"try" in a Sentence — Examples for K-8

Three example sentences for try, written at K-2, 3-5, and 6-8 reading levels.

What does "try" mean?

try is a verb that means: to do something even when it might be hard. Seeing it in real sentences helps kids learn how the word actually behaves in writing.

Grade K–2Easy sentence with try

"I will try my best."

Notice the short, simple structure — perfect for early readers learning to decode and understand new words.

Grade 3–5Upper-elementary sentence with try

"Try the broccoli before deciding you don't like it."

This sentence adds more context and detail — typical of chapter books at this grade level.

Grade 6–8Middle-school sentence with try

"Try to look at the problem from a completely different angle if your first approach didn't work."

At this level, try takes on subtler shades of meaning depending on context — the kind of nuance middle-schoolers need for essay writing.

How to use these sentences in the classroom

Sentence imitation — Read the example aloud, then have students write their own sentence with the same structure but a different topic.

Vocabulary notebooks — Have students copy the grade-appropriate sentence into their vocabulary journal alongside the definition.

Reading comprehension — Ask students to identify why try is the right word for that sentence — what would change if you swapped it for a synonym?

FAQ — using "try" in sentences

How do I use try in a sentence for a 1st grader?

Try: "I will try my best." Keep it under 7 words and use sight-word vocabulary around it.

What's a more advanced sentence with try?

"Try to look at the problem from a completely different angle if your first approach didn't work."

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