Chapter 12 · English Grammar

Punctuation & Capitalisation

Beginner ⏱ 35–45 minutes 🎓 Grade 6

What you will be able to do

  • Use the full stop, question mark and exclamation mark correctly
  • Place commas in lists and after introductory words
  • Use the apostrophe for possession and contractions
  • Punctuate direct speech with inverted commas
  • Apply the rules of capital letters

1 Quick Introduction

English

Punctuation marks are the traffic signals of writing. They tell the reader when to pause, stop, or show feeling. Without them, sentences become confusing. Compare: "Let's eat, Grandma!" and "Let's eat Grandma!" — one comma changes everything.

हिन्दी

विराम-चिह्न (Punctuation) लेखन के यातायात-संकेत हैं। ये पाठक को बताते हैं कि कब रुकना है, ठहरना है या भाव दिखाना है। इनके बिना वाक्य उलझ जाते हैं। तुलना करें: "Let's eat, Grandma!" और "Let's eat Grandma!" — एक अल्पविराम सब कुछ बदल देता है।

2 A Real-Life Situation

Imagine this

You write a quick note:

Note: Riya, please buy apples, bananas, and milk. Don't forget Dad's medicine!

Why this form? The comma after 'Riya' addresses her; the commas separate the list; the apostrophe in 'Don't' marks a contraction and in 'Dad's' shows possession; the exclamation mark adds urgency. Each mark has a clear job.

3 The Grammar Rule

Rule & Formula
MarkUseExample
. full stopends a statementI am here.
? question markends a questionAre you here?
! exclamationstrong feelingWatch out!
, commaa short pause / listred, blue, green
' apostrophepossession / contractionRam's, don't
Capital letter to start · correct mark to end
"Where are you going?" asked Mira.

4 End Marks, Commas & the Apostrophe

End marks close a sentence: full stop (.) for statements and commands, question mark (?) for questions, exclamation mark (!) for strong feeling.

The comma (,) shows a short pause. Use it:

  • between items in a list: I bought pens, books and a bag.
  • after an introductory word: Yes, I agree. However, it was late.
  • to address someone: Ravi, come here.

The apostrophe (') has two jobs:

  • Possession: Ram's book; the girls' school.
  • Contraction (missing letters): do not → don't; it is → it's.
Visual — End Marks, Commas & the Apostrophe
The apostrophe has two jobsPossessionRam's bagContractiondo not → don't
1
Worked Example
Add commas: I need eggs milk bread and butter.
Solution

I need eggs, milk, bread and butter. — commas separate items in a list.

2
Worked Example
Apostrophe: contraction of 'they are'?
Solution

they're — the apostrophe replaces the missing 'a' of 'are'.

Key Points

  • End marks: . statement, ? question, ! strong feeling
  • Commas: lists, after intro words, addressing someone
  • Apostrophe: possession (Ram's) and contractions (don't)

5 Inverted Commas, Capital Letters & Intro to Colon/Semicolon

Inverted commas (" ") mark the exact words someone speaks. Put the spoken words inside, with the end punctuation inside too: "I am ready," she said.

Capital letters are used for:

  • the first word of a sentence;
  • the pronoun I;
  • proper nouns: names, places, days, months, festivals (Ravi, Delhi, Monday, July, Diwali);
  • the main words in titles.

Colon (:) introduces a list or explanation: Bring these: a pen, a ruler and an eraser. A semicolon (;) joins two closely related sentences: It was late; we went home.

1
Worked Example
Punctuate the speech: i am coming said ravi
Solution

"I am coming," said Ravi. — capital I and Ravi, comma inside the quotes, full stop at the end.

2
Worked Example
Which words need capitals? on monday we visit my uncle in jaipur.
Solution

On Monday we visit my uncle in Jaipur. — first word, day 'Monday', and place 'Jaipur'.

Key Points

  • Inverted commas hold the exact spoken words
  • Capitals: sentence start, 'I', proper nouns, titles
  • Colon introduces a list; semicolon joins related sentences

6 Vocabulary Builder

WordMeaningहिन्दी
Punctuationmarks that guide readingविराम-चिह्न
Apostrophethe ' markलोप-चिह्न
Contractiona shortened formसंक्षिप्त रूप
Inverted commasquotation marksउद्धरण-चिह्न
Capitaliseto use a capital letterबड़ा अक्षर लिखना
✎ Vocabulary Quick Test0 / 1
Q.The apostrophe in don't shows:
Explanation: 'don't' is a contraction of 'do not'; the apostrophe marks the missing letter.

7 Common Mistakes to Avoid

✗ Incorrectwhere are you going
✓ CorrectWhere are you going?
Start with a capital and end a question with a question mark.
✗ IncorrectIts raining today.
✓ CorrectIt's raining today.
'It's' = 'it is' (contraction); 'its' is possessive.
✗ Incorrecti met ravi on monday.
✓ CorrectI met Ravi on Monday.
Capitalise 'I', the name 'Ravi', and the day 'Monday'.
✗ IncorrectI bought apples bananas and grapes.
✓ CorrectI bought apples, bananas and grapes.
Use commas to separate items in a list.

