Expressive language is a broad term for how we use words to communicate our needs, wants, thoughts, and ideas. This includes our use of different vocabulary words, grammar skills, word order, combination of words into expanded sentences, and story-telling skills. Language can be expressed verbally or non-verbally and is a skill we continue developing throughout our lives. Poor expressive language skills may be evident if the following occurs:

• Difficulty describing familiar objects with different vocabulary
• Use of short sentences or phrases, or not combining words into longer phrases
• Verb tenses and/or pronouns not matching the intended message, such as “she running to see his mom”
• Difficulty telling stories in a clear and organized way
• Not describing recent events accurately or clearly
• Brief responses to questions and responses lacking detail