Question Marks

Question Marks are used to end a question.

 






Note: some sentences may seem like they are questions when they are actually
statements that appear like questions.







Directions: Decide if the following sentences should end with a question mark.
       Example: Are we going to the mall today              Yes / No

1) What time is it                                                           Yes / No
2) Do you want another piece of cake                           Yes / No
3) Juan asked if we are going to the mall today            Yes / No
4) It is 5:00                                                                    Yes / No
5) Maybe class ends at 3:30                                          Yes / No
6) I am not sure if we need more milk                          Yes / No
7) Did the man find his dog                                          Yes / No
8) The turkey is done cooking                                      Yes / No
9) I wonder what time it is                                            Yes / No
10) Was the movie scary                                               Yes / No
11) It might be sunny tomorrow                                   Yes / No
12) Is it 7:00                                                                  Yes / No
13) You love painting                                                    Yes / No
14) Was the trip long                                                     Yes / No

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Quotation Marks

American style quotation marks have six primary functions:
        1) When repeating someone’s exact words
        2) To show irony
        3) To show an unusual usage of a word or phrase
        4) To refer to a word itself rather than its associated meaning
        5) To refer to nicknames and false titles




1) When repeating someone’s exact words
Example: “I feel sleepy,” Jim said.
In this example, the speaker is repeating Jim’s exact words, “I feel sleepy.” Notice that a comma (or a question mark, exclamation point, or period) is used inside the quotation mark where Jim’s exact words are interrupted by the speaker.

Example: Jim said, “I feel sleepy.”
Again, the speaker is repeating Jim’s exact words, “I feel sleepy.” Notice that a comma is used before the quotation mark where the speaker’s words are interrupted by Jim’s exact words. Also notice that the first letter of the quoted speech is capitalized, and that punctuation used at the end of the sentence comes inside the final quotation mark.

Example: “I feel sleepy,” Jim said, “But I don’t want to go to bed!”
In this example, two of Jim’s phrases are repeated. The speaker interrupts the phrases to provide the reader information about them.

Example: “Jim said, ‘I feel sleepy,’” recalled Jacob.
In this example, the speaker is repeating Jacob’s exact words, who is repeating Jim’s exact words. When you have a quotation inside a quotation, use a single quotation mark to offset it.
Note: Quotation marks are unnecessary when paraphrasing someone’s exact words.

Example: “Help!” cried Ana.
In this example, we are repeating Ana’s exact words. Therefore, we need to use quotation marks.

Example: Ana cried for help.
In this example, we are paraphrasing Ana’s exact words. Therefore, we do not need to use quotation marks.

Directions: Punctuate the following sentences.
1) I got an A on my test said Ko.
2) The president said that we should Win the war in six months
3) I would like to go with you Jenny said But I don’t have enough money
4) I hate you she screamed And I never want to see you again
5) Tommy told us not to Tell his secret said Billy So we didn’t


2) To show irony
Example: My friend energetic claimed that he was “too tired” to help me.
In this example, quotation marks are used to offset the phrase “too tired” because it is ironical. The speaker is trying to show the reader that the friend was not too tired, and that there must have been a better reason for his unwillingness to help.

Directions: Punctuate the following sentences.
1) Desoto said that he would be patient for thirty seconds.
2) I can’t stand it when my brother tries to help me and then asks me a million questions.
3) We took a journey to the fourth floor of the building.


3) To show an unusual usage of a word or phrase
Example: It seems difficult to “know” everything about the human body.
In this example, quotation marks are used to offset the word “know” because it is used in an unusual way. The speaker wants to show that the notion of “knowing” everything about the human body seems somewhat absurd.

Directions: Punctuate the following sentences.
1) The judge said that it was time for us to go to jail.
2) Street language is not encouraged in the classroom.
3) The police arrested some overzealous protesters today.


4) To refer to a word itself rather than its associated meaning
Example: The word “cooper” refers to someone who makes barrels.
In this example, quotation marks are used to offset the word “cooper” because the speaker is referring to the word itself rather than its associated meaning.

Directions: Punctuate the following sentences.
1) Plantain starts with a P.
2) The technical term for car is vehicle.
3) The word bee has two E’s.


5) To refer to nicknames and false titles.
Example: Mike “Kid Dynamite” Tyson is a boxer.
In this example, quotation marks are used to offset a nickname.

