subject: English Grammar: How to End Sentences [print this page] English Grammar: How to End Sentences English Grammar: How to End Sentences
How does one know if a sentence ends with a period? When does one need to use a question mark? When is it necessary to punctuate a sentence with an exclamation point? For those who are not used to the writing rules of English grammar, these things can be confusing. However, there is no need to worry because with the help of this article, all of these will be answered. So read on and sharpen your knowledge in punctuations.
The first topic of discussion is the use of the period. In English grammar, the period is the most commonly used punctuation mark when it comes to ending sentences. This is because most sentences are statements and statements usually end with a period. Some examples are "My favorite color is green." and "She was my professor in Psychology class." Periods are also used to end indirect questions, an instance of which would be "She asked me what the assignment for today was." On the other hand, in a sentence's last word ends with a period, then there's no more need to put another period to indicate that the sentence has reached its conclusion. Two illustrations of this are "My sister introduced me to an M.D. She said that the doctor is her new boyfriend." and "I went to the mall and bought new shirts, shorts, etc. I hope these are enough for the whole semester."
The next punctuation in the English grammar to be discussed in this article is the question mark. As obvious as its name is, the question mark indicates an inquiry. Therefore, it is used in only two instances. The first of which is a direct question. "What do you want to be when you grow up?" "Why were you absent yesterday?" and "How much is that bag?" are some examples of the this. The second instance that entails the use of a question mark is when one half of a sentence is a statement, but the other half is still a question. The sentence "You did eat the apple, didn't you?" is a case that shows this.
The sentence ending punctuation mark in the English grammar that would complete this article is the exclamation point. The latter is only used to show great feelings, thus it is never utilized in formal letters, academic papers, and the like. "I'm shocked!" and "The death of my cat truly saddens me!" both illustrate immense emotions, and making use of the exclamation point emphasizes this.
In conclusion, it is very important to know the proper way of ending sentences. It will be easier for one to convey his or her messages to others, and it will be easier for others to understand one's points and opinions as well. With the help of punctuation marks, one becomes more effective in his or her usage of the English grammar as well as becoming more eloquent and confident as a writer or speaker. So always practice using the proper punctuation marks in ending all your sentences.
