Punctuation basics

Punctuation basics: I can use end marks, commas in lists, apostrophes and inverted commas.

1. Every sentence ends with an end mark. Here are three kinds.

   We had pizza for lunch. It tells us something, so it ends with a full stop.

   Can I have some juice? It asks something, so it ends with a question mark.

   What a huge cake! It shows a strong feeling, like surprise, so it ends with an exclamation mark.

   Picture: Sorting into 3 groups: Full stop, Question mark, Exclamation mark. Full stop: We had pizza for lunch. (slice of pizza). Question mark: Can I have some juice? (juice box). Exclamation mark: What a huge cake! (birthday cake).

2. Your turn: Which sentence has the right end mark?

   Choose one:

   • Do you like grapes.
   • Do you like grapes?
   • Do you like grapes!

   Answer

   The answer: Do you like grapes?

   Do you like grapes? It asks something, so it ends with a question mark.

3. Ana bought four things: rice, beans, mangoes and eggs. That is a list.

   Commas go between the things in a list.

   Between the last two things, mangoes and eggs, we write and instead of a comma.

   Picture: The sentence "Ana bought rice, beans, mangoes and eggs.", with the comma, the comma and "and" underlined.

Words to know

end mark:

A full stop, question mark or exclamation mark at the end of a sentence.

comma:

A small mark that goes between the things in a list.

apostrophe:

A mark that shows missing letters, or who owns something.

contraction:

Two words joined into one short word, like didn't.

inverted commas:

Marks that go around the words someone says. They are also called speech marks.