Transcript Punctuation - Teaching English Today

Punctuation
1. To end any sentence that is not a question. Use them for
commands phrased as questions:
Will you send us the money today.
2. With certain abbreviations
Ms. and Jhb. not Mrs or Mr or Dr
3. Between rands and cents in an amount of money
R10.50
4. To show that words have been left out or when the person
does not finish a sentence: ellipsis dots… Use three only.
Acronyms (abbreviations that are
pronounced as words), do not have full
stops between the letters.
Cats sunbathing
UNISA Acronym
S.P.C.A. Each letter
is pronounced separately here.
Every full sentence must have a subject and a verb.
Subject:
person or
thing doing
the action
Verb:
action or
state of being
Candice
runs.
Avoid the comma splice by counting the verbs and
making sure each one has a joining word or full
stop after it.
The people ran, they shouted, they panicked.
1. After any direct question that requests an
answer:
Why are you tired?
2. After rhetorical questions:
Tired, are you?
1.After highly emotional language. Use only
one: Wow!
2. Business language is hardly ever
emotional, so you are unlikely to use one
in business communication.
Exercise 1
Write a paragraph describing what you see
in this picture. Your answer should include
at least one full stop, one exclamation
mark and one example of direct speech.
(3)
Creativity
(7)
[10]
1. To separate two closely related sentences:
The outline is due within a week; the report itself is
due at the end of the month.
2. For items in a list that are longer than one word:
Pack the following kit: a sleeping bag; a groundsheet; a good torch and dehydrated food.
3. To separate independent clauses where the second
one begins with: however, therefore, nevertheless, for
example or in that case.
Her test scores were quite low; on the other hand,
she has a lot of experience.
4. To separate opposite ideas.
More haste; less speed.
5. To separate two main
clauses in a very long
sentence.
Although the animals were not
yet visible, the sounds of their
movements were clearly
audible; then suddenly they appeared.
Exercise 2
Use the picture below to complete the
paragraph, starting
with the sentence
in the previous
slide.. Inc
semicolons used
for three different
reasons
reasons. (3)
Creativity (7)
[10]
1. To introduce a list:
We took several items to the picnic: cold meat,
wine, salad, milk-tart and chips.
2. To separate the main clause, and another part,
which may explain or illustrate the first. These
clauses may also be separated by a
semicolon.
Management was not prepared for their
demands: for this reason they argued well
into the night.
3. To indicate that a quotation or extract
follows: “I am Fortune’s fool.”
4. To introduce a sub-section between a title
and its sub-title. Robin Hood: Prince of
Thieves
Exercise 3
Write a short 100 word review of the movie
clip from Avatar.
Focus on colons.
Include: the title √
A list√
A main clause and an explanatory part√
A quotation of something your partner said about
the movie.√
(4)
Persuasive tone
(6)
[10]
1. To separate:
1.1 items in a list
He took the job, worked hard, and succeeded.
1.2 two or more adjectives describing a noun
She has a large, boisterous dog.
2. To mark off the following words, phrases or clauses from
the rest of the sentence:
2.1 Between clauses that are joined by a subordinating
conjunction (and , but or or)
She spoke to the sales staff, and he spoke to the
production staff.
2.2 To separate a subordinate clause at the beginning of a
sentence , from a main clause at the end.
Because of our lead in the market, we may be able to
introduce a new product.
2.3 To separate the main clause at the beginning of a
sentence from a subordinate clause.
Because of our lead in the market, we may be able to
introduce a new product.
2.4 After an introductory phrase or word:
Yes, you may process the order.
2.5 After the name of a person
Jane, please come here.
2.6 To surround expressions that can be removed from the
sentence without changing the meaning:
The new owners, the Pienaars, are pleased with
their purchase.
2.6 Participial phrases
Whistling cheerfully, George approached me.
3. To separate a quotation from the rest of the
sentence:
Your guarantee reads, “These conditions
remain in effect for one year from the date
of purchase. ”
Exercise 4
1. Place 5 commas and 1 semi-colon in the correct places
in the following sentences:
The Old Flame by Cyril Hare
To commit a murder on a Bank Holiday at a popular
seaside resort in broad daylight argues a good deal of
courage of a sort but courage was the one good quality
in which Jack Saunders was not deficient.
