Punctuation for Class 6

What are Punctuations?

Punctuations are symbols that enable writers to indicate to their readers when a sentence ends, whether there is a short or long pause, and if they are posing a question, providing more context, or providing more information. Since the author is not addressing the reader directly, punctuation is the only way for the readers to comprehend what the author meant. They help as a tool to give meaning to the sentence and are usually utilised to establish a textual structure.

Uses of Punctuations

Punctuation marks are important because they help to convey meaning, show the structure of a sentence and make writing clearer and easier to understand. Following are some common punctuations:

1. Full Stop or Period

The period is a punctuation mark, represented as (.). It is used at the end of a sentence and is also called a full stop. It indicates that a sentence has come to an end. It finally shows that the thought or idea in the sentence is complete.

Examples of period:

→ People are finding their tourist guide.
→ My favourite cuisine is spring rolls.
→ We are going to read an Indo-American author.

2. Comma

A comma is a punctuation mark, represented as (,). It is used to separate or pause different parts of a sentence. It helps readers understand the structure of a sentence and makes it easier to read.

Examples of comma:

Use a comma to separate items in a list:
For example, My hobbies are dancing, reading and travelling.

If there are two or more adjectives describing a noun, we may use a comma to separate them:
For example, That large, scary animal is moving towards us.

Note: If you have adjectives from the same category, such as two opinion adjectives or two adjectives, indicating size, you use a comma. However, in the case of cumulative adjectives, commas are not used.

When a sentence starts with an initial word or phrase, use a comma to separate it from the rest of the sentence:
For example, Yesterday, I went to watch a movie.

If you're talking to someone directly, use a comma to set off their name:
For example, Jack, can you pass the book?

When you connect two complete sentences with a conjunction like "and," "but," or "or," use a comma before the conjunction:
For example, I wanted to go to the movies, but it was raining.

3. Question mark

A question mark is a punctuation mark, represented as (?). It is used at the end of a sentence to indicate a question. It is used to show that someone is asking something or seeking information.

Examples of question mark:

→ Did you know, their sale is ongoing?
→ Where is the nearest library?
→ How can you forget my birthday?

4. Hyphen

A hyphen is a punctuation mark, represented as (-). It looks like a horizontal line and is used to set off or emphasise a part of a sentence. It can be made with a dash (-), or a dash (-).

Examples of hyphen:

It shows a range or connection between two things:
For example, The event is scheduled for Monday - Saturday.

It is used to emphasise a part of a sentence:
For example, I have two hobbies - reading and travelling.

Click Here to Read About: Punctuations for Class 7

5. Colon

A colon is a punctuation mark, represented as (:). It is used to introduce or emphasise information in a sentence. It is often used to indicate that what follows the colon provides more details or further explanation about what comes before it.

Examples of colon:

→ Please bring the following items to the picnic: a blanket, some sandwiches and a football.
→ The seasons in a year are four: spring, summer, autumn and winter.
→ She had one goal for the day: to finish her homework before dinner.

6. Semi-colon

A semicolon is a punctuation mark, represented as (;). It is used to join two closely related independent clauses (complete sentences) in a single sentence. It can also be used to separate items in a list when the items themselves contain commas.

Examples of semi-colon:

→ Sarah loves to play the piano; her brother prefers the guitar.
→ For dinner, we can have spaghetti with tomato sauce, cheeseballs and grilled sandwiches; bean stew; pumpkin curry with tofu and rice.

7. Apostrophe

An apostrophe is a punctuation mark, represented as ('). It looks like a tiny comma floating high in the air. It is used for two main purposes:

Showing Ownership (Possession): When something belongs to someone or something, we use an apostrophe to show that.

Examples:

→ This is Tom's novel. (The novel belongs to Tom)
→ The cat's tail is fluffy. (The tail belongs to the cat)

Contracting Words: Apostrophes are also used to combine words by removing some letters. This helps in making sentences shorter and easier to say.

Examples:

→ Can't (short for cannot)
→ I'm (short for I am)

8. Mark of Exclamation

An exclamation mark represented as (!), is a punctuation symbol used to show strong emotions, excitement or surprise in a sentence. It adds emphasis to what you're saying.

Examples of exclamation:

→ Ouch! I just bumped my knee on the table.
→ Hooray! We won the game!
→ Help! I can't find my lost puppy!

9. Inverted Commas

Inverted commas also known as quotation marks, are punctuation marks represented as ("). It is used in writing to indicate that someone is speaking or to show that a specific set of words is being quoted from another source. In English, there are two types of quotation marks: single (') and double (").

Direct Speech: Use double inverted commas to show someone speaking.
For example, Shelly said, "I love shopping."

Quoting Someone: Use double inverted commas to quote something someone else said or wrote.
For example, The book said, "The Sun is a star."

FAQs

1. What are punctuations and why are they important to use in a sentence?

Answer: Punctuations are the uses of signs and symbols in writing to organise and clarify the content of a sentence. It is significant because it allows us to communicate our ideas more clearly, eliminate misconceptions and make our writing more readable.

2. What are the most common punctuation marks?

Answer: The most common punctuation marks include the period (.), comma (,), exclamation mark (!), question mark (?), semicolon (;), colon (:), apostrophe ('), quotation marks (" ") and hyphen (-). Each of these marks has a distinct function in writing.

3. When should we use a comma or a semicolon?

Answer: We use commas to separate items in a list and connect two independent clauses (full sentences) with a coordinating conjunction (and, but), and set off introductory words or phrases whereas semicolons are used to connect closely related independent sentences that do not contain a conjunction. It establishes a stronger connection between two sentences than a comma but not as strongly as a period.