English Grammar Punctuations for Class 3
As we learn the basics of English grammar, it is important to know how a sentence needs to be framed to make sense and be able to express it correctly. While framing sentences, along with nouns, verbs, and conjunctions, punctuation is required to divide the meaning of the sentences to give rise to a sentence with meaning altogether. The set of marks used to regulate texts and separate or link them is called punctuation. To clarify the meaning of a sentence, we need to link certain words, phrases, and clauses with the punctuation mark, which will then add to the overall meaning. Punctuation includes several types, which we will study further in this article.
What is punctuation, and how to use it?
The use or the misuse of the punctuation will determine the meaning or even take away the meaning and the intention entirely. A change in the punctuation from one text to another alters and affects the meaning, and we convey a different intention. Like the basic laws of English grammar, using punctuations has changed, and the rules are conventions that have changed with time. This is because we have English now spoken by many people all over the world, which tends to change the ways of using certain English grammar characters like punctuation. The use of punctuation can vary from country to country mostly. Punctuation can also vary between two people who have grown up studying English grammar in different institutions with different teaching styles, such as following either American or British English. Two writers can also convey the meaning of their sentences and write with their writing styles, which could be different from each other.
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What Are The Basic Rules of Punctuation?
To understand the rule of using punctuation in English grammar, we need to understand the principles behind the common punctuation marks. This will help you understand grammar and strengthen your writing style so that you can stay consistent. Punctuation may not seem very important, but after understanding its use, we realize that it can change the sentence's message.
We will further direct you to understand better the use of punctuation and its most common marks, such as exclamation, question marks, colons, dashes, semicolons, quotation marks, etc.
Uses of Punctuations
A sentence can be ended with only three punctuation marks: a period, a Question mark, and an exclamation mark, which end the sentence right where we put them. Because of this, it is important first to frame the sentence, and then we can put these marks. The question mark is used for interrogation or asking something that needs a response or an answer.
Period, Question mark, and exclamation mark
A period, which is also called full stop, is not used to ask or exclaim anything. It is used just for stating a fact. In the case of an exclamation mark, we use it out of sheer excitement or sorrow. It expresses our emotions. Below we will see examples of a full stop, a question mark, and an exclamation mark.
For example, a period:
- Shyam will go to bed after an hour.
The period is the full stop that we use for ending the sentence. The sentence is complete and does not ask a question or exclaim. It is a simple statement because we have used a full stop (period).
For example, a question mark:?
- In which school do you study now?
In this sentence, we ask a question to which a reply or an answer is required. The sentence makes sense but requires a response. A question mark needs to be used like the example given above in such cases.
For example, an exclamation mark:!
- We have won the football match!
In the above example, we are exclaiming something out of excitement. The victory in the football match is being stated by exclaiming, because of which an exclamation mark is used.
Commas
Commas are used for dividing the sentences into parts with different meanings, which convey a different message altogether. It is the most widely used punctuation mark and can appear several times in a sentence. The comma is also known to be the least law-abiding mark according to the rules of English grammar. The reason for this is that different people use it differently. Two different people may use different ways to convey a message for which they end up putting the comma in different parts of the sentence. If the difference is too great, it can result in the two sentences having different messages or meaning to them. The comma is used to join different clauses or phrases that form a meaningful or complete sentence.
The comma seems to have no unbreakable rules if we see the different ways people use them. However, it is still necessary to stick to basic guidelines to understand the principles of using punctuation.
Let us look at some examples to show the use of commas.
Examples:
- I never go to the movies, for I hate the huge hall.
- The two girls, who fainted in the hall, were taken to the hospital.
- The book is dedicated to my friends, Rahul and Shreya.
In the above examples, we can see that commas are used for joining two more than two clauses or phrases to convey a message.
Semicolons, Colons, and Dashes
These are the three marks of punctuation that can be effective when used correctly. The colon was originally used to reference the section or a section of a poem whose meaning was later extended. This extension was done to the sentence's clause, which was later used as a mark to set off a clause to add a message by an extension to the sentence.
In the earlier days, the semicolon and dash were popular and widely used. The use of these two punctuations seemed likely to take over the other punctuation marks. On the contrary, the writers of this generation tend to avoid it. Let us see the example of each of these punctuation marks.
Example for semicolon: ;
- Life is strange to experience; our test is taken before we learn the lessons.
Example for colon: :
- There are two most important people in a person’s life: the mother and the father.
Example for Dash: -
- He loves two things – books and football.
In the above examples, we have seen the example of semicolons, colons and dashes and how these are used for extending the sentences.
Apostrophe
An apostrophe might be the most frequently misused punctuation mark in English grammar for its simplicity. This mark has often been a topic of debate as different people tend to use it according to their convenience. Therefore, certain guidelines need to be followed to understand the use of this punctuation mark. Below are a few different ways of using the apostrophe in sentences.
Examples:
Apostrophes with different uses
- The nurse came out of the room and called out the patient’s names.
- The nurse came out of the room and called out the patients’ names.
In the above examples, the apostrophe points out a single patient's name. The same apostrophe can also point out the names of several patients being called out by the nurse.
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Quotation Mark
The quotation mark is used to put the dialogue of a person within a specific frame to set its meaning aside from the narrative or the rest of the sentence. The quotation mark is mostly used in direct forms of speeches that you will study in the upper classes. The basic guidelines will be taught for understanding the use of this mark in a sentence and its purpose. Below are some examples of the use of quotation marks.
Examples:
- “The event was wonderfully organized”, said the principal.
- "The event," said the principal ", was wonderfully organized".
In the above example, the two sentences convey the same meaning but have been arranged differently. Both the sentences carry the message that the speaker wants to say but with a little change in the arrangement of the dialogue of the principal. A comma is put after the first part of the dialogue to show continuation.
Conclusion
Punctuation marks have versatile uses, as seen in this article. The different types of punctuation marks are often used according to the writer's convenience. With the examples shown, we can see that a punction mark will either change the meaning entirely or make no sense if not put in the right place.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What are the names of all the basic punctuation marks?
Ans: Period (full stop), comma, semicolon, colon, question mark, exclamation mark, apostrophe, dash, and quotation mark.
- Select the correctly punctuated sentences from below:
- Rahul, please open the door.
- Rahul, please open the door.
Ans: a) Rahul, please open the door.
- Select the sentence that requires a question mark:
- I will go to bed now
- When will you sleep
Ans: b) When will you sleep?
- Put the quotation in the right places in the sentence below:
- I will take my dog to the park said Ankita.
Ans: "I will take my dog to the park," said Ankita.
- Write a sentence with a colon wherever required.
Ans: There are two main things required for a plant: water and sunlight.
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