Name: Class: Date:

Punctuation pack

Use of commas

1- to separate a long introductory phrase from the main clause

1- Having been told of the test John wondered when he would stay.
2- Wading into the cool lake we found relief from the heat.
3- In the heat of a summer afternoon our air conditioner stopped.
4- After our game with Central High School our bus broke down.
5- Seeing the oncoming car weaving I slowed down.
2- to separate an introductory clause from the main clause
1- When she noticed the time Marie realized she would be late.
2- As I entered the room I realised that I was late again.
3- While I was working at the restaurant I learned about food.
4- If she wishes Gloria can come with us.
5- Before you leave give us your address and telephone number.
3- to separate three or more words or phrases in a sentence
1- He drove through Illinois Indiana and Kentucky.
2- He ran up the stairs through the door and down the hall.
3- I ate breakfast read the newspaper and went to work.
4- I have seen his picture in magazines on television and in movies.
5- We went swimming boating and fishing.
4- to connect two independent clauses joined with a coordinating conjunction
1- Your handwriting is sloppy but your punctuation is perfect.
2- Alice wanted to stay home that evening yet she didn’t feel that she could refuse the invitation.
3- You can spend the money now or you can put it in the bank.
4- The rain continued for an hour so the game was called off.
5- He wouldn’t let them fight nor would he allow them to give up.
5- to separate nouns in direct address and after exclamations
1- Jim are you sure that the building is safe?
2- I am worried John that you had forgotten to feed the dog.
3- No you need to go to bed early.
4- Yes he assigned another essay.
5- Mom buy me some new shoes.
 6- to separate coordinate adjectives
1- The instructor gave an unfair difficult examination.
2- It was a happy productive prosperous season.
3- The foolish rude remark embarrassed him.
4- A heavy soiled ball sailed over the fence.
5- A tall dark and handsome man walked into the room.
7- to enclose a single word that interrupts the flow of the sentence
1- It is however very difficult to hit a silverfish from ten feet away.
2- He realised nevertheless that Martha would not let him keep a dog.
3- The umpire unfortunately called off the game.
4- Martha indeed hated homework.
8- to enclose a phrase that interrupts the flow of the sentence
1- That song in my opinion is unimaginative.
2- Mr Barnes my dance instructor was a professional entertainer.
3- A Mazda the car with rotary engine is expensive.
4- One of the car’s safety features for example is the braking system.
9- to enclose clauses that interrupts the flow of the sentence
1- Gene Fowler who happens to be a poet is my best friend.
2- My car which I received as a gift sits idle in the driveway
3- My friend who was hurt in the accident is in the hospital.

10- to punctuate direct speech

1- She said "I am not at all happy about having to climb this staircase in the dark."
2- She said grumbling under her breath "I am not at all happy about having to climb this staircase in
the dark."
3- "I am not at all happy about having to climb this staircase in the dark " she said.
4- "The lesson is over " he announced.
5- "There is a traffic jam all the way home " reported Jan.
Use of Colons and semicolons

Colons
1- To introduce a list, quotation, result or explanation
- I went to the supermarket and bought many things: a bar of soap, a bottle of milk and
some cheese.

- You know what to do: practice!

- I got stuck in traffic: there was a terrible accident that blocked the road.

- The roads are icy: it’s dangerous to drive today.

Note:
- Avoid using a colon after a verb or a preposition.
Ex: I want: butter, sugar and flour.

- Do not capitalise ordinary words after a colon.

Semicolons
1- To connect two independent clauses instead of coordinating conjunctions

- My favourite meal is rigatoni with Bolognese sauce and crusty bread; they remind me of
my grandmother’s cooking.

2- To connect two independent clauses linked with a conjunctive adverb

- Community colleges offer preparation for many occupations; moreover, they prepare
students to transfer to four-year college university.

3- To separate a list of phrases

- When I pack for school, I make sure I have my calculator, compasses and ruler for maths
and science lessons; drawing pencils, with coloured pastels, for art; shin pads, goalie
gloves and boots for football; and my bus money.

- I have been to Cairo, Egypt; London, Britain and Paris, France.

Note:
- Do not capitalise ordinary words after a semicolon.

Why are colons and semicolons used in the following sentences?

1- The town reminded me of my childhood vacations: both were on the beach.

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2- I have several favourite genres of movies: drama, science fiction and mystery.

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3- This was first said by Shakespeare: "To thine own self be true".

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4- We had students from Lima, Peru; Santiago, Chile and Caracas, Venezuela.

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5- We had too many fumbles; we lost the game.

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6- I know you don't like broccoli; nevertheless, it is very good for you.

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Use of dashes and brackets

Dashes can be used to add information to a sentence to emphasise it and make it stand out.

Example:

- When the car was finally delivered—nearly three months after it was ordered—she decided
she no longer wanted it.

- The white sand, the warm water, the sparkling sun—this is what brought them to Hawaii.

- Upon discovering the errors—all 124 of them—the publisher immediately recalled the
books.

Dashes can be used to show interruption.

- "The girl is my –"

"Sister," interrupted Miles. "She looks just like you."

Add the missing dashes in the following sentences:

1-The Beatles the most famous rock band in history were from England.

2- Mary, Queen of Scots who was also a French queen was cousin to Elizabeth I of
England

3-Tomorrow my last day of school is almost here.

Brackets can be used to add unimportant information to a sentence and give extra details.

- Mount Everest (in the Himalayas) is the highest mountain in the world.
- There are several books on the subject (see page 120).
- George Washington (the first president of the United States) gave his farewell address in
1796.
 - NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) launched its first Mars probe
(Viking I) back in 1976.

Add the missing brackets in the following sentences:

1- The Great Dane which is my favourite dog breed originated in Germany.

2- My mother likes although I don’t know why old folk music.

3- Brad Pitt real name: William Bradley Pitt is a famous actor.

4- It will be five years before they the Bulldogs and the Bears meet again on the football field.

Inverted commas

1- used to indicate direct speech or dialogue spoken by a character in a story, play, or

script.

Example: "I can't believe you said that!" she exclaimed.

2- used to indicate a quotation / idiom/ famous saying or direct citation from a source,
such as a book or article.

Example: According to Albert Einstein, "Imagination is more important than knowledge".

3- used to indicate the titles of short works, such as poems, songs, or short stories.

Example: The poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost is one of his most famous works.

4- used to indicate irony or sarcasm, suggesting that the writer is using the word or phrase
with a different or opposite meaning than usual.

Example: He's such a "great" friend, always gossiping behind my back.

5- used to emphasize a word or phrase, drawing attention to it.

Example: The dessert was simply "amazing".

6 - used to indicate that a word or phrase is being used figuratively or with a different
meaning than its literal definition.

Example: He has a "heart of stone" when it comes to criticism.

7- differentiate a nickname from a given name

Example: Dwayne Johnson “The Rock” can’t escape his origins as a wrestler.
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