make a sandwich. | What do I make? |
| The dog is dirty. We give him a bath. | Why do we give him a bath? |
| It is cold outside. I wear my jacket. | What do I wear? |
| Today is my birthday. We eat cake. | What do we eat? |
How to read a sentence together
- Read it to your child. Point to each word as you say it, so they connect the sound to the letters.
- Read it together. Say it at the same time, slowly.
- Let your child read it. Wait. A pause is thinking, not failing.
- Ask the question. A word, a nod or a pointing finger is a good answer.
- Praise the trying. “You read that whole sentence” is more helpful than “good job”.
A 5-minute game: read and act
Read it, then do it
- Pick a Level 1 or Level 2 sentence, such as “We run fast.”
- Your child reads it aloud.
- Act it out together: run on the spot, wash your hands, put on a jacket.
- Tomorrow, read the same sentence again and ask the question.
Other ways to practise
- Word hunt. Find words from the 100 easy English words inside the sentences.
- Cut and match. Copy a sentence onto paper, cut it into words and put the words back in order.
- Write your own. Change one word, such as “The ball is red” to “The ball is blue”.
- Read a story. Our story library has page by page reading with spoken narration, and reading practice shows how Flucie supports it.
Keep it short and keep it kind
Five minutes of reading that ends while your child still wants more is better than twenty minutes that ends in tears. If a sentence is too hard, go back one level. If your child makes a mistake, read the sentence back correctly and carry on, without stopping to correct every word.
If you are worried about your child’s reading in any language, a teacher who knows your child is the best person to ask.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best easy English sentences for kids to start reading?
Short sentences of three or four words about things your child knows, such as "The cat sat." or "I see a dog." They have few words to decode and a clear meaning.
How do I know when to move to the next level?
Move up when your child reads a level smoothly and enjoys it. Children move at different speeds, so it is fine to stay on a level for as long as it takes.
Should I correct every mistake when my child reads?
No. Read the sentence back correctly and carry on, instead of stopping at every word. Short, kind sessions keep reading enjoyable.
Why does each sentence have a question?
Answering a question shows your child that the words mean something. It turns reading into a small conversation, and a one word answer is enough.
Is there a printable reading sheet?
Yes. The PDF on this page has all 32 sentences with a tick box for each and reading games. It is free to print for home or classroom use.
Keep reading
Vocabulary100 Easy English Words for Kids to Learn at Home
Simple everyday vocabulary children can see, hear, say and use, with a short example sentence for every word.
English SpeakingHow to Help Your Child Speak English at Home
Simple ways to turn everyday moments into meaningful English conversations.
English Speaking50 English Conversation Questions for Kids
Fifty simple questions you can use at breakfast, during play or before bedtime to get your child talking in English.
Written by the Flucie team. See how we make our content or send a correction to hello@flucie.com.
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