8 Practice Exercises

Fill in the BlanksLevel 1
Add the correct end mark (. ? or !).
  1. What is your name
  2. The sun is shining
  3. Look out
  4. Please sit down
  5. How wonderful
Answer Key
  1. ?
  2. .
  3. !
  4. .
  5. !
Fill in the BlanksLevel 2
Rewrite with correct capitals and punctuation.
  1. we will meet on friday in mumbai
  2. i bought pens books and a bag
  3. ravi said i am ready
  4. dont touch that wire
  5. this is rams notebook
Answer Key
  1. We will meet on Friday in Mumbai.
  2. I bought pens, books and a bag.
  3. Ravi said, "I am ready."
  4. Don't touch that wire!
  5. This is Ram's notebook.
Error Detection
  1. Where is my pen.
  2. i live in delhi.
  3. She bought apples oranges and mangoes.
  4. Its a sunny day.
Answer Key
  1. Where is my pen? (error: .)
  2. I live in Delhi. (error: i / delhi)
  3. She bought apples, oranges and mangoes. (error: missing commas)
  4. It's a sunny day. (error: Its)
Sentence Correction
  1. what a beautiful flower
  2. the dogs tail is wagging
  3. i said i will come
Answer Key
  1. What a beautiful flower!
  2. The dog's tail is wagging.
  3. I said, "I will come."
Rearrange the Words
  1. going / where / you / are / ?
  2. milk / buy / and / bread / eggs / ,
  3. ready / I / am / said / she / , / "
Answer Key
  1. Where are you going?
  2. Buy milk, bread and eggs.
  3. "I am ready," she said.
Match the Following
Column AColumn B
1. . (full stop)a. direct speech
2. ? (question mark)b. ends a statement
3. ' (apostrophe)c. ends a question
4. " " (inverted commas)d. possession / contraction
Answer Key
. → ends a statement? → ends a question' → possession / contraction" " → direct speech

9 Micro Quiz

✎ Quick Check — 5 questions0 / 5
Q1.Which mark ends a question?
Explanation: A question ends with '?'.
Q2.Contraction of 'cannot':
Explanation: 'can't' = cannot, with an apostrophe for the missing letters.
Q3.Which word must be capitalised?
Explanation: Days of the week are proper nouns: 'Monday'.
Q4.Choose the correctly punctuated speech.
Explanation: Comma before the quote, end mark inside the inverted commas.
Q5.'The cats tail' should be:
Explanation: One cat → 'cat's tail' (singular possessive).

10 Reading Practice

"Hurry up, Aman!" called his mother. "We're already late." Aman grabbed his bag, his water bottle and his lunch box. "I'm ready, Mum," he said. They left the house on Tuesday morning and reached Ria's school by eight.

Comprehension Questions
  1. Why is there a comma in 'Hurry up, Aman!'?
  2. What does the apostrophe in 'We're' show?
  3. Name two words capitalised because they are proper nouns.
Answer Key
  1. The comma separates the command from the name being addressed (Aman).
  2. A contraction of 'We are' — the apostrophe marks the missing 'a'.
  3. Aman and Ria (also 'Tuesday', 'Mum') — names and the day.

11 Speaking, Writing & Daily Use

Say these aloud
  • Where are you going?
  • What a lovely surprise!
  • Please bring your book, pen and ruler.
  • I met Ravi in Delhi on Sunday.
  • She said, "I am happy."
Write five sentences about a trip, using a comma list, an apostrophe, a question and a line of direct speech.
Example: We packed bags, food and water. "Are we ready?" Dad asked. It's going to be a great day!

12 Challenge Zone

🔥 Higher-Level Questions — 30 / 3
Q1.Which sentence is correctly punctuated?
Explanation: One sister → 'sister's' (apostrophe + s).
Q2.Where does the comma change the meaning? 'Let's eat ___ Grandma.'
Explanation: 'Let's eat, Grandma' addresses her; without the comma it sounds like eating Grandma!
Q3.Punctuate correctly: 'i have three pets a dog a cat and a fish'
Explanation: A colon introduces the list, commas separate the items, capital 'I' to start.

13 Chapter Mind Map

Mind Map
          PUNCTUATION
                |
   +-----+------+------+-------+
   |     |      |      |       |
 END    COMMA  APOS-  QUOTES  CAPITALS
 . ? !  lists  TROPHE " "     start, I
        pause  Ram's  speech  names,
        intro  don't          days

14 One-Minute Revision

Remember these

  • End marks: . statement, ? question, ! strong feeling
  • Commas separate list items and follow introductory words
  • Apostrophe = possession (Ram's) or contraction (don't)
  • Inverted commas hold the exact spoken words
  • Capitalise the sentence start, 'I', and all proper nouns