PUNCTUATION AND CAPITAL LETTERS
2
A
Correct punctuation will improve your writing. Before you submit your writing, you need to
check it carefully to ensure that the punctuation is correct.
It is a good idea to read your work aloud to check the punctuation. The end of a sentence –
a full stop – usually requires a new breath, while a comma requires a smaller break.
APOSTROPHES
While doing your punctuation
check, don’t forget to check for a
capital letter after a full stop.
If you are using dialogue,
check for opening and closing
quotation marks and remember
to start a new line for each
change of speaker.
The apostrophe (’) is used for two reasons: to indicate contraction or possession.
To indicate contraction
The apostrophe is used when writing informally to indicate a contraction. A contraction is a shortened form of a word or
words, and the apostrophe in a contraction indicates that one or more letters have been left out.
I do not understand why you are upset (formal writing).
I don’t understand how you’re upset (informal writing).
Commonly used contractions include:
W, can’t (cannot)
W, let’s (let us)
W, don’t (do not)
W, we’ll (we shall/will)
W, he’s (he is)
RULE
EXAMPLE
It’s and its
The contraction it’s always means it is or it has.
It’s (it is) snowing.
Its (without an apostrophe) is used to show possession.
The dolphin moved its fin.
Who’s and whose
The contraction who’s always means who is or who has.
I wonder who’s (who is) visiting the neighbours.
Who’s (who has) seen the new film?
Whose is used to show that someone possesses something.
Sofia is the woman whose house is scary.
To indicate possession
The apostrophe is used to show that something belongs to someone or something. It is placed after the word indicating the
owner (which is a noun).
One way to work out where to put the apostrophe is to ask yourself: who is the owner? Then, put the apostrophe after
the last letter of the word signifying the owner.
The girl’s shoes. (the shoes belong to the girl)
The girls’ shoes. (the shoes belong to the girls)
Looking at it another way, if there is only one owner, use the apostrophe followed by ‘s’.
My father’s hat.
PART A: WRITING SKILLS
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WRITING SKILLS
2.1 PUNCTUATION
RULE
EXAMPLE
Names ending in ‘s’
If you are referring to one person’s ownership and that person’s name ends in
‘s’, then follow the usual rule and use the apostrophe followed by ‘s’.
Tess’s cat.
The exception to this is when the person’s name ends in an unpronounced ‘s’.
If this is the case, put the apostrophe after the person’s name, but do not
add another ‘s’.
Francois’ house.
More than one owner
If there is more than one owner, add the apostrophe after the plural form
of the word.
My parents’ house. (two parents)
If the plural noun does not end in ‘s’, add the apostrophe followed by ‘s’.
Women’s rights.
More than one owner: joint or separate ownership?
If two or more people own something together, use the apostrophe followed by
‘s’ after the last person only.
John and Radha’s car.
If two or more people own things separately, use the apostrophe followed by ‘s’
after each person.
Louise’s and Dante’s chairs.
QUESTION MARKS
The question mark (?) is used at the end of a sentence to indicate a direct question.
Are you going to the game tonight?
The question mark is not used at the end of a reported question.
I asked you whether you are going to the game tonight.
COMMAS
The comma (,) shows a slight pause in a sentence. It is used:
W, before a quotation or direct speech
W, to separate items in a list; the comma is usually omitted before ‘and‘ in
a list
W, before and after the parts of a sentence that add new, but not essential,
information.
SEMICOLONS
The semicolon (;) joins clauses that are on a similar topic. (A clause is a group of words
that contains a verb.) Note that you do not use a capital letter after a semicolon.
Roses have a lovely perfume; dandelions do not.
COLONS
The colon (:) can be used to introduce a list.
You will need to take several items to the snow: a hat, gloves and a warm jacket.
The colon is also sometimes used to introduce a quotation or a statement.
The coach said to the team: ‘We will train on Thursday.’
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SENIOR ENGLISH SKILLS BUILDER
What does a question mark indicate?
QUOTATION MARKS
A
Quotation marks – both double (“) and single (‘) – are used to indicate direct speech (words spoken or dialogue).
WRITING SKILLS
‘I really want to go to the game,’ whined Francesca.
2.2 CAPITAL LETTERS
Capital letters must be used:
W, at the start of a sentence
W, at the start of a person’s name
W, at the start of proper nouns, such as days, months, suburbs, cities and countries
W, for the personal pronoun ‘I’
W, for the first letter of the first word in a piece of dialogue or conversation.
Capital letters are also often used for the main words (that is, all the words except the prepositions, conjunctions and
articles) in a heading or title.
YOUR TURN
2.1
Insert a question mark or a full stop at the end of the following sentences, as appropriate.
a Are you going to finish that sandwich
b Mario asked Tim if he was going to the pictures that night
c
When will you ever learn
d I was going to ask my brother if he had footy boots I could borrow
e Why do you want to know
2.2 Rewrite the following sentences, including the correct punctuation marks and capital letters.
a john this is my friend ahmet who will be helping us out today ___________________________________
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b sunil did not want blue purple or green socks ________________________________________________
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c
well said the witch with a wicked cackle what are you waiting for _______________________________
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d sebastian who was allergic to peanuts was careful to avoid them _______________________________
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e why are you running away asked the officer __________________________________________________
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2.3
Insert apostrophes in the following sentences, as appropriate.
a Doesnt anyone know whos coming?
d Mohammeds finished his dinner.
b Shed felt sad and couldnt return to the house.
e Thomass house is very big.
c
f
Youre joking, arent you?
I marked the Year 10 students work.
PART A: WRITING SKILLS
11
g Hannahs and Toulas speeches were the best.
j
h My sisters dresses are kept in a box.
k Six students bags went missing.
i
The birds nests were very fragile.
Next weeks lesson is cancelled.
2.4 Insert commas in the following sentences, as appropriate.
a My mum Anoushka went to the florist.
b However the match ended well.
c
2.5
It was not unusual for the team to lose despite the efforts of the athletic half-forward.
Insert quotation marks in the following sentences, as appropriate.
a Why can’t I go to the beach? pleaded Akira.
b Tai turned to his father and calmly said, let us revisit the past.
2.6
Insert colons in the following sentences, as appropriate.
a They bought too much food bread, milk, cheese and apples.
b The principal delivered a stern message ‘Work hard.’
2.7
Insert semicolons in the following sentences, as appropriate.
a The students were exemplary they were perfect in every way.
b Punctuation is important it’s an area to improve.
2.8
Copy a paragraph of about eight lines from a newspaper or novel, removing the capital letters. Swap your
paragraph with a classmate’s and then rewrite their paragraph, including the capital letters. Correct and
discuss each other’s work, including the reasons for the capital letters.
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SENIOR ENGLISH SKILLS BUILDER