Slide 1: Overview & End Marks
Star English Private School
What is Punctuation?
"A sentence without punctuation is like a city without traffic."
Kinds of Punctuations
  • Internal: Comma (,), Apostrophe ('), Semicolon (;), Colon (:), Hyphen (-), Dash (—), Parentheses (()).
  • End: Full stop (.), Question mark (?), Exclamation mark (!).
Key Rule for End Marks

The new sentence which comes after an end mark will ALWAYS begin with a CAPITAL LETTER.

1. Full Stop / Period (.)
A. Abbreviations:

P.E.P.S, S.E.R.P, P.M, A.M

Omit in international: UN, Unicef, NATO, IAEA

B. Decimals, Dollars & Cents:

2.75, $2.5, 1500.75 Birr

C. Declarative, Imperative & Indirect Questions:
  • I like your book.
  • Please open the window.
  • Ali asked her if she was going home.
  • Obama is the president of America.
Slide 2: Question Mark & Exclamation Mark
Star English Private School
2. Question Mark (?)

Used after interrogative sentences (direct questions).

Examples:
  • Do you know me?
  • Isn't he coming here?
  • He likes my brother why?
  • Where were you born?
3. Exclamation Mark (!)

Used after exclamatory sentences or strong emotional commands.

Examples:
  • What a beautiful girl!
  • Don't move! I am FBI inspector.
  • What a foolish boy that you are!
  • Oh! How can I do that?
Slide 3: Comma (Uses 1 to 3)
Star English Private School
Comma (,) Overview

Comma generally reflects pauses in writing and is used in 11 primary expressions:

1. Lists | 2. Adjectives | 3. Word order | 4. Coordinating clauses | 5. Direct speech | 6. Subordinating clause
7. Non-defining relative clauses | 8. Participle phrases | 9. Noun in address | 10. Question tags | 11. With numbers
1. Lists

To separate items in a series list (in British English comma is not usually used before 'and').

  • She visited Somalia, Kenya, Djibouti and Ethiopia.
  • He interests playing football, cricket, basketball and volleyball.
2. Adjectives

In predicate positions, commas separate adjectives except before the last word.

  • She was white, tall, and beautiful.
  • It was green, red, blue and white bird.
  • He is black, thin and smart boy.
3. Word Order

If words/expressions interrupt the normal progression of a sentence, separate them with commas.

  • We were, believe or not, in love with each other.
  • My mother, however, was not killed.
Slide 4: Comma (Uses 4 to 6)
Star English Private School
4. Coordinating Clauses

Clauses with "But", "Or", "And" are usually separated by comma unless they are short.

  • I had money and, he had the goods.
  • He was foolish, but she was not.
  • You pass the exam, or you will fail it.
5. Direct Speech

Generally used between reporting verb and quoted speech.

  • He said, "I am sick."
  • She said, "I am Aisha."
  • They said, "We are coming."
6. Subordinating Clauses

When subordinating clauses are at the beginning of sentences, they are separated by comma.

  • If he comes here, he will see her.
  • When he sleeps, he snores.
  • Although you are sick, I can't cure you.
Slide 5: Comma (Uses 7 to 11) & Quotation Marks
Star English Private School
7. Numbers

Dividing large numbers (thousands, millions, billions) or numbers in series.

• $10,000. - 1000,000 (1 million not written like this 1000.000).

• One million, five hundred sixty five thousand, four hundred eighty (1,565,480 Birr).

• I can count 1, 4, 7, 5, 3, 2 and 8 etc.

8. Non-defining Relative Clauses
  • Trump, the President of USA, was 45 president.
  • Michael, who was the singer, died.
  • My mother, who delivered me, is sick etc.
9. Participle Phrases
  • seeing me, he boxed me.
  • knowing her, she denied.
  • reading the book, I got tired etc.
10. Noun in Address

• Abdi, come here.

• you call, Aisha.

• you go home, father etc.

11. Question Tags

• You are student, aren't you?

• I don't know her, do I?

• I haven't seen him, have I? etc.

4. Quotation Mark (“ ”)
4.1. Inverted Commas:

In British English double quotations are used, but in American English single quotation is used.

• She said, “You are intelligent”.

• An English proverb says ‘Look before you leap’ etc.

4.2. Special Use of Words:

• Ali's speech can be a “Wall” between you and her.

• His next story was about “Love”.

• People disagree about the word ‘Hatred’ etc.

Slide 6: Hyphen, Dash & Apostrophe
Star English Private School
5. Hyphen (-)

Used with compound nouns.

Examples: sister-in-law, brother-in-law, forty-five, step-brother, man-eater, mother-in-law etc.

7. Dash ( —— )
7.1. Interruptions & Emphasis:

A dash (—) interrupts a sentence to add emphasis with additional information. Overly used in informal style and examinations.

E.g. My full name is .

7.2. Examples, Definitions, and Contrasts:

• Two of the strongest animals in the jungle and are vegetarians.

• Two of the strongest animals in the jungle the elephant and gorilla.

8. Apostrophe (' ' )
8.1. Possessive Cases:

Before or after “S” ending nouns.

• Ali's book. | Girls' pens.

• Women's rights. | Abdi's wife etc.

8.2. Contracted Forms:

Missing letters in contractions.

• He can't (he cannot).

• He's (he is/was).

• You didn't (you did not) etc.

8.3. Special Plurals:

Words without usual plurals (letters, figures, abbreviations).

  • It is good idea but there are a lot of if's in it.
  • I wrote a lot B's instead of D's.
  • There are three 5's in my number.
  • A lot of MP's rejected the motion.
  • That event happened in 1990's etc.
Slide 7: Colon, Semicolon & Parentheses
Star English Private School
9. Colon ( : )
9.1. Introducing Lists:

After an independent clause to introduce a list.

E.g. If you really want to lose weight, you must give up the following sweets: cake, pie, candy, and cookies.

9.2. Explanatory Clauses:

E.g. Our store has a fixed policy: We will not be undersold.

9.3. Business Letter Salutations:

Dear Dr. Muktar Dayib: | To Whom It May Concern:

9.4. Citations, Time, and Titles:

Song of Songs 4:15 | 10:15 A.M. | Eating Healthy: A Complete Guide etc.

10. Semicolon ( ; )

A stronger stop than a comma but not as strong as a period.

10.1. Closely Related Independent Clauses:

E.g. The chef cooked for too much chicken; we eagerly devoured the excess.

10.2. Conjunctive Adverbs:

E.g. Sarah wanted to be a doctor; however, she faints at the sight of blood.

10.3. Complex Clauses Containing Commas:

E.g. Daud, who is an accomplished musician, wanted to perform at his sister's wedding; but he quickly discovered that Mariam, the maid of honor, had other plans for the entertainment.

11. Parentheses ( ( ) )

Use parentheses to set off nonessential information.

11.1. Enclosing Additional Information:

E.g. Capitalize all proper nouns and proper adjectives (see Chapter 11).

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