Punctuation

Punctuation

Welcome to the chapter on Punctuation for Class 7. In this chapter, you will learn about different punctuation marks, how to use them correctly in sentences, and why punctuation is important for clear writing. By the end of this chapter, you will be able to use punctuation marks confidently in your writing!

Introduction

Punctuation marks are symbols that help us write sentences clearly. They show pauses, stops, excitement, questions, and more. Using punctuation correctly makes your writing easy to read and understand.

Common Punctuation Marks

• Full Stop (.) – Used at the end of a sentence.
  Example: She went to school.
• Comma (,) – Used to separate words or phrases in a sentence.
  Example: I bought apples, oranges, and bananas.
• Question Mark (?) – Used at the end of a question.
  Example: Where are you going?
• Exclamation Mark (!) – Used to show strong feelings.
  Example: What a beautiful day!
• Apostrophe (’) – Used to show possession or in contractions.
  Example: Rahul’s book, don’t
• Quotation Marks (“ ”) – Used to show someone’s exact words.
  Example: She said, “I am happy.”
• Colon (:) – Used before a list or explanation.
  Example: Bring the following: pen, pencil, eraser.
• Semicolon (;) – Used to join two related sentences.
  Example: I finished my homework; now I can play.
• Hyphen (-) – Used to join words.
  Example: well-known, mother-in-law
• Parentheses ( ) – Used to add extra information.
  Example: My brother (who is ten) loves cricket.

Rules for Using Punctuation

• Begin every sentence with a capital letter and end with a full stop, question mark, or exclamation mark.
• Use commas to separate items in a list.
• Use apostrophes for contractions and possession.
• Use quotation marks for direct speech.
• Use colons before lists or explanations.
• Use semicolons to connect related sentences.

Fun Activity: Punctuation Hunt!

Read a story or newspaper article. Find and list all the punctuation marks you see. Try using each one in your own sentences!

Summary

• Punctuation marks help us write clearly.
• Each mark has a special use.
• Correct punctuation makes your writing easy to understand.

Practice Questions

1. Add punctuation: where is my bag
2. Rewrite with correct punctuation: she said i am going home
3. Add commas: I like pizza pasta burgers and ice cream.
4. Use an apostrophe: This is the book of Rahul.
5. Write a sentence using a colon and a list.

Challenge Yourself

• Write a short paragraph using at least five different punctuation marks.
• Find three sentences in your textbook and explain the punctuation used.

Did You Know?

• The exclamation mark was first used in the 15th century!
• Punctuation can change the meaning of a sentence.

Glossary

• Punctuation: Marks used in writing to separate sentences and clarify meaning.
• Comma: A mark (,) used to separate words or phrases.
• Apostrophe: A mark (’) used for possession or contractions.
• Quotation Marks: Marks (“ ”) used to show direct speech.

Answers to Practice Questions

1. Where is my bag?
2. She said, “I am going home.”
3. I like pizza, pasta, burgers, and ice cream.
4. Rahul’s book.
5. Bring the following: pencils, erasers, and notebooks.

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Use punctuation marks to make your writing clear and interesting!