Punctuation
1 . The full stop
The full stop is used
(a) at the end of a statement:
- Dictionaries are books that contain a lot of useful information.
- Mrs Tan is a teacher.
(b) at the end of a request, an instruction or a command:
- Drink a lot of water.
- Switch on the light, please.
2. The question mark
The question mark is used at the end of a question.
- Is Mandy coming for lunch?
- Why are you crying?
3. The exclamation mark
The exclamation mark is used at the end of an exclamation. In other words, it is used at the end of a sentence, phrase or word that is said with strong emotions of anger, surprise, pain and others.
- Don't you dare talk to me like that!
- Ouch!
4. The comma
The comma is used
(a) to separate two independent clauses in a compound or complex sentence: - Although he was tired, he carried on jogging.
(b) to set off phrases that are in apposition:
- Her son, a well-known scientist, has been kidnapped.
(c) to set off an adjectival phrase:
- Joshua, in a world of his own, could not understand the others.
(d) to mark off an introductory infinitive or participial phrase:
- Driving round the corner, I suddenly saw a monkey in front of me.
(e) to separate a series of nouns, noun phrases or adjectives:
- At the supermarket, we bought some beef, a jar of jam, a bar of chocolate and some paper napkins.
- Your report should be clear, simple and concise.
(f) to set off a name or noun used in direct address, that is, to call the person or persons spoken to:
- Nicholas, are you ready to go? (g) to set off a question tag:
- Nicholas is a fine boy, isn't he?
(h) After yes or no in answers, or after introductory expressions like oh, well, etc:
- No, I will not go with you.
- Well, I think you are right.
5. Quotation marks (or inverted commas) Quotation marks or inverted commas are used
(a) to mark off direct speech:
(1) If the words spoken are presented in two parts, two sets of quotation marks are used.
"No," said John, "he is wrong."
"Well, my dear," said the old lady, "do you think the world is coming to an
(2) The first word of the second part of the direct speech does not begin with a capital letter unless (a) the word normally begins with a capital letter ( eg God, r or (b) there is a full-stop just before the second part of the direct speech. 
"How are you?" he asked. "I have not seen you for ages."
"I'm glad," he said. "Everyone wins a prize."
(3) If a full-stop, question mark or exclamation mark is part of the direct speech, it should be placed within the quotation marks.
- My sister said, "l told you so!"
(b) to mark off titles of films, books, poems, chapters in books, etc:
- Have you seen the film, "Blue Moon "Q
- You should read "The Scientist" to keep up to date with science.
- One of my favourite poems is "The Brook" by Tennyson.
(c) to set off non-English words and their explanations:
"Kuai le" is Chinese for "happiness".
