Grade 7 English: Punctuation for meaning poster

1Commas

• In a list (no comma before and): We packed apples, oranges and plums.
• After an opening word or phrase: However, we won.
• Round extra information: Mr Dlamini, our caretaker, is retiring.
• Before the name of the person spoken to: Come here, Neo.

2Commas change meaning

Commas round a clause show that it is only extra information.

3Apostrophes

• Short forms: do not becomes don’t; it is becomes it’s.
• One owner: add ‘s (the boy’s bag).
• Plural ending in s: add an apostrophe after the s (the boys’ bags).
• Irregular plural: add ‘s (the women’s bags).
• Its (belonging to it) has no apostrophe. Never use one in a plural: apples, not apple’s.

4Colon and semicolon

A colon introduces a list or an explanation. A semicolon joins two closely related main clauses.

5Quotation marks and end marks

A full stop ends a statement, a question mark ends a question, and an exclamation mark shows strong feeling. Quotation marks go round the exact words spoken.

6Brackets and hyphens

Brackets hold extra information. A hyphen joins words that work as one.