Number the words
A start with no writing: the scrambled words on cards and a box under each one for its place in the sentence.
Start over?
Teaching Guide: Sentence Building in Grades 1 to 3
Putting the words of a sentence in order helps children understand what a sentence is: who does something, what they do and how it is written, with a capital letter at the start and a full stop at the end. This free sentence building worksheet generator uses original English sentences, written so that each has only one natural order, to make A4 scrambled sentence worksheets with an answer key for Grades 1 to 3. Mix them with syllable worksheets and spelling pattern worksheets.
Student worksheet 
Answer key Unscramble and write
The first word keeps its capital letter and the last one its full stop: two clues to find where the sentence starts and ends.
Capital letter and full stop
The words in lowercase with no full stop: students put the sentence in order and write it with its capital letter and full stop.
Pick and count
Three sentences with the same words to circle the one in the right order, and sentences to count the words in.
Three levels
Sentences of 3 or 4 words in Grade 1, 5 or 6 in Grade 2 and 7 to 9 in Grade 3, with adjectives and phrases like "a glass of milk".
Answer key
The number of each card, the sentence written out, the right sentence circled and the number of words.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Sentence Building Worksheets
Which grades are these worksheets for?
Grades 1 to 3: level 1 for Grade 1, level 2 for Grade 2 and level 3 for Grade 3. Numbering the words and picking the right order need no writing, so they work from the start of Grade 1.
Can a scrambled sentence have more than one answer?
Every sentence is written to have just one natural order: no phrases of time or place that could move (today, in the park), no phrasal verbs (put out the fire / put the fire out) and no words that could swap places. So none of them can be unscrambled into another good sentence.
Why does the first word have a capital letter on the cards?
In "Unscramble and write" and "Number the words", the capital letter and the full stop are clues to where the sentence starts and ends. In "Unscramble with capital and full stop" the cards are in lowercase with no full stop, and students add them.
How do the worksheets teach what a word is?
With the count the words exercise: students read the sentence and count the words between the spaces. It comes before breaking words into syllables, which you can practise with the syllable worksheets.
Can I use the word cards as a cut and paste activity?
Yes: the cards have a dashed border. Print the sheet, cut out the words and ask students to glue them in order in their book. For neat writing of the sentence, try the handwriting worksheets too.
How do I print only the answer key?
Click Print and choose “Answer key”, or “Worksheet and answer key” to get both. Select the exercise and click “New” for new sentences with the same settings. More in Language & Literacy.
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