Which is more typical of the language development of a toddler than of a preschooler?

• A. Expressing opinions/preferences
• B. Using at least three tenses
• C. Carrying conversations across multiple topics
• D. Understanding abstract syntax

Answer: (A)

Expressing opinions and preferences is typical of a toddler’s language development. Toddlers focus on their immediate wants and likes, using short phrases to say what they want or prefer, such as “I want cookie” or “Mine.” This early pragmatics of expressing personal choice and preference is a hallmark of that age as they begin to assert themselves and communicate basic desires.

As children grow into the preschool years, language becomes more complex. They start using more varied verb tenses and can talk about events in the past, present, and future. They’re also more capable of carrying conversations across multiple topics and linking ideas, rather than sticking to a single focus. Understanding abstract syntax, such as complex sentence structures or non-literal language, tends to develop later, after those earlier milestones. So the much more typical toddler trait here is expressing opinions and preferences.