Jolly Grammar 1 vs Grammar 2: What Changes at Each Level
Grammar 1 introduces the basic parts of speech, the first spelling patterns and simple sentence building, usually at age 5 to 6. Grammar 2 consolidates all of that and adds new parts of speech, more spelling patterns and more punctuation, usually at age 6 to 7. The teaching style stays the same, with a colour and an action for each part of speech; what changes is depth and the amount of independent writing.
Side-by-Side
| Item | Grammar 1 | Grammar 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Typical age | 5–6 | 6–7 |
| Parts of speech | Nouns, pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs | Revision plus new categories, including conjunctions and prepositions |
| Spelling | Short vowels, vowel digraphs, first alternative spellings, plural endings, consonant doubling | More alternative spellings and spelling patterns, applied in writing |
| Sentences | Building basic sentences | Longer sentences; beginning to parse them |
| Punctuation | Capital letters, full stops, question marks | More punctuation, including commas and speech marks |
| Emphasis | Introducing concepts | Consolidating and applying them |
What Grammar 1 Covers
Grammar 1 runs alongside continued phonics work. Children:
- Meet the first parts of speech with their colours and actions
- Learn plural endings (-s, -es) and when each is used
- Work on short vowels and consonant doubling
- Learn vowel digraphs and the first alternative spellings
- Put words in alphabet order, which sets up dictionary use
- Write simple sentences with capital letters and full stops
What Grammar 2 Adds
Grammar 2 assumes the Grammar 1 content and pushes towards application:
- New parts of speech, with the same colour-and-action method
- More spelling patterns, used in the child's own writing rather than worksheets alone
- Longer sentences, and parsing: labelling every word in a sentence
- More punctuation
- More independent writing, with grammar and spelling applied together
The shift from Grammar 1 to Grammar 2 is mostly a shift from knowing to using.
Which Level Should a Child Start At?
| If your child… | Start at |
|---|---|
| Has finished a year of phonics and reads simple sentences | Grammar 1 |
| Knows nouns, verbs and adjectives and writes simple sentences | Grammar 2 |
| Is 7+ but has never done grammar formally | Grammar 1 content at a faster pace |
| Struggles to read sentences fluently | Phonics first, grammar after |
Age alone is a poor guide. A level check is quicker and more reliable.
After Grammar 2
Grammar 3 (ages 7–8) and Grammar 4 (ages 8–9) continue the same pattern, with more complex sentence structures, more parts of speech and more advanced spelling. Some providers run further levels for older children.
What Parents Often Ask For Help With
- "My child can label parts of speech but writes badly." Labelling is recognition; writing is production. More sentence building and dictation is what closes the gap.
- "Spelling is still weak in Grammar 2." Grammar lessons include spelling patterns, but children may still need advanced phonics work on syllables and word parts.
- "Is grammar needed if school teaches it?" School teaches grammar, but usually by definitions. The colour-and-action method adds a visual structure many children need.
Where This Fits
Both levels are part of Jolly Grammar, which follows Jolly Phonics, and both use the colours and actions.
Our classes teach both levels in small groups with weekly written work: Jolly Grammar course.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between Jolly Grammar 1 and 2? +
Grammar 1 introduces the basic parts of speech, first spelling patterns and simple sentences. Grammar 2 consolidates those and adds new parts of speech, more spelling and more punctuation.
What age is Jolly Grammar 1 for? +
Usually 5 to 6, after a first year of Jolly Phonics.
What age is Jolly Grammar 2 for? +
Usually 6 to 7, following Grammar 1.
Can a child start at Grammar 2 directly? +
Yes, if they already know the basic parts of speech and write simple sentences. A level check is the safest way to decide.
How many Jolly Grammar levels are there? +
Grammar 1 to 4 covers roughly ages 5 to 9, and some providers offer further levels.
Does Jolly Grammar teach spelling as well as grammar? +
Yes. Every level teaches spelling patterns alongside grammar, in the same lessons.
My child does grammar at school. Is this different? +
The content overlaps, but the colour-and-action method makes sentence structure visible, which helps children who find definitions abstract.