Period
1. Use a
period to end a complete sentence. A sentence is a group of words containing a
subject and predicate. In British English a period is called a 'full stop'.
Examples:
He went to Detroit last week.
They are going to visit.
2. Use a
period after an initial. Example: M.
E. Kerr is a wonderful author.
3. Use a
period after an abbreviation.
Example: We welcomed Mrs. Simmons to our team.
Comma
There are a number of different uses for commas in English. Commas are
used to:
- Separate
a list of items. This is one of the most common uses of a comma. Notice
that a comma is included before the conjunction 'and' which comes before
the final element of a list. Examples:
I like reading, listening to music, taking long
walks, and visiting with my friends.
They would like books, magazines, DVDs, video cassettes, and other learning
materials for their library.
- Separate
phrases. Examples:
In order to qualify for your certificate, you will
need to take the TOEFL exam.
Although he wanted to come, he wasn't able to attend the course.
- Separate
two independent phrases that are connected by a conjunction such as 'but'.
Examples:
They wanted to purchase a new car, but their
financial situation would not allow it.
I'd really enjoy seeing a film this evening, and I'd like to go out for a
drink.
- Introduce
a direct quote.
- Examples:
The boy said, "My father is often away during
the week on business trips."
His doctor replied, "If you don't stop smoking, you run the risk of a
heart attack."
- Separate
appositives (a noun, or noun phrase).
Examples:
Bill Gates, the richest man in the world, comes
from Seattle.
My only sister, who is a fantastic tennis player, is in great shape.
Question Mark
The question mark is used at the end of a question.
Examples:
Where do you live?
How long have they been studying?
Exclamation Point
The exclamation point is used at the end of a sentence to indicate great
surprise. It is also used for emphasis when making a point.
Examples:
That ride was fantastic!
I can't believe he is going to marry her!
Semicolon
There are two uses for a semicolon:
- To
separate two independent clauses. One or both of the clauses are short and
the ideas expressed are usually very similar.
Examples:
He loves studying; He can't get enough of school.
What an incredible situation; it must make you nervous.
- To
separate groups of words that are themselves separated by commas.
Examples:
I took a holiday and played golf, which I love;
read a lot, which I needed to do; and slept late, which I hadn't done for quite
a while.
They plan to study German, for their travels; chemistry, for their work; and
literature, for their own enjoyment.
Colon
A colon can be used for two purposes:
- To
provide additional details and explanation. Examples:
He had many reasons for joining the club: to get in
shape, to make new friends, to lose some weight, and to get out of the house.
She gave notice for the following reasons: bad pay, horrible hours, poor
relations with colleagues, and her boss.
- To
introduce a direct quote (a comma can also be used in this situation). Examples:
He announced to his friends: "I'm getting
married!"
She cried out: "I never want to see you again!"
8. Using Capital Letters
Rule 1: All sentences begin with a capital
letter, even sentences that only consist of one word.
a. This is my house. (Statement)
b. Are you going to school? (Question)
c. Watch out for the truck! (Exclamation)
d. Stop!
Rule
2: The proper name, the name of a specific person or thing, begins with a
capital letter. All other important
words in the name must also start with a capital letter.
a. Henry David Thoreau (a man, a writer)
b. Grand Canyon (a canyon, a
geographical wonder, a tourist attraction
c. Atlantic Ocean (an ocean, a body of water, a sea)
Rule 3: Titles of books, songs, stories, works
of art, magazine articles, tests, and other written materials must begin with a
capital letter. Every other important
word of the title must also begin with a capital letter. Words that do not need a capital letter
unless they are the first word of the title are a, an, and, of, to, the, etc.
a. Winnie the Pooh
b. To Kill a Mockingbird
c. The Merchant of Venice
Rule 4: The letter I, when used as a pronoun
referring to yourself must always be written as a capital letter.
a. I am not happy.
b. Am
I the first person here?
c. Tell
me what I have to do.
Rule 5: The first word of a direct quotation
must begin with a capital letter.
a.
"Who's been sleeping in my bed?" Papa Bear cried.
b. The
president said, "Ask not what your country can do for you."
Rule 6: Titles of people when used with their
names or in place of their names must begin with a capital letter.
a. My
boss is Mister Smith
b.
"Look out, Mister! You're in the way."
If the
whole word would begin with a capital, then so would the abbreviation.
a. My
boss is Mr. Smith.
http://www.say-it-in-english.com/BasicEnglish8.html
Alaskan Oil Spill
An oil tanker became stuck on a reef in Alaska. The
rocks in the reef tore a hole in the ship. Lots of oil spilled out of the hole
and into the ocean. This oil began getting on everything.
A person from the oil company said that they are trying to clean it up as fast
as they can. They will pay for the entire clean up.
When the oil pipes were put across Alaska, the pipe builders said that this
would not happen. A person who lives in Alaska said that they were told that
they would never see this kind of problem.
A fisherman worried that an oil spill could wipe out his fishing business. The
sale of oil brings in much more money than the fishing business.
The people at the pipeline company thought they were ready for a spill. They
had even practiced it with a model in their office. The problem was that they
did not practice with real equipment.
People complained that the clean up was not being done right. The number of
workers cleaning up the mess was cut back. When the ship hit the reef, the
first call was for tarps. They should have asked for equipment to contain the
oil.
The ship's captain was fired by his company. A person from the ship company
said that they were upset that an officer put his ship and crew in danger like
that.
The oil company could not do much about cleaning it up quickly. In 36 hours,
the oil spread for twenty miles. The oil company could only put out a few
thousand feet of boom to contain it. The oil spill could not be stopped.
1. In 36
hours, the oil spread for _____.
1. two miles 2.
twenty-two miles 3.
twenty miles
2. What does the sale of oil bring in?
1. fishermen 2.
more fish 3. Money 4.
ships
3. The sale
of oil brings in much more _____ than the fishing business.
1. fish 2.tourists 3. money
4. What did
the oil company do to the ship's captain?
1. hired him
2. fired him 3. shook his hand 4. forgot him
5, When the ship hit the reef, what should the oil
company have called for instead of tarps?
1. equipment to contain the oil 2. Rags 3. Hoses 4.
blankets
6. When the ship hit the reef, what should the oil
company have called for instead of tarps?
1.
equipment to contain the oil 2.
Rags 3. Hoses 4. blankets
7. People
from the pipeline company practiced having a spill with a _____ in their
office.
1. watch 2. a real ship 3.
model
7. The oil
company said that they will pay for _____.
1. only some of the clean up 2. most of the clean up 3. the entire clean up
8. What did the pipe builders say would never
happen?
1. fishermen getting mad 2. a ship spilling oil 3.
the oil company having a model
4. rocks appearing in a reef
9. Lots of oil spilled into the ocean. This oil
began getting on _____.
1. everything 2.only
the fish 3.
just the ship
10. What
tore a hole in the ship?
1. a rock in the reef 2. a fisherman 3.
another ship 4. a pipeline
FROM:
http://esl.about.com/od/englishgrammar/
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