Skip to main content
Common Core ELA3rd GradeLanguage

L.3.1: Use Grammar Correctly in Writing and Speech

Also written as CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.1 · Cluster: Conventions of Standard English.

Make a Sentence ScrambleAll 42 3rd Grade ELA Standards

The Official Wording

Demonstrate command of the conventions of standard English grammar and usage when writing or speaking.

Common Core State Standards, Grade 3, Language · Read it at the source · Checked October 14, 2026

What L.3.1 Means in Plain English

Third graders say what a noun, pronoun, verb, adjective or adverb is doing in a sentence, and use each correctly: plurals like mice, abstract nouns like friendship, irregular verbs like built, simple tenses, verbs and pronouns that match their nouns, and the choice between taller and tallest.

They join ideas with and, but, because and when to build simple, compound and complex sentences. Second graders (L.2.1) formed irregular plurals and past tenses and wrote compound sentences. Fourth grade (L.4.1) moves to relative pronouns, progressive tenses like was walking, and fixing fragments and run-ons.

L.3.1 I Can Statements

  • I can use irregular verbs like built, caught and grew.
  • I can make the verb and pronoun match the noun.
  • I can use -er to compare two and -est for more.

L.3.1 Worked Example

One sentence about a fall project with three slips: a verb that isn’t a word, a doubled superlative and a verb that doesn’t match.

Prompt

Fix the verbs and the comparing word in this sentence.

Not YetLast fall our class builded three scarecrows, and the most tallest one were by the front door.Builded adds -ed to an irregular verb. Most tallest uses two superlatives at once. And one scarecrow takes was, not were.
Meets the StandardLast fall our class built three scarecrows, and the tallest one was by the front door.Built is the past tense of build. Tallest alone compares three scarecrows, and the singular one gets the singular was. The comma and and still join two complete sentences into one compound sentence.
Moves to Use
Learn irregular past tenses by heart: build, built; catch, caught; grow, grew.Compare two with -er or more, three or more with -est or most, never both.Find the subject, then match the verb: one scarecrow was, two scarecrows were.Join two complete sentences with a comma and and, but or so.

Common Mistakes with L.3.1

Regular endings on irregular words

“Two deers and three gooses crossed the road, and we taked a picture.”

Try this: Keep a class chart of irregular plurals and verbs (deer, deer; goose, geese; take, took) and add each new one students find in reading.

A pronoun that doesn’t match its noun

“The puppies wagged its tails.”

Try this: Have students draw an arrow from each pronoun back to its noun, then check that both are singular or both are plural.

An adjective doing an adverb’s job

“Tomas ran quick to the bus.”

Try this: Ask what the word describes: a noun takes an adjective (a quick runner), a verb takes an adverb (ran quickly).

Where L.3.1 Fits

Comes BeforeL.2.1Use irregular plurals and past tenses, and build simple and compound sentences.
AlongsideW.3.3Write narratives, where past-tense verbs and dialogue put the grammar to work.SL.3.6Speak in complete sentences, using the same grammar out loud.
Comes NextL.4.1Use relative pronouns, progressive tenses and modal verbs, and fix fragments and run-ons.

Practice L.3.1

Sentence Scramble GeneratorFree ToolMixed-up sentences with irregular verbs and -er and -est words, so students rebuild each one and hear which form belongs.Irregular verbsComparing wordsGrade 3
Make a Scramble

Quick Check

  1. What is the past tense of build, and of catch?
  2. Why is tallest right in the strong sentence, and not taller?
  3. Fix the agreement: “The bag of apples are on the table.”

L.3.1: Other Names

L.3.1CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.3.1

Common Core State Standards © Copyright 2010. National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and Council of Chief State School Officers. All rights reserved. Official wording from the Common Core State Standards PDFs at corestandards.org, last checked October 14, 2026. The explanation, I can statements, example, mistakes and practice on this page are EMStudio’s own, written beside the official wording. They are not part of the standard.