Punctuation

A.   Work in pairs Match these punctuation marks to their names below. (The first is a comma.)

,  ?   “…”   / (…) !   ’   ‘…’ ;   :   -   --
Apostrophe     brackets I parentheses     colon      comma     dash     exclamation mark  full stop/period     hyphen     question mark     semi-colon     single quotes  
stroke/ oblique/ slash     double quote/ quotation marks/ inverted commas three dots…      

B. Work in pairs Complete these sentences by deciding which punctuation mark is ‘explained’ or ‘illustrated’.

1. The words 'explained' or 'illustrated' in this sentence are between single quotes
2. A                                          marks the end of a sentence.
3. A                                          shows that there is some doubt, doesn't it? What do you
   think?
4. A                                          is used for word-division or word-joining.
5. And it should not be confused with another - longer - mark: the
This is used to separate ideas or words — usually added as an afterthought.

6. hen writers wish to express emphasis or even surprise they use the
   . This is no problem!

7. "                                         are used to show what someone actually said."
8. Sometimes you may wish to separate two sentences; but they are somehow closely
   connected; this is when you can use the                                                  instead of the full stop.
9. NOTE: a                                          can help to emphasize what is coming next: to list
   things: reports, letters, memos and so on.
10.   If a person wants to show alternatives, he/she can separate them by using a
    /                                         /

11. And if they are using words (i.e. phrases or expressions) which are not of primary
    importance they can be placed between                                                 (                                        ).
12. An                                           is used in possessives (Mr Jones's) and it's also used in
    contractions, isn't it?

 

WRITING SKILLS: Punctuation: joining sentences

1       Look at these sentences.

Incorrect I'm learning French, I can't speak it well. I was under 18,I couldn't get into the film. I went to see him that evening, it was the last time I saw him alive. People here are really friendly, they're always smiling and laughing. There are two things I love, cheeseburgers and vanilla ice-cream.

Correct I'm learning French but I can't speak it well. I was under 18, so I couldn't get into the film. I went to see him that evening; it was the last time I saw him alive. People here are really friendly - they're always smiling and laughing. There are two things I love: cheeseburgers and vanilla ice-cream.

To join two parts of a sentence, we can use

1. a linking word (and, but, or)
2. a comma plus a linking word (so, but, because, etc.)
3. a semi-colon (;) (to join parts of a sentence without using a linking word)
4. a dash (-) (in informal writing, such as a letter to a friend)
5. a colon (:) to introduce a list.

 

2        Join these sentences by adding a linking word and/or punctuation to each box.
a Switzerland has four official languages [               ] French, German, Italian and Romansch.
b I couldn't get in touch with you [                ] I didn't know your address.
сThe igloo is below ground level [                ] there's plenty of room to stand up.
d I wish you were here [                 ] I'm sure you'd really like it.
e It was a beautiful sunset [                  ] the sky changed from yellow to pink [               ]
then slowly to purple.


3        Rewrite this advertisement so that it contains five sentences. Add punctuation, linking words and
capital letters where necessary.
our new range of kitchen tables comes in three exciting colours pale green lemon yellow and fiery red the tables are made of tough plastic they're almost impossible to scratch or burn the surface is easy to wipe clean after your meal just fill in the form below send it to us then sit back and relax we'll deliver the table to you within a week you can pay in any way you like in cash by cheque or by credit card if you're not completely delighted with your table you can send it back you won't owe us a penny

__________________________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________


 

1. Answer the questions

1) Which punctuation marks do we use to show that someone is speaking?
2)  At the end of a piece of direct speech where does the punctuation mark go - before or after the inverted comma?

2.  Punctuate the following text.


I was sitting alone at home one evening when the phone rang hello I said Jack here hello said the voice at the other end of the phone it was a womans voice a voice that sounded familiar in a way although I could not work out who it was then suddenly I realized who I was talking to Susan I said is that really you yes she said its me Im very impressed that you can remember after all its been a long time yes I know I replied its been more than ten years


 

3. Punctuate these sentences:

1 Answer the questions


Which punctuation marks do we use to show that someone is speaking?


At the end of a piece of direct speech where does the punctuation mark go - before or after the inverted comma?


