Welcome! When English learners first start writing their own emails or stories, they sometimes forget the little marks that give sentences their rhythm.
Punctuation tells the reader when to stop, when to ask a question, and what words are names. Let's look at the four basic rules to make your English writing clear and professional.
warning Common Mistake
Many languages do not use capital letters, and a period often looks very different. In English, you must start every sentence with a big capital letter and end it with a punctuation mark (like a period . or question mark ?).
Punctuation Rules
Rule
Capital Letter
A large letter used for the first letter of a sentence, names of people, and names of places.
Example: Sophea lives in Cambodia.
Rule
Period ( . )
A small dot placed at the end of a normal statement or fact. It tells the reader to stop.
Example: We love eating breakfast.
Rule
Question Mark ( ? )
Used at the end of a sentence that asks for information.
Example: Excuse me, where is the market?
Rule
Comma ( , )
Used to indicate a short pause in a sentence or to separate three or more items in a list.
Example: At the market, I bought mangoes, bananas, and rice.
Knowledge Check
email Writing an Email
Sophea is writing an email to a hotel. How should she write the first letter of her sentence?
(Hint: Every English sentence must start with this.)
directions_walk Asking for Directions
A tourist asks, "How do I get to the temple"
Which mark belongs at the end?
Which mark belongs at the end?
(Hint: The tourist is asking for information.)
restaurant_menu Listing Ingredients
"We need coconut milk fish and lemongrass."
Which mark separates these items?
Which mark separates these items?
(Hint: We need to create a short pause between the items in this list.)
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Study Resources
Lesson Summary & Review
Let's review the key concepts covered in the interactive module above to ensure you are ready to punctuate your English sentences correctly.
The Big Four Punctuation Marks
- Capital Letters: Always use a capital letter for the very first letter of a sentence. You must also use them for the names of specific people (e.g., Sophea) and places (e.g., Cambodia).
- Periods ( . ): Place a dot at the end of a normal sentence that is giving information or stating a fact. This tells the reader that the thought is finished.
- Question Marks ( ? ): Place this at the end of any sentence that is asking for information. (e.g., "Where is the market?")
- Commas ( , ): Use a comma to indicate a short pause in a sentence or to separate three or more items in a list. (e.g., "I bought mangoes, bananas, and rice.")