In fact when he began to make his plans for the elimination
of Maggie he soon realised as so often happens the
boldest course was the safest.
(5)
2. Complete the story by telling it to your partner. Choose
the best one to perform for the class.
1. To surround a comment that is a sudden turn in
thought:
Membership of the SABS - it’s expensive but
worth it - can be applied for in March.
2. To emphasise a parenthetical phrase.
Third term profits - in excess of 2 million are up significantly.
A dash emphasises words, phrases or clauses
more strongly than a comma or brackets can.
1. To separate parts of a compound word:
self-assured
pickled-onions
Omit hyphens from prefixes such as:
pro, anti, non, pre, un, inter, extra
except when:
a) the prefix occurs before a proper noun
anti-American
b) the vowel at the end of the prefix is the same as the
first letter of the root word
anti-inflammatory
2. To divide words at the end of a typed line. Do this only
at a syllable break.
1. Possession - to show ownership
’s for singular : the car’s windscreen
s’ for plural : two cars’ windscreens
2. Contraction - place the apostrophe where the
letters have been left out. we will = we’ll
One word which has both of these is “its”:
It is = It’s a lovely day.
Use apostrophe.
Its basket was in the kitchen. No apostrophe.
Some unusual cases:
Possession
Plural nouns ending in “s” take s’
Ladies’coats
Singular nouns ending in “s” take ‘s unless
they are classical or biblical
The Jones’s cat
For Jesus’ sake, amen.
Exercise 5
Add or delete apostrophes in the following
sentences:
1. They want Kathys fiancé to drive with them
because its a little too cold to cycle.
(2)
2. The Arendses bikes were left behind but
Mosess coat was taken with them.
(2)
3. When it comes to calculating the companys
assets, they are not too accurate.
(2)
4. The dogs bones were lying there; theyd
forgotten them.
(2) [8]
1. To surround words that are repeated exactly as they
were said or written. The collection letter ended by
saying: “Legal action will be taken if you do not
comply.”
2. To set off the title of a newspaper, a story, magazine
article or book chapter: You should read “One the
move’, as poem by Gunn.
A book, film or newspaper title is set in italics or
underlined.
3. To indicate special treatment for words and phrases:
Our management “team” spends more time arguing
than solving problems.
4. To define a word:
The abbreviation inc means “incorporated”.
To surround comments that are asides:
Our figures do not match yours, although (if
my calculations are correct) they are closer
than we thought.
Exercise 6
Write 4 sentences with quotation marks:
1. Quote a sentence from a newspaper exactly as
it was written.
2. Recommend your favourite newspaper, story,
magazine article or book chapter.
3. Use a word or phrase which needs special
treatment.
4. Define a word.
5. Write one sentence which contains an aside in
brackets.
(5)
1. To indicate that material has been left out of a
direct quotation:
According to the People Magazine: “The best
income... can be obtained by investing in bonds.”
2. To show that the speech has faded out : if this is
at the end of the sentence, the full stop becomes
a fourth dot.
He said, “The man screamed, and I felt myself
slipping into unconsciousness...”.
1. At the beginning of certain word groups:
1.1 Incomplete sentences;
Great day!
1.2 Formal statement following a colon:
Her favourite saying is: The early bird catches the worm.
1.3 Phrase used as a sentence:
Definitely not!
2. Capitalize proper adjectives and proper nouns:
Let’s consider opening a branch on the West Coast, perhaps west of
Darling.
3. Capitalize specific instances, but general terms are left uncapitalized.
My mother thinks Mother Theresa is an amazing woman.
Exercise 7
Write a 30 word summary of the following interview of Ryk Neetling
from Mango Magazine June 2008. You must use one quotation
from which material has been left out.
(1)
You must place one extra piece of information in square brackets to
explain Ryk’s words.
(1)
Reported speech: Ryk said that...
(8)
Where do you like to travel in South Africa?
I like to go off the beaten track to a game farm, visit my family in
Bloemfontein, Lady Grey in the Eastern Cape and any place on the
South African Coast is beautiful. I’m looking forward to when things
have calmed down a bit to really enjoy South Africa more and see
places like Namibia. I’ve been bitten by the travel bug-I can’t sit still.
Oral exercise: Interview each other with the above
question.
1. Spell out numbers from one to nine and
use numerals for the rest.
2. Ages are usually expressed in words.
Thirty-five years old