Basic punctuation Punctuation helps the reader: understand what we

write, and is an important thing of writing.

Symbo Name Use Example
l full stop at end of This is a sentence.
. sentence E.U.
in abbreviations
, separates I fit rains, we'll get
comma
clauses wet. |
in lists. It was dark, wet and
windy,
?. question, mark end. :ojs
questions , . What's your name?
‘ apostrophe contractions
I'm not happy.
posses-sives @
Peter's room.
- '@'
-
! Exclamation for emphasis - I've won!
mark informal

The possessive form of it is its.

I like its colour.
It's is the contracted form of it is or it has.
It's a lovely day!
It's rained three times this week.
Apostrophe with o' clock.
It's six o'clock.
It's nine o'clock.

Choose the sentence with the correct punctuation.

a) 1Have you seen my pen, I'm looking for it?
2Have you seen my pen I'm looking for it?
3Have you seen my pen? I'm looking for it.
b) 1We bought some oranges some apples and, a loaf.
2We bought some oranges, some apples and a loaf.
3We bought, some oranges, some apples, and a loaf.
c) 1What's the matter? with your bike, is it broken?
2What's the matter? with your bike? Is it broken?
3What's the matter with your bike? Is it broken?
d) 1Two boys in football kit ran across the playground.
2Two boys, in football kit, ran, across the playground.
3Two boys in football kit ran, across the playground.

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e) 1Go down this street turn left and then cross the road.
2Go down this street, turn left, and then cross the road.
3Go down, this street, turn left, and then, cross the road.
f) 1Look out! You'll fall off the bus if you're not careful.
2Look out? You'll fall off the bus if, you're not careful.
3Look out you'll fall off the bus, if you're not careful!
g) 1First of all I think, this idea is wrong.
2First of all, I think, this idea is wrong.
3First of all, I think this idea is wrong.
h) 1If I, were you, I'd go to bed earlier.
2If I were you, I'd go to bed earlier.
3If I were you I'd go, to bed earlier.
i) 1Its got a lovely pattern, but the material is too thin.
2It's got a lovely pattern, but the material is too thin.
3Its' got a lovely pattern, but the material is too thin.
j) 1These are Paul's magazines and Jame's books.
2These are Paul's magazine's and James' books.
3These are Paul's magazines and James' books.

1 Choose the sentence with the correct punctuation.

a) A This ones your's, but who's got their's?
B This ones yours but whos got theirs?
C This one's yours, but who's got theirs?
b) A We got up late, had lunch, and watched television.
B We got up, late had lunch, and watched television.
C We got up late, had lunch and watched, television.
c) A Whats the matter with David's bike?
B What's the matter with David's bike?
C What's the matter, with Davids's bike?
d) A At the end of the film, we found the boys' coats under the seats.
B At the end, of the film, we found the boys' coat's under the seats.
C At the end of the film we found, the boys coats under the seats'.
e) A If I were you, I'd stop using yours and try hers'.
B If I, were you, I'd stop using your's and try hers.
C If I were you, I'd stop using yours and try hers.
f) A Jack's brother's name's Paul, isn't it?
B Jack's brothers' name's Paul, isnt it?
C Jack's brother's, names Paul, isn't it?
g) A If any letter's come here, I'll bring them, to Sam's house.
B If any letters come here, I'll bring them to Sams's house.
C If any letters come here, I'll bring them to Sam's house.
h) A Go down, this road, turn left, at the end, and then turn right.
B Go down this road, turn left at the end, and then turn right.
C Go down this road, turn left, at the end, and then turn right.
i) A Its nearly time for me to take the dog for its walk.

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 B It's nearly time for me to take the dog for its walk.
C It's nearly time for me to take the dog for it's walk.
j) A Watch out? You nearly hit that cyclist?
B Watch out. You nearly hit that cyclist!
C Watch out! You nearly hit that cyclist!