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Basic 2 · Ghanaian Language · Punctuation

The Full Stop and the Comma

In this topic you will learn to use the full stop and the comma.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Use a full stop at the end of a sentence
  • Use commas in a list
  • Read sentences with full stops and commas correctly

What you already know

  • Copying sentences neatly

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand
Writing Conventions
Sub-strand
Punctuation
Indicator
B2.5.2.1.1 – Know what the full stop and the comma are

Introduction

Punctuation marks are like traffic signals for reading. A full stop says "stop". A comma says "pause".

1. The Full Stop (.)

A full stop ends a sentence that tells something.

Example: The market is busy.

2. The Comma (,)

A comma separates things in a list. It tells the reader to pause.

Example: Mother bought yam, fish, pepper and tomatoes.

A full stop shown as a stop sign and a comma shown as a slow-down sign
Figure 1: The full stop and the comma Copy the two example sentences.Illustration: Sirbus

Common mistake: Do not put a comma before "and" in a simple list: "yam, fish and pepper".

New words

punctuation
Marks that help us read, like . and ,
full stop
The mark (.) that ends a sentence.
comma
The mark (,) that shows a pause.
list
Things written one after another.

Summary

  • A full stop ends a sentence.
  • A comma separates things in a list.
  • Punctuation helps us read clearly.

Class activity: Punctuation Cards

  1. Read the sentence strips about local life.
  2. Add the missing full stops and commas with the punctuation cards.
  3. Read the sentences aloud with pauses.

You need: Locally made punctuation cards, Sentence strips about local life, Exercise books, Pencils

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. Which mark ends a sentence?

    • A. Full stop
    • B. Comma
    • C. Question
    • D. Space
    Show answer
    Answer: Full stopA full stop ends a sentence.

  2. 2. Where do commas go in "I like rice beans and gari"?

    • A. After rice
    • B. After gari
    • C. After I
    • D. After like
    Show answer
    Answer: After rice"I like rice, beans and gari."

  3. 3. A comma tells the reader to pause.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueCommas mean pause.

  4. 4. A full stop goes at the start of a sentence.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseIt goes at the end.

  5. 5. The mark (,) is called a ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: commaThat is a comma.

  6. 6. Write a sentence with a list of three foods using commas.

    Show answer
    Answer: E.g. I eat rice, beans and plantain.Commas separate the list.

Homework

  1. Write two sentences with full stops and one list with commas.