Definition / Explanation
Basic punctuation makes writing easier to read and understand. At A1 level, the most important marks are the capital letter, the full stop, and the question mark. We use a capital letter at the beginning of a sentence and for some names, a full stop at the end of a statement, and a question mark at the end of a direct question. These rules are simple, but they make a big difference in clear writing.
Key Rules
- Start a sentence with a capital letter: My name is Anna.
- Use a capital letter for I, names, countries, cities, languages, days, and months.
- Use a full stop at the end of a statement.
- Use a question mark at the end of a direct question.
- Do not mix a full stop and a question mark at the end of the same sentence.
Examples
- We start at nine**.**
- London is a big city**.**
- I speak English and Spanish**.**
- Where are you**?**
- Is this your bag**?**
Common Mistakes
- ❌ my name is Tom. -> ✅ My name is Tom.
- ❌ She is from spain. -> ✅ She is from Spain.
- ❌ Where do you live . -> ✅ Where do you live ?
Tips
- If you check only three things in your writing, check these: capital at the start, full stop at the end, question mark for questions.