2. Punctuate the following text.                                              
I was sitting alone at home one evening when the phone rang hello I said Jack here hello said the voice at the other end of the phone it was a womans voice a voice that sounded familiar in a way although  I could not work out who it was then suddenly I realized who I was talking to Susan I said is that really you yes she said its me Im very impressed that you can remember after all its been a long time yes I know I replied its been more than ten years


3. Punctuate these sentences:




1 Answer the questions


1)  Which punctuation marks do we use to show that someone  is   speaking? Quotation marks
2)   At the end of a piece of direct speech where does the punctuation mark go - before or after the inverted comma?


 2. Punctuate the following text.


I was sitting alone at home one evening when the phone rang. ‘Hello’, I said, ‘jack here’ ‘hello’, said the voice at the other end of the phone. It was a woman's voice-a voice that sounded familiar in a way. Although,
I could not work out who it was. Then suddenly I realized who I was
talking to. ‘Susan’, I said.  ‘Is that really you?’ ‘Yes’, she said, ‘It’s me.’ ‘I’m very impressed that you can remember after all. It’s been a long time! ‘Yes, I know’, I replied, ‘it’s been more than ten years’.

 

Writing: punctuation

1. In English we use a capital letter at the beginning of a sentence and a full stop at the end. We use a question mark if the sentence is a question. Examples:

This is a new sentence.
Is this a new sentence?

1. We also use capital letters for the names of particular things.

Examples:

1. people (John)
2. places(Oxford Street)
3. countries (Switzerland)
4. nationalities (Swiss)
5. languages(French)
6. days and month (Monday, January)
7. titles (The times)

 

We use commas

to divide a sentence and make it easer to understand. Example: The woman I was talking to, who lives next door, is very nice

 to divide things in a list. example:   I eat fish, eggs, cheese  and nuts

Rewrite the paragraphs below. Put in the correct punctuation. Both paragraphs should have three sentences
1. Dominic O’Brien the memory man lives near Cambridge when he is not trying to remember things he spends his time playing the piano gardening and cycling he eats a lot of bananas apples and oranges which help his brain
2.  my family live in Switzerland and we speak german from Monday to Friday I work in an office in the centre of Geneva I live in the country with my parents two sisters my dog and rabbit

 

Test your punctuation skills


Английская пунктуация в основном аналогична русской. Многие считают, что она не относится к числу слишком сложных аспектов языка. И все же умением правильно расставлять знаки препинания похвастать может далеко не каждый.
Study the following model and then do Tasks 1, 2, 3 and 4. Образец выполнения заданий:
В предлагаемом тексте отсутствуют знаки препинания. Задание заключается в том, чтобы правильно их расставить.
Marx once received a letter from his bank manager who had written to remind him of an overdraft the letter ended with the standard phrase if I can be of any service to you do not hesitate to call on me Marx immediately put pen to paper dear sir he wrote the best thing you can do to be of service to me is to steal some money from the account of one of your richer clients and credit it to mine
Теперь определим количество предложений , выделим прямую речь и слова автора и, наконец,
расставим знаки препинания.
После того, как соблюдены все правила пунктуации, текст выглядит следующим образом:
Marx once received a letter from his bank manager, who had written to remind him of an overdraft. The letter ended with the standard phrase: "If I can be of any service to you, do not hesitate to call on me." Marx immediately put pen to paper: "Dear Sir," he wrote, "The best thing you can do to be of service to me is to steal some money from the account of one of your richer clients and credit it to mine!"
Insert punctuation marks when necessary:
Task 1
Getty once received a request from a magazine for a short article explaining his success a two-hundred-pound cheque was enclosed the multi-millionaire obligingly wrote get up early work late strike oil
Task 2
a certain Mrs Smythe who was notorious for courting celebrities sent Bernard Shaw an invitation reading Lady Smythe will be at home on Tuesday between four and six o'clock Shaw returned the card with the following annotation Mr Bernard Shaw likewise
Task 3
Lady MP once rebuked Churchill for being intoxicated at a dinner party sir she said you are drunk and you madam ugly Churchill retorted but I shall be sober tomorrow

1. rebuke - упрекать
2. intoxicated - зд. пьяный
3. retort - резко возражать, отвечать тем же
4. sober - трезвый

Task 4
in conversation with Churchill Lady Astor expounded on the subject of women's rights Churchill opposed her on this and other causes she held dear in some exasperation Lady Astor said Winston if I were married to you I'd put poison in your coffee Churchill responded and if you were my wife I'd drink it

• expound - излагать, разъяснять
• oppose - возражать, выступать против
• she held dear = she found important