Sentence Detective
Can your child spot the mistake in this sentence?
She are reading a book.
A small change makes it right: She is reading a book. That is the idea behind Sentence Detective, a printable English game from Lia’s English Studio. Learners read a sentence, find the mistake and decide how to fix it.
If you enjoyed Sentence Scramble, this is another way to spend a few minutes working with sentences at home or in the classroom.
How the game works
Print the cards and cut them out. Place them face down, then ask your child to pick one. Each card contains one deliberate mistake. Your child reads the sentence, identifies the error and says or writes the corrected version.
Give one point for a correct sentence and a bonus point for explaining the change. For example, “We use is because she means one person.” Play five cards at a time, or take turns and compare scores at the end.
What is in the download?
The download includes instructions, 20 printable cards and an answer sheet with short explanations. There are five cards in each set: capital letters and punctuation, spelling, grammar, and sentence structure.
Start with the set that suits your child’s current learning. The cards are intended for learners who can already read short sentences; an adult can read them aloud if needed.
Give them time to think
Let your child finish reading before offering a clue. If they are stuck, ask a specific question: “Does the first word need a capital letter?” or “Which word tells us what happened?”
Read the corrected sentence aloud together. Then ask what changed. This gives your child a chance to explain the rule rather than simply guess the answer. Keep the answer sheet out of sight until you are ready to check.
Swap roles
Once your child understands the game, ask them to write a sentence with one deliberate mistake for you to solve. They will need to know the correct version before they can decide whether your answer is right.
Download Sentence Detective
Download the Sentence Detective game here and try a five-card round with your child.
If your child needs help with English, visit www.liasenglishstudio.co.za to find out about tutoring at Lia’s English Studio.