How to Teach Punctuation In Advance Classes

Punctuation

Definition: marks used to organize writing: the standardized non-alphabetical symbols or marks that are used to organize writing into clauses, phrases and sentences to make meaning clear, is called punctuation.

There are 11 punctuation marks used in English language.

1. Full Stop… (.)
2. Question Mark… (?)
3. Exclamation Marks… (!)
4. Comma… (,)
5. Colon… (:)
6. Semicolon… (;)
7. Dash… (-)
8. Parentheses/ Brackets… (())
9. Quotation Marks/Inverted Commas… (“)
10. Hyphen… (-)
11. Apostrophe… (‘)

1. Full Stop Usage (.)
2. It is used to end of a sentence long or short.

Aisha went to college. Tahir has taken breakfast.

2. Question Mark Usage (?)
3. It is used at the end of a direct question.

Who went there? What is your name?

3. Exclamation Mark Usage (!)
4. It is used at the end of a sentence or remark, expressing a high of anger, amazement, or other strong emotion.

What a wonderful sight! She cried.

Get out of here and never come back!

4. Comma Usage (,)
5. It is sued to separate the item in lists of words, phrases and clauses.

Red, white, blue and pink roses filled the huge vase.

If you have time, take rest, and think of going there.

2. Sometimes it is used after a subordinate adverbial clause which comes after the main clause.

When the sun rises early in the morning, the world looks like heaven.

3. It is used at the beginning with the non-finite or verb less clause.

Happy and contented, she slept peacefully.

To reach in time, it was our duty.

4. It is used to separate an introductory or transitional word or phrase starts with therefore, however, by the way.

In fact, I do not know her name.

By the way, tell your address.

5. It is used after or before dependent clause or comment which interrupts the sentence.

The fire, burning since morning, destroyed all huts.

You should, you must, inform the police.

6. It is used after or before non-defining relative clause or phrase on opposition which gives more information about the noun it flows.

The Kashmir Valley, that welcomes the new guest with her charm-full sights, is situated in Pakistan.

7. It is sometimes used to separate the main clause linked by a conjunction, by, and, for…when the first clause is long.

We have been looking forward to hearing from you soon, but discovered that he left the home one week ago.

5. Colon Usage (:)
6. It is used after the main clause where the following statement explains the contents of theta clause.

The house had been neglected for a long time; it was not cleaned for two months.

2. It is used before a long list, and often introduced by phrase such as, for example; for instance.

Your room should include: air-condition, double-bed, TV, a servant…

6. Semi-Colon (;)
7. It is used to separate main clause, not joint by conjunction, which is considered closely connected as to belong one sentence.

The sun was setting now; the shadows were long.

2. It is used instead of a comma to separate from other parts of a sentence that are already separated by comma.

There are two facts to consider; first, weather, second, expense.

7. Dash Usage (_)
8. It is used instead of a comma or a semi-colon to make the writing more vivid and dramatic.

The sirens blared, people shouted, the babies laughed…it was a heavenly sight.

2. It is used in singly or in pairs to separate extra information, an after-thought or a comment.

So you have been lying to me for years-how can I ever trust you again?

8. Parentheses/Brackets Usage ()
9. It is used in singly or in pairs to separate extra information from the rest of the sentence.

School holidays (we were told) were the happiest days of our lives.

2. It is used to enclose cross-reference.

The cock (see its picture on page 70) is the bird of paradise.

9. Quotation Marks Usage (“)
10. It is used to make prominent a word or a sentence or a phrase…

He calls “himself” a gentleman.

10. Hyphen Usage (-)
11. It is used in compound words to make the words one word.

Kitchen-door, wall-clock, wrist-watch

11. Apostrophe Usage (‘)
12. It is used with ‘s’ to indicate the possessive.

Singular; Aisha’s sister, Ali’s brother

Plural; Presidents’ meeting