Grammar Symbols
Grammar symbols are nine colored shapes, one for each part of speech, that a child lays above written words from about 4.5. A flat wooden set cost $9.95 to $33.30 at the US sellers we checked on October 5, 2026, and a solid set for the first lesson $203.00. Colored card cut into triangles and circles works just as well.
The first lesson with it is Grammar Symbols: The Noun and the Verb. Not sure your child is ready for it? Two minutes of questions place your child on the sequence.
| Area | Language |
|---|---|
| Used in | |
| From age | 4.5 to 7 years |
| Make it | Easy to make at home |
| Buy it | About $10 to $203 (noted ) |
What the grammar symbols are for
The child places a symbol above each word to show what kind of word it is. The black triangle marks a noun, the red circle a verb, and smaller blue triangles the article and adjective. The shapes make the job of each word visible at a glance.
The symbols come from later Montessori practice. Her 1917 grammar used word cards in one color per part of speech, already black for nouns and red for verbs, sorted into the grammar boxes.
| Part | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Noun | Large black triangle |
| Article and adjective | Small light-blue triangle and medium dark-blue triangle |
| Verb and adverb | Large red circle and small orange circle |
| Pronoun, preposition, conjunction | Purple triangle, green crescent, pink bar |
| Interjection | Gold; the shape varies between sets |
| Solid set | Three-dimensional symbols, such as a black pyramid and a red sphere, for the first lesson |
The lessons that use the grammar symbols
Grammar Symbols: The Noun and the Verb
4.5 to 7 yearsPlaying word games that show what a noun and a verb do, then marking each word with its symbol: a black triangle for the noun, a red circle for the verb.
Buying one: 5 listings checked October 5, 2026
| Seller and set | Made of | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Montessori OutletBasic Wooden Grammar Symbols (510400630)10 sets of 10 basic symbols. Market price shown $25.20. Low stock. | Wood and paper | $9.95 |
| Alison's MontessoriWooden Grammar Symbols with Box (L11)Sale price; regular $37.00. Ten of each symbol in a lidded box, 9.25 by 7.25 by 1.25 inches. Made in Thailand. | Wood | $33.30 |
| Montessori ServicesFunction of Words Grammar Set (L508)232 cards and cut-out symbols for 18 lessons, a card program rather than a box of symbols. Made in USA. | Laminated card; card stock symbols to cut out | $159.95 |
| Nienhuis3D Wooden Grammar Symbols: Set of 10 with Tray (010600)Ten solid symbols on a tray, for the first introduction of the parts of speech. US store price. | Beech | $203.00 |
| The Montessori RoomSolid Grammar Symbols with Stand (L060/L061)Canadian store. Ten solid symbols on a stand, 23 by 19 cm. In stock. | Wood | $59.99 CAD |
- For labeling words, the flat sets are the useful kind. Montessori Outlet's at $9.95 and Alison's at $33.30 both give several of each symbol.
- Solid symbols are for the very first noun and verb lesson. They're optional; flat ones work for that lesson too.
- Montessori Services' $159.95 set is a full card program with symbols to cut out, closer to a curriculum than a box of shapes.
- Colors vary a little between makers. Choose one set and match any homemade cards to it.
Making the grammar symbols at home
What to gather
- Card stock in black, red, light blue, dark blue and orange, plus purple, green, pink and gold for later
- A ruler, a compass or a round lid, and scissors
- A small box with dividers, or envelopes
| Piece | Size and marking | How many |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | Black equilateral triangle, 3 cm sides | 10 |
| Verb | Red circle, 3 cm across | 10 |
| Article and adjective | Light-blue triangle 1.5 cm, dark-blue triangle 2 cm | 10 each |
| Adverb | Orange circle, 1.5 cm across | 10 |
- 1Draw one template of each shape on card and cut it out carefully.
- 2Trace and cut ten of each in its color.
- 3Keep the sizes in proportion: the noun and verb biggest, the article smallest.
- 4Sort them into a divided box, one kind per section.
- 5Add the purple, green, pink and gold symbols when the child reaches those parts of speech.
Keeping a full set on the shelf
- Count the symbols back into their sections after each use. A missing red circle stops a sentence.
- Keep solid symbols on their stand or tray; a rolling sphere ends up under the sofa.
Questions parents ask about the grammar symbols
What do the Montessori grammar symbols mean?
Each shape marks a part of speech. The noun is a large black triangle, the verb a red circle, the article a small light-blue triangle and the adjective a dark-blue one. The adverb is a small orange circle, the pronoun purple, the preposition a green crescent and the conjunction a pink bar.
Can I make grammar symbols?
Yes, from colored card in about 20 minutes. The build above has sizes. Keep the noun and verb largest so the hierarchy shows.
Wooden or solid grammar symbols?
Flat ones for daily use, labeling words. Solid ones, a pyramid and a sphere, are for the first noun and verb lesson and can be skipped.
Before the grammar symbols, make sure the work before it is solid. The pink series lesson lists the signs that a child is ready to move on.