10 Things I Used To Hate About English
Grammar
1. INVERTED COMMAS / QUOTATION MARKS:
These
are used for:
-
Quotations / Direct speech
Eg.
“ She sells seashells on the seashore”.
-
Titles and some names
Eg.
We are reading the book, “The Color Purple”.
2.
FULL
STOPS:
These
are used to:
-
End a sentence
-
Abbreviate words
3.
EXCLAMATION
MARKS:
These
are used to:
-
Give a firm command
-
Show amazement
-
Indicate urgency
-
Give a strong outburst of feeling
-
Show emphasis
4.
COLONS:
These
usually introduce:
-
A list
-
A quotation
-
A speech
-
An explanation
-
A conclusion
-
Words in a play
5.
SEMI
COLONS:
These
are used to:
-
Replace a full stop linking two clauses
-
Separate complicated items on a list
6.
COMMAS:
These
always separate:
-
Items on a list
-
Clauses
-
Phrases
-
A clause from a phrase
-
Words used when addressing someone
7.
BRACKETS:
These:
-
Mark off words in parenthesis (extra words).
8.
DASHES:
These
are used to:
-
Mark off parenthesis
-
Show a change in thought
-
Indicate a conclusion
-
Give a dramatic effect
9.
ELLIPSES:
These:
-
Indicate words left out
-
Show hesitation
-
Give dramatic effect
-
Give an interruption
-
Indicate that the reader should decide
10. HYPHENS:
These
join :
-
Two words together to form a compound word
11. QUESTION
MARKS:
These
:
-
End a sentence which indicates a query or expresses doubt
12. APOSTROPHES:
These
show:
Ommission and Contraction
Eg.
cannot = can’t
Should
have = should’ve
Posession
Eg.
Mary’s bag is there
Here
are the dogs’ dishes
James’
bike is over there
The children’s toys are there
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