Speech Therapy Grammar

Practical Activities for Teaching Grammar Skills

When grammar is weak, children may struggle to explain ideas, understand stories, or express themselves accurately—even when vocabulary and articulation are strong.

This page explains how grammar is addressed in speech therapy and how it can be taught in ways that are meaningful, developmentally appropriate, and effective.

What Is Grammar in Speech Therapy?

In speech-language pathology, grammar refers to how language is structured to convey meaning. Speech therapy grammar is not a single skill—it is a system of interrelated abilities that develop over time.

In therapy, grammar instruction may target the following areas:

Core Areas of Grammar Development

1. Morphology (Word Forms and Endings)

Morphology refers to the smallest units of meaning in language.

This includes:

• Plural -s
• Verb tense (-ed, -ing)
• Possessives
• Pronouns
• Third person singular (he runs)
• Derivational morphology (e.g., teach → teacher)

Children with language disorders often omit or inconsistently use these forms.

2. Sentence Structure (Syntax)

Syntax refers to how words are combined into sentences.

This includes:

• Word order
• Sentence length and complexity
• Use of simple, compound, and complex sentences
• Question forms
• Negation
• Embedded clauses

Difficulties with syntax often impact both spoken and written language.

3. Verb Systems

Verbs are the backbone of speech therapy grammar and are frequently an area of weakness for children with language disorders.

Verb-related grammar includes:

• Verb tense (past, present, future)
• Verb aspect (is running vs. runs)
• Auxiliary verbs (is, are, was, were, do)
• Copula vs. auxiliary be
• Subject–verb agreement

Targeting verbs effectively can lead to significant gains across language areas.

4. Function Words (Grammatical Words)

Function words do not carry concrete meaning on their own, but they are essential for grammatical accuracy.

These include:

• Articles (a, the)
• Prepositions (in, on, under)
• Determiners (this, that, these)
• Conjunctions (and, but, because)
• Helping verbs

Children with language disorders often omit these words, making their speech sound immature or unclear.

5. Sentence Types and Grammatical Forms

Speech therapy grammar instruction also includes learning to produce different sentence types, such as:

• Declarative sentences (statements)
• Interrogative sentences (questions)
• Negative sentences
• Imperatives
• Compound and complex sentences

Mastery of sentence types supports conversation, academics, and written language.

6. Grammatical Cohesion Across Sentences

As language becomes more advanced, grammar extends beyond single sentences.

This includes:

• Consistent verb tense across narratives
• Accurate pronoun reference
• Use of conjunctions to connect ideas
• Cohesive storytelling and written expression

This level of grammar directly supports narrative language, reading comprehension, and writing.

How Grammar Is Taught in Speech Therapy

Speech therapy grammar is learned best when it is:

• Embedded in meaningful contexts
• Repeated naturally
• Modeled before being expected
• Practiced across settings (not just drills)

In speech therapy, grammar activities may include:

• Play-based interaction
• Structured games
• Visual supports
• Sentence manipulation tasks
• Narrative-based activities
• Targeted digital tools

The goal is generalization, not memorization.

Grammar Activities Across Ages

• Toddlers: grammar is supported through play, routines, and modeling
• Preschoolers: grammar becomes more structured but remains play-based
• School-age students: grammar is explicitly connected to reading and writing

Speech therapy grammar instruction should always match the child’s developmental level and communication needs.

Want Grammar Materials That Are Ready to Use?

The Speech Therapy Talk Membership includes speech therapy grammar activities organized by:

• Skill
• Language level

Materials are designed to support:

• Clear modeling
• Efficient cueing
• Carryover into real communication

Both printable and no-print options are available.

Free Grammar & Language Materials

You can explore speech therapy grammar-focused materials by joining the free Speech Therapy Talk membership. Free members receive a new speech or language material each month.

Research Reference

For a comprehensive overview of grammar development and intervention in children with language disorders, see:

• Leonard, L. B. (2014). Children with Specific Language Impairment. MIT Press.