Punctuations

Punctuation marks are various markings or symbols used in the English language to guide the reader through the text and understand it better.

Some common punctuations marks are:
• Full stop
• Comma
• Question mark
• Exclamation mark
• Colon
• Semi- colon

Full stop (.): It is also known as period. It is used at the end of a sentence and in abbreviations.
Examples,
• He works in income tax department.
• He is a B.A.

Comma (,): Comma is one of the most common punctuation marks and has many uses. Some of the uses of a comma are:

• To separate items in a list
E.g. I want eggs, bread, and milk.

• In direct speech
E.g. He told me, “I want to become an engineer.”

Question mark (?): It is used at the end of an interrogative sentence.
Examples,
• What is your name?
• Where are you going?

Exclamation mark (!): It is used at the end of an exclamatory sentence.
Examples,
• Hey! Are you alright?
• Hurray! We have won the match!

Exercise

Choose the correctly punctuated sentence.

1.
a. He neither, smiled nor looked at me.
b. He neither smiled, nor looked at me.
c. He neither smiled, nor, looked at me.
d. He neither smiled nor looked at me.

2.
a. Is there any issue, in your laptop.
b. Is there any issue in your laptop.
c. Is there any issue in your laptop?
d. Is there any issue in your laptop

3.
a. A parents job is more difficult than a grandparent’s.
b. A parent’s job is more difficult than a grandparent’s.
c. A parent’s’ job is more difficult than a grandparent’s
d. A parent’s job is more difficult than a grandparent’s?

4.
a. John is going to sleep now.
b. John is going: to sleep now.
c. John is going; to sleep now.
d. John is going to sleep now

5.
a. Bravo You have done well.
b. Bravo! You have done well.
c. Bravo, You have done well.
d. Bravo: You have done well.

6.
a. Did you understand the concept
b. Did you understand the concept.
c. Did you understand the concept?
d. Did you, understand the concept!

7.
a. We had a great time in Shimla the kids really enjoyed it.
b. We had a great time in Shimla, the kids really enjoyed it.
c. We had a great time in Shimla: the kids really enjoyed it.
d. We had a great time in Shimla – the kids really enjoyed it.

8.
a. The boy’s father sat in the corner.
b. The boys father sat in the corner.
c. The boy’s father sat in the corner
d. The boy’s father sat in the corner?

9.
a. What are you doing this weekend
b. What are you doing this weekend?
c. What are you doing this weekend.
d. What! are you doing this weekend?

10.
a. Father had to go into hospital, he had stomach problems.
b. Father had to go into hospital! he had stomach problems.
c. Father had to go into hospital: he had stomach problems.
d. Father had to go into hospital he had stomach problems.

Answers

1. D
2. C
3. B
4. A
5. B
6. C
7. D
8. A
9. B
10.C