Which of the following is a 3-year verbal language milestone?

• A. Uses 3 word sentences
• B. Draws a circle
• C. Jumps forward
• D. Understand simple prepositions (on, under, etc.)

Answer: (A)

At about three years old, expressive language typically progresses to combining words into three-word sentences, reflecting growing syntax and the ability to convey more complex ideas. This three-word sentence milestone shows that a child is moving beyond simple two-word phrases to more structured speech. The other options are not verbal language milestones: drawing a circle is a fine motor skill, jumping forward is a gross motor skill, and while understanding simple prepositions can develop around this age, it’s more about comprehension and tends to appear a little later than producing three-word sentences. So using three-word sentences best represents a 3-year verbal language milestone.