Lesson 5: Using Full Stops (Periods) at the End of Sentences
We know that a sentence must start with a capital letter. Today, we will learn the rule for how to end1 a sentence. To show that a complete thought is finished, we use a punctuation mark called a full stop2, which is also known as a period in American English.
What is a Full Stop (.)?
A full stop is the small dot `.` that you put at the end of a statement. Its job is to tell the reader, "Stop. This idea is finished. A new idea will start next." Without full stops, writing becomes very confusing.
Good Example
I like Khmer food. My favorite dish is beef lok lak.
(The full stops clearly separate the two sentences.)Bad Example
I like Khmer food my favorite dish is beef lok lak
(This is confusing. We don't know where the first idea ends and the second one begins.)Rule: Capital Letter to Start, Full Stop to End
A complete sentence3 is like a package. It needs a capital letter at the front and a full stop at the back. Also, remember to put one space4 after the full stop before starting the next sentence.
Look at the pattern: Capital Letter → Idea → Full Stop → Space.
The weather is hot today. I want to drink coconut water.
Complete Sentence Checklist
Ask these three questions for every sentence you write:
- ✔️ Does it start with a capital letter?
- ✔️ Does it have a complete idea?
- ✔️ Does it end with a full stop (.)?
🧠 Practice Quiz: Add the Punctuation
Read the words below. Decide where the sentences should end and start.
1. i live in a small village it is near Kampot
Answer: I live in a small village. It is near Kampot.
2. my mother is a teacher she works at a school
Answer: My mother is a teacher. She works at a school.
3. How many sentences are here? "the dog is brown it is friendly i like the dog"
Answer: There are three sentences. (The dog is brown. It is friendly. I like the dog.)
📝 Homework: Write Your Own Sentences
Get your pen and notebook. It's time to write perfect sentences.
Part 1: Correct the Paragraph
Copy this short story, adding all the missing capital letters and full stops.
my name is vuthy i have a bicycle my bicycle is old but i like it i ride it to the market every day
Part 2: Write About Your Day
Write three complete sentences about your day today. Use the "Complete Sentence Checklist" to check your work.
Example Answer: My name is Srey. Today I went to the market with my mother. I am tired now.
Vocabulary Glossary
- End: (Verb/Noun) - បញ្ចប់ - To finish; the final part of something. ↩
- Full Stop / Period: (Noun) - សញ្ញាចុច - The punctuation mark (.) that ends a sentence. ↩
- Sentence: (Noun) - ប្រយោគ - A group of words that makes a complete thought, starting with a capital letter and ending with a full stop. ↩
- Space: (Noun) - ដកឃ្លា - The empty area you leave between words or after a full stop. ↩
- Punctuation: (Noun) - វណ្ណយុត្តិ - The marks, like full stops and commas, used in writing to separate sentences and clarify meaning.