earlybloom.
Find support

Longer sentences

When children usually put words together into sentences, and how to add a word or two to what your child says.

This guide is about how your child puts words together, from two words to longer sentences. In the ideas below, you say back what your child said and add a word or two.

They fit into play, jobs around the house and trips out. You can use the same ideas in any language.

When children learn this

  • Health checklists say that by 2, most children put two or more words together.
  • By 3, many children use sentences of 3 or more words.
  • Health checklists say that by 4, most children say sentences of four or more words.
  • Health checklists use 'most children' to mean at least 3 in 4 children. If your child is not doing a 'most children' skill by the age given, see your GP or child health nurse for advice.
  • Children typically say and understand more complex sentences by about 5.
  • Children learn language skills at different ages.

Try this

While you play

Build a tower of blocks with your child. Talk about it as it grows.

  • Your child: Big tower.
  • You: A big tall tower. You made a big tower.

Around the house

At breakfast, put warm toast on your child's plate.

  • Your child: Toast hot.
  • You: The toast is hot. We can wait for the toast to cool down.

When you go out

At the park, watch a dog chase a ball.

  • Your child: Dog run!
  • You: The dog is running. The dog is running after the ball.

Why it helps

  • When you say back what your child said and add a word or two, your child hears a slightly longer sentence. Your child does not have to copy you.

When to get help

  • Tell the speech pathologist or your GP if your child is 3 or older and is not using 3-word sentences.
  • Tell the speech pathologist or your GP if your child is between 3 and 4 and uses only one or two words at a time.
  • Tell the speech pathologist or your GP if your child is between 4 and 5 and uses no more than three words at a time.
  • Tell the speech pathologist or your GP if your child is 5 or older and has trouble telling a simple story or what happened, has trouble understanding what they hear or what is read to them, or has a lot of trouble following or remembering spoken instructions.

More help

Sources

© State of New South Wales. For current information go to www.nsw.gov.au. CC BY 4.0.

Last checked 12 October 2026

General information, not medical advice. Talk to a health professional about your child.

Looking for speech therapy?

Browse speech therapy providers on EarlyBloom by state and suburb.

Find providers

Related guides