Punctuation

Grammar

Sentences
Sentences are statements which make complete sense. A sentence ALWAYS begins with a capital letter and usually ends with a full stop. A sentence ends with a question mark if the sentence is a question and an exclamation mark if the sentence is an exclamation.

Paragraphs
Paragraphs are a group of sentences on a single point or idea. We often write paragraphs to do one of the following; explain, make an argument or put forward an idea. Each paragraph should make one point and this should be clear to the reader. It is best to present your idea in the first sentence and then explain or discuss what you mean in the rest of the paragraph.

Paragraphs
Paragraph
Present your idea
Explain or discuss Use examples or give evidence Draw conclusions from the evidence Wrap up or prepare for the next paragraph

Capital Letters
All sentences begin with a capital letter and end with a full stop, exclamation mark or a question mark. Capital letters are also used for: All proper names or people, places or pets. The days of the week and the months of the year. The names of lakes, rivers and seas. The main words in titles of books etc. The names of organisations, societies and products. Periods in history (First World War) The personal pronoun I

Commas
Commas are used to: Mark off one part of a sentence from another: As Jackie reached the boat, the moon grew bright. To separate items in a list : Jackie ate two oranges, an apple, a banana, a pear and two sandwiches. To separate direct speech from the rest of the sentence: Your dinner is ready, said Jackies mother.

Exercise
Rewrite the following passage. as the moon rose the children got ready to leave. jackie picked up the heavy rucksack which had once belonged to her father it held all her most treasured possessions her diary her pen the comb her mother sally gave her for her last birthday and her copy of the secret garden. well have to hurry said her brother harry and sam are waiting for us