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Understanding when to use big letters at the start of sentences and for special names.
Did you know that some letters are like kings and queens who wear crowns? These are called Capital Letters, and they show us exactly where the most important parts of our stories begin!
Every sentence is like a train. The Capital Letter is the engine at the very front! It tells the reader, 'Hey! A new idea is starting right here!' When you write, always look at the very first word. That first letter needs to be tall and proud. For example, in the sentence 'The cat naps,' the letter T is the leader. Without a big letter, our sentences look like they are still sleeping! A sentence has start, so it needs big letter at the beginning.
Quick Check
Which letter should be a capital in this sentence: 'dogs like to bark.'?
Answer
The letter 'd' in 'dogs' should be a capital 'D'.
There is one special letter that is always a capital when it stands alone: the word I. When you talk about yourself, you are the star of the show! Because you are important, the letter I stays big no matter where it is in the sentence. You might say, 'Can I play?' or 'I love apples.' Even if it is in the middle of a sentence, like 'My friend and I ran,' it stays a capital. It is the only single letter that gets a crown every time!
Let's fix a sentence where the 'i' is too small. 1. Look at the sentence: 'can i go outside?' 2. Capitalize the start: 'Can i go outside?' 3. Capitalize the 'i': 'Can I go outside?'
Quick Check
Is the word 'i' a capital letter when it is by itself?
Answer
Yes, 'I' is always a capital letter when you are talking about yourself.
Your name is special! Every person has a name that starts with a Capital Letter. This includes your name, your teacher's name, and your best friend's name. It helps names stand out from other words. If your name is Sam, you always use a big S. If your friend is Maya, she gets a big M. We also do this for pets, like Rex the dog! If you have friends, you will need capital letters for their names.
Let's write a sentence about a friend. 1. Pick a friend: 'tom'. 2. Give the name a capital: 'Tom'. 3. Start the sentence: 'Tom plays with me.'
Let's combine all our rules into one sentence! 1. Sentence: 'today i saw sara.' 2. Rule 1 (Start): 'Today i saw sara.' 3. Rule 2 (The word I): 'Today I saw sara.' 4. Rule 3 (Names): 'Today I saw Sara.'
Which sentence is written correctly?
How should you write the word for yourself in this sentence: 'May ___ help you?'
The name 'ben' should be written as 'Ben'.
Review Tomorrow
In 24 hours, try to find 3 capital letters on a cereal box or in your favorite book!
Practice Activity
Try this on your own: Write one sentence about yourself and one sentence about a friend. Check if you used your 'crown' letters!