NYSTCE English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Practice Test

In which stage do children typically start using grammar, although they may not create sentences independently?

1. Two-word Stage

2. Later Multiword Stage

3. Early Multiword Stage

4. Babbling Stage

The correct answer is: Early Multiword Stage

The early multiword stage is characterized by children beginning to use simple grammatical structures as they start to combine words into phrases and short sentences. At this stage, children may not yet be capable of independently forming complete sentences, but they begin to demonstrate an understanding of word order and grammatical relationships. This is a crucial developmental phase, as it marks the transition from single-word communication to more complex forms of expression. During this stage, children often rely on memorized phrases or patterns they hear from adults, which allows them to experiment with grammar without fully grasping all its rules. For example, they might combine two or three words to convey a message, such as "want cookie" or "go park," demonstrating an emerging understanding of how words fit together in meaningful ways. In contrast, the two-word stage is even earlier in language development, focusing primarily on the use of two-word combinations without a full grasp of grammatical structures, while the later multiword stage reflects a point where children are proficiently using grammar and forming more complex sentences. The babbling stage occurs before any real language use, involving nonsensical sounds rather than meaningful words or structures.