Unit 1: Those Little Marks – Punctuation
Unit 1 introduces you to punctuation and explains the correct way to use periods, exclamation points, question marks, and commas. It's important to punctuate a sentence appropriately to make its meaning clear to your reader. In this unit, you'll learn when to use a punctuation mark, which mark to use, and what makes these marks different. Finally, you'll practice matching the correct punctuation mark to its sentence.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 3 hours.
Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- recognize and use appropriate punctuation.
- recognize and use appropriate punctuation.
As you build your English vocabulary, do more reading, and have more ideas to share, you'll want to write more. In order to express your ideas clearly, you need to set up your sentences in a way that is easy to read. In English, we use special marks called punctuation to do this. Punctuation tells the reader if a sentence is ending or continuing, if the writer is excited or asking a question, which words go together, and many other things. Read this page to understand why punctuation is so important in English.
When we read, we know a sentence ends when we see specific marks. Typically, these marks are periods, exclamation points, or question marks. While these may seem simple, "end-sentence" punctuation is very important for letting a reader know that a sentence is concluding. When we use them incorrectly, we end up with incomplete or run-on sentences that can confuse our readers. Read this page to learn when, why, and how to use periods and exclamation marks.
- Many writers, including native English speakers, say that commas are confusing. They're not always sure when to use them or what purpose they serve. But there is no reason to be confused or intimidated by commas. Following a few rules will help you use these punctuation marks clearly and effectively. Read the rules listed on this page. Watch the video for an example of how to figure out if a comma is needed in a sentence. Finally, complete the exercises and place the commas in the correct locations.
Unit 1 Assessment
- Receive a grade
Take this assessment to see how well you understood this unit.
- This assessment does not count towards your grade. It is just for practice!
- You will see the correct answers when you submit your answers. Use this to help you study for the final exam!
- You can take this assessment as many times as you want, whenever you want.