At what levels does comprehension occur?

Comprehension occurs at multiple levels, including the word level, sentence level, and passage level. At the word level, understanding individual vocabulary terms and their meanings is foundational for comprehension. Once a reader knows the meaning of words, they can start to grasp sentences, where the structure and relationships between words contribute to overall meaning. This is where syntax and grammar play a crucial role, allowing the reader to piece together ideas from phrases and clauses.

Moving beyond sentences, comprehension at the passage level entails integrating ideas across multiple sentences, recognizing themes, and understanding the context of a larger narrative or argument. This holistic understanding enables readers to analyze and interpret the text as a whole, linking key concepts and drawing inferences that are critical for deep understanding.

Thus, comprehension is a progressive process that builds from individual words to complete passages, making the understanding at the word, sentence, and passage levels essential for effective reading and interpretation.