Simple SVO Sentences

Practice constructing subject-verb-object sentences using picture cards.

Use with a student — free
Card 1 of 12
The boy kicks the ball.
Say it out loud
This pass0 correct · 0 cued · 0 incorrect · 0/12
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Session summary (SOAP)

Stays on this screen. Nothing is saved or sent.

Mark a card Correct, Correct with cue or Incorrect and the summary writes itself here.

How to run it

Ask what is happening rather than reading the sentence aloud. The question produces the structure; reading produces an imitation. Once the three-part sentences come easily, ask who is doing it and what they are doing to — separating the parts is what lets you see which one is missing when a sentence comes out short. Eight minutes covers the twelve.

Cueing ladder

Start at the top. Add support one step at a time.

  1. Step 1IndependentPresent the item and wait 5 seconds of quiet before helping.Log as correct
  2. Step 2HintStress the part of the sentence that changes, or point to the word ending.Log as cued
  3. Step 3Sentence starterSay the first half of the sentence and let the student finish it.Log as cued
  4. Step 4ModelSay the correct form in the whole sentence; the student repeats it.Log as cued

Adjust it

Easier

Give a sentence starter every time, and do fewer cards.

Harder

Ask for a new sentence of the student's own with the same form, with no card to lean on.

Matching IEP goal

Given sentence cards, Student will produce the target grammatical form in sentences in 8 of 10 opportunities across 3 consecutive sessions, given no more than an indirect cue.

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About this activity

Twelve subject-verb-object sentences: The boy kicks the ball. The girl pets the dog. The cat chases the mouse. The teacher reads the book. The baby drinks the milk. The man drives the truck. Every one has the same three-part shape, which is deliberate — the structure is the target and the vocabulary is deliberately easy.

What to listen for

Listen for the object going missing. The boy kicks is the commonest reduction, and it shows the verb is present and the sentence frame is incomplete. Watch word order too — the ball kicks the boy has all three parts in the wrong arrangement, which is a different and less common problem.

Carrying it home

Narrating what is happening supplies this structure all day. Dad is cooking dinner, the dog is chasing the cat — a running commentary gives more models than any card set.

What's in this activity

  • The boy kicks the ball.
  • The girl pets the dog.
  • The cat chases the mouse.
  • The teacher reads the book.
  • The chef cooks the soup.
  • The boy throws the frisbee.
  • The girl waters the plant.
  • The dog carries the stick.
  • The baby drinks the milk.
  • The man drives the truck.
  • The bird eats the seed.
  • The mom folds the shirt.

Questions

What ages is this for?
Kindergarten through third grade, and older students learning English as an additional language.
Is it free?
Yes, all twelve sentences play with no account.
My student says 'the boy kicks' and stops. What now?
The object is missing. Asking kicks what, immediately, usually gets it — and a forced-choice between two options is easier than an open question for a student who is stuck.

Use this board with your caseload

With a free account, every correct, cued and incorrect mark is saved to the student and scored against their IEP goal, with the data written up for you. Assign it as home practice through the parent portal.

Track progress free

Free for SLPs. No card, no trial clock.