ESL Vocabulary for Punctuation
Punctuation
The following page has learning games and example sentences using the following 12 words from the "punctuation" category:Memory Game
Pairs: getting ready...
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- Your mission is to pair pictures with their correct titles in as few a clicks as possible.
- Click on a card to turn it. Next, try to find its partner by clicking on a second card. (If you fail to find a match with your second click, both cards will turn again.)
- This is a memory game as well as a vocabulary-learning game.
- Click on your first card to start. Good luck!
Guru ()
Hero ()
Captain ()
Sergeant ()
Recruit ()
Example Sentences
brackets
pairs of punctuation marks used to enclose or set off words, phrases, or sentences
Easy Examples
- Brackets are used to add extra information in a sentence.
- Brackets look like this: [].
- You can use brackets to clarify what you're saying.
Harder Examples
- She used square brackets to indicate editorial changes in the quoted text.
- He added brackets to clarify the meaning of the sentence for the reader.
- They enclosed the author's name in brackets when citing the source in their paper.
colon
a punctuation mark (:) used to introduce a list, explanation, or quotation
Easy Examples
- A colon is used to introduce something important.
- A colon looks like two dots: :.
- Use a colon before a list or an explanation.
Harder Examples
- She used a colon to introduce the main points of her presentation.
- He placed a colon before the dialogue in the screenplay to indicate speech.
- They employed a colon to separate the hours and minutes in the time notation.
comma
a punctuation mark (,) used to separate items in a list and to indicate pauses in a sentence
Easy Examples
- A comma helps separate words in a list.
- A comma looks like a small curve: ,.
- Remember to use commas correctly in your writing.
Harder Examples
- She included a comma after each item in the grocery list.
- He used a comma to set off introductory phrases in his writing.
- They inserted a comma to create a pause for emphasis in the sentence.
dash
a punctuation mark (-) used to indicate a sudden break or interruption in a sentence
Easy Examples
- A dash can be used to show a pause in a sentence.
- A dash looks like a longer line: —.
- Dashes can make your writing more interesting.
Harder Examples
- She employed a dash to add emphasis to the final word of her sentence—determination.
- He used an en dash to show a range of numbers, such as 5–10.
- They favored the use of dashes for creating a sense of drama in their storytelling.
exclamation mark
a punctuation mark (!) used to express strong emotion, surprise, or emphasis
Easy Examples
- An exclamation mark shows strong feelings like excitement!
- An exclamation mark looks like a tall dot with a line: !.
- Use it when you want to show surprise or happiness.
Harder Examples
- She exclaimed with an exclamation mark to convey her excitement!
- He used an exclamation mark to emphasize the urgency of the message!
- They added an exclamation mark to their statement to make it more emphatic!
hyphen
a punctuation mark (-) used to join words or parts of words, especially in compound words
Easy Examples
- A hyphen joins words together like well-known.
- A hyphen looks like a small line: -.
- Hyphens help make new words or join words.
Harder Examples
- She connected two words with a hyphen to form a compound adjective.
- He hyphenated the last name to ensure proper pronunciation.
- They used a hyphen to join the prefix and the root word in the compound.
period
a punctuation mark (.) used to indicate the end of a sentence or as an abbreviation
Easy Examples
- A period ends a sentence.
- A period is a small dot: .
- Use a period at the end of statements or sentences.
Harder Examples
- She placed a period at the end of her final sentence in the essay.
- He used a period after each initial in his abbreviated name (J. K. Rowling).
- They followed each step of the recipe, including the periods for measurements.
question mark
a punctuation mark (?) used to indicate a question or inquiry
Easy Examples
- A question mark shows that you're asking a question?
- A question mark looks like a curve with a dot: ?.
- Put it at the end of sentences when you have a question.
Harder Examples
- She ended her sentence with a question mark to ask for clarification.
- He used a question mark to prompt readers to think about the topic.
- They raised a question mark about the accuracy of the data in the report.
semicolon
a punctuation mark (;) used to connect closely related independent clauses
Easy Examples
- A semicolon can connect two related ideas;
- A semicolon looks like a dot with a small comma: ;.
- It's used to link similar sentences together.
Harder Examples
- She used a semicolon to join two independent clauses in a single sentence.
- He employed semicolons to separate items in a complex list.
- They understood the appropriate use of semicolons for connecting related thoughts.
speech marks
quotation marks (' ' or " ") used to enclose spoken words or direct quotations
Easy Examples
- Speech marks show when someone is speaking.
- Speech marks look like small curves: '' or "".
- Use them to show dialogue or quotes.
Harder Examples
- She placed speech marks around the character's dialogue in the novel.
- He used double quotation marks to indicate a direct quote from the article.
- They employed single quotation marks for quoting within a quoted passage.
square brackets
pairs of brackets used to enclose additional information or editorial comments within quoted text
Easy Examples
- Square brackets are used to add extra details.
- Square brackets look like this: [].
- They help explain or provide more information.
Harder Examples
- She added square brackets to clarify the antecedent in the quoted sentence.
- He used square brackets to insert explanatory notes in the citation.
- They included square brackets to indicate an ellipsis within a quoted paragraph.
apostrophe
a punctuation mark (') used to indicate possession or to show the omission of letters or numbers
Easy Examples
- An apostrophe shows ownership or missing letters.
- An apostrophe looks like a small curve or a comma: ' or '.
- Use it in contractions like 'I'm' or to show 'Sarah's book'.
Harder Examples
- She used an apostrophe to show the possessive form of the noun (dog's bone).
- He contracted "it is" into "it's" using an apostrophe.
- They inserted an apostrophe to indicate the omission of letters in "can't."
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