Punctuation - English Grammar Class 5 PDF Download

Punctuation Exercises

Punctuation marks are signs that help us make the meaning of sentences clear when we write. They tell the reader where to pause, when a sentence ends, whether something is a question, or how words fit together. We must also begin every sentence with a capital letter.

Common punctuation marks and how to use them

• Period (.) or Full stop: Put a period at the end of a statement or command to show that it is finished. Example: The sun sets in the west. Please close the door.
• Question mark (? ): Use a question mark at the end of a sentence that asks something. Example: What is your name? Are you ready?
• Exclamation mark (!): Use an exclamation mark to show strong feeling, surprise or excitement. Example: What a wonderful day! Watch out!
• Comma (,): Use commas to separate items in a list, after 'yes' and 'no' when they begin a sentence, to set off the name of the person you are speaking to (the vocative), and between parts of a place name. Example: I bought apples, bananas, and oranges. Yes, I will come. No, I cannot go. Come here, Ravi. He lives in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
• Apostrophe ('): Use an apostrophe with 's' to show that something belongs to someone (possession) and to show where letters are missing in contractions. Example (possession): This is Sara's bag. Example (contraction): I'm = I am, don't = do not.
• Quotation marks (" "): Use quotation marks to show the exact words someone has said or written (speech). Example: Mother said, "Finish your homework."
• Capital letters: Use a capital letter to begin a sentence and for the names of people, places, days, months, nationalities, languages, and the pronoun I. Example: Ramesh lives in Delhi. Monday is my favourite day. She speaks Hindi.
• Colon (:) and semicolon (;): A colon is used to introduce a list or to show that what follows explains what came before. A semicolon can join two related short sentences. These are not used very often at this level, but it is useful to recognise them. Example (colon): Bring these things: pencil, eraser, ruler. Example (semicolon): She likes tea; he prefers coffee.
• Hyphen (-) and dash (-): A hyphen joins words (for example, a compound word) and a dash shows a break in thought. Example (hyphen): a five-year-old child. Example (dash): She opened the door - and there he was.
• Ellipsis (...): Shows that words are left out or that a sentence trails off. Example: He started to speak, but then...

Simple rules to remember

• Always start a sentence with a capital letter and end it with the correct punctuation mark: a period, question mark, or exclamation mark.
• Use commas to separate items in a list and to make sentences clearer by marking small pauses.
• Use apostrophes for possession and contractions only; do not use them to make a word plural (for example, write books, not book's).
• Use quotation marks for direct speech. Place the punctuation mark (period, question mark, exclamation) inside the quotation marks if it belongs to the speech.
• The pronoun I is always a capital letter no matter where it appears in a sentence.

Examples to practise

• Change the following into sentences with correct punctuation and capitals: what is your name → What is your name?
• Correct use of commas in a list: My bag contains a book pen eraser and a pencil → My bag contains a book, pen, eraser, and a pencil.
• Use of apostrophe for possession: the teachers book → the teacher's book.
• Direct speech example: mother said wash your hands → Mother said, "Wash your hands."

Understanding and practising these punctuation marks will help you write clearly so that your reader can easily understand your meaning.