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Punctuation

i) Various punctuation marks have syntactical functions of either separating units of language or specifying the function of language. Commas separate items in lists and clauses, colons introduce lists or indicate causation, and semicolons separate independent clauses. ii) Punctuation is taught in an integrated way when related to vocabulary and grammar rather than separately. The level of learner affects the focus, from basic capitalization and periods for beginners to more advanced uses of commas, colons, and semicolons for complex writing.

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Paloma Ruz
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31 views

Punctuation

i) Various punctuation marks have syntactical functions of either separating units of language or specifying the function of language. Commas separate items in lists and clauses, colons introduce lists or indicate causation, and semicolons separate independent clauses. ii) Punctuation is taught in an integrated way when related to vocabulary and grammar rather than separately. The level of learner affects the focus, from basic capitalization and periods for beginners to more advanced uses of commas, colons, and semicolons for complex writing.

Uploaded by

Paloma Ruz
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Punctuation

Punctuation has two functions, syntactically:

1. Separation
Some marks are used to separate units of language. The full stop, the comma
and the colon are examples. The separation can occur:
1. Between units: for example, we use a full stop or a semi-colon to separate
discrete sentences or clauses. So we get, e.g.:
The sun was shining. The overnight rain had stopped
_or
_The weather was lovely; the rain had stopped.
2. Within units: for example, we use the comma to separate out a smaller unit
inside a larger one. So we get, e.g.:
The rain, or what was left of it, finally stopped.
2. Specification
Some marks specify the function of language. The most obvious examples are
question and exclamation marks but also included would be the apostrophe
because that is used to show the function of the noun (possessive or descriptive
when used, plural when absent). It also, in English, denotes an ellipted letter or
letters.

Comma splice: using a comma to separate two independent clauses, which should be
linked by a colon, semicolon, or conjunction.

FANBOYS: For, and, nor, but, or, yet, so. Coordinating conjunctions. These words
when used to connect two independent clauses, must be preceded by a comma.

MAIN USES:

Question mark
Comma: separate a list of items, separation of adjectives , before FANBOYS: to
separate two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunctions, non-
defining relative clauses (extra information) , after an adverbial, date: March 6th, 2023
Full stop
Exclamation mark
Semicolon
Colon
Apostrophe: contractions, possessive/saxon genitive, the 90's, there are two A's in
Paloma.
Capitalisation: Start of the sentence, I, weekdays, months, nationalities, languages,
countries, titles (Mr, Ms, Doctor...), cites, weekdays, names of languages, I, months.
Integrated approach: I teach punctuation when I teach related vocabulary and
grammar, not separately. I.e., when it comes up.

i)
a) Colon:

1. Indicates that a list is to follow. Shopping list: sugar, eggs, flour...,


2. To indicate what follows is caused or fulfilled by what came before. You are very
tired: you should go to now.
3. To introduce a quote or direct speech
b) Semicolon:
4. To separate two independent clauses that are related in meaning: it was a
beautiful day; we decided to go out.
5. To separate longer items in a list: These are the things you need: drinks,
preferably non-alcoholic; food, no gluten bread; clothes, warm and waterproof;
c)Comma
6. separate a list of items
7. separate two independent clauses
8. At the beginning of a sentence, after an adverbial
d) Full stop
9. To end a sentence
10. To end abbreviations

ii)
We could associate the comma with nouns or adjectives.
A colon: usually with a verb. These are the things we need to do: go to school, eat
breakfast
Semi colon:
Full stop: what usually ends a sentence, usually nouns, or adverbials.
Although we had been given detailed, adequate directions, it was only after a twenty-
minute search that we found Charles's house in a narrow street off St Mark's Square;
Maria rang the bell, Nigel watched the back and I sat, as you could have guessed, in
the "nobody-would-give-it-a-second-look" car.

ii)
Although: capitalised letter at the beginning of a sentence
Comma: detailed ,adequate: separation of adjectives, to separate two independent
clauses.
Apostrophe: followed by an S after a noun to talk about the possession of the noun.
Nouns that end in an -S, can omit the second -S
Hyphen: twenty-minute search: we hyphenate in this way to make an adjectival:
twenty-minute ride/ morning-after pill. Make a phrase seem like an adjective.
Semi-colon: to separate two independent clauses that have a related meaning.

iii)
It increases in difficulty as the level increases.
With low level learners: focus on short sentences, one clause sentences. We're
operating with single-clause sentences. Focus on capitalisation, full stops, question
marks, apostrophe for contractions. Genre: short messages.
With high-level learners: Use complex sentences: we do need to think about commas,
colons, semi-colons, hyphens at a very high level of writing. The genre of writing will
affect the use of punctuation: business letters, essays, CV's, academic essays with
quotes,

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