Punctuation
Use full stops, commas, apostrophes, question marks and capitals correctly.
What Is It?
Punctuation marks (. , ? ! ’ : ; “ ”) organize writing. They show where sentences end, where to pause and who owns what.
Why Do English Speakers Use It?
Good punctuation makes emails, CVs and exam answers clear and professional. A missing comma can even change the meaning.
When to Use It
- Full stop (period): End a statement.
- Comma: Separate list items and clauses: tea, coffee and juice.
- Apostrophe: Contractions and possession: don’t, Joe’s.
- Question mark: End a direct question: Where are you?
When NOT to Use It
Don’t join two complete sentences with only a comma (“I was tired, I went home”). Use a full stop, a semicolon or a linking word.
Sentence Structure
| Mark | Main use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Comma , | lists, after introductory words, before but/so | However, it was late. |
| Semicolon ; | join two related sentences | It rained; we stayed in. |
| Colon : | introduce a list or explanation | Bring three things: a pen, ID and water. |
Grammar Rules
- Start every sentence and every proper noun with a capital letter.
- Put a comma after introductory words: Yesterday, However, Finally,
- It’s = it is. Its = belonging to it.
- Reported questions end with a full stop: She asked where I lived.
- In American English, commas and full stops go inside quotation marks: “Hi,” she said.
Real-Life Examples
- Joe, Monica, and Rina are coming.
- I wanted to go, but I was busy.
- It’s Monica’s birthday today!
- Dear Mr. Khan,
Common Learner Mistakes
- I like english.I like English.
- Its raining.It’s raining.
- Where do you live.Where do you live?
Quick Memory Tip
Read your writing aloud. Where you naturally pause, you may need a comma; where your voice drops and stops, a full stop.
Real Conversation
Monica: Can you check my email before I send it?
Joe: Sure. You need a comma after “Dear Mr. Rahman”, and “its” should be “it’s” here.
Monica: Good catch, thanks!
Interactive Practice
Pick an answer to check your understanding.
Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.
Final Mini Quiz
One last check before you mark the lesson complete.
Which mark joins two closely related complete sentences?
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