A child around 24 months is most likely to demonstrate which language milestone?

• A. Says no words
• B. Uses two-word phrases
• C. Speaks in full sentences
• D. Communicates only with gestures

Answer: (B)

At around 24 months, children typically begin combining words into short two-word phrases, signaling the emergence of basic syntax and intentional communication beyond single words. This stage, often described as telegraphic speech, uses content words like nouns and verbs, while skipping smaller function words. Examples like “mommy eat” or “doggy run” show they’re linking concepts and expressing more complex ideas than they could with one word alone. By this age, many children have a growing vocabulary—roughly 50 or more words—but still rely on two-word combinations to convey meaning. In contrast, relying only on gestures is more typical of earlier development, and speaking in full sentences generally appears later, around age three or older. So, two-word phrases best reflect the typical language milestone at 24 months.