Directions: Punctuate the following sentences.
1) The North Carolina Tarheels are playing the Duke Blue Devils in basketball tonight.
2) Nat King Cole is not really a king in the literal sense.
3) Richard The Flash Thomas is racing his car tonight.
Directions: Now write your own sentence using quotation marks to refer to nicknames and false

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8 Comma Rules

 

Directions: After each rule and example, add commas to the sentences where needed.

1) Use commas to separate items in a list of three or more.
Remember that an “item” may refer to a noun, verb, or adjective phrase.
Note: Usage of a comma to separate the second-to-last from the last item is optional.
Example: I need to buy eggs milk lettuce and bread.
                 I need to buy eggs, milk, lettuce, and bread.
1. Carlos wants to visit Paris Italy Germany and China.
2. My favorite colors are blue red and pink.
3. I like to go hiking fishing swimming and camping during summer.
4. I have to clean my room walk the dog and take out the trash.
5. The tree is very tall old and green.
6. I need to visit my mother wash my car and buy six stamps.


2) Use a comma to separate independent clauses (complete thoughts) when they are joined by the following conjunctions:
                                   and  -  or  -  for  -  nor  -  so  -  but  -  yet
Note: The comma should come before the conjunction.
Example: I want to buy the new jacket but it is too expensive.
                 I want to buy the new jacket, but it is too expensive.
In this example, there are two independent clauses:
                #1: “I want to buy the new jacket.” (complete thought)
                #2 “It is too expensive.” (complete thought)
These clauses are separated by a comma before the conjunction “but”.
1. We can go to the zoo or we can go to the movie theater.
2. They like chocolate but they like vanilla better.
3. We will go to the restaurant now for we are very hungry.
4. I do not like biology nor do I like chemistry.
5. James wants to leave now yet we must wait for his little brother.
6. Terry is working on a project and he should be finished with it next week.


3) Use a comma to separate a dependent clause (incomplete thought) from an
independent clause (complete thought).
Here are some examples of sentences with dependent and independent clauses:
    1) When I get older, I will be able to drive. --> (Dependent), (Independent).
    2) If you are good, I will buy you a toy. --> (Dependent), (Independent).
Example: Without water the plant will die.
                 Without water, the plant will die.1. In five minutes the building will be closed.
2. When I get home I am going to brush my teeth.
3. Until I reach my goal I will not stop working.
4. If I get a new job I will be very happy.
5. To become an astronaut it takes much hard work and determination.
6. Because she is only twelve she is not old enough to drive.


4) Use a comma(s) to separate any word or phrase from the rest of the sentence
that is not essential to the sentence''s meaning. This phrase usually provides extrainformation about the subject.
Here are some examples of sentences with words/phrases that are not essential to the
sentence’s meaning:
    1) My brother, a 26 year old male, is watching TV.
    2) Amy Rivers, my best friend, is going to the mall today.
    3) I am ready for my dad, a hard working man, to come home.
Example: My mother on the other hand does not like chocolate.
                 My mother, on the other hand, does not like chocolate.1. Daniel Garrison a farmer wakes up very early.
2. Tanner my teacher is wearing a gray shirt.
3. The car a 1967 ford mustang is very fast.
4. When school ends today at 3:15 p.m. we will play soccer.
5. Gold watches for example are going on sale today.
6. My favorite color navy blue is very popular.


5) Use a comma to separate a quotation from the rest of a sentence.
Example: “We need to buy more sugar” she said “before it runs out!”
                 “We need to buy more sugar,” she said, “before it runs out!”
1. “I am tired” he muttered.
2. He said “We need to lower taxes!”
3. “If I don’t wake up in time” he whispered “I will be in trouble.”
4. “Today will be rainy” the weatherman said with a frown.
5. The boy watched his mother and wondered “Could I ever be that strong?”
6. “Okay” spoke the teacher excitedly “Time’s up!”


6) Use a comma to separate an introductory element from the rest of a sentence.
Example: Hi how are you?
                 Hi, how are you?
1. Yes I would like more water please.
2. Sorry we do not have enough room.
3. Well I hope the problem will be fixed soon.
4. However I am very good at math.
5. Wait is there another way?
6. Unfortunately we do not have enough time.


7) Use a comma to separate the name of a city from a country or state.
Example: I live in Chapel Hill North Carolina.
                 I live in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
1. We are moving to Spokane Washington.
2. I visited Florence Italy last summer.
3. The hurricanes hit Tulsa Oklahoma and Destin Florida.


8) Use a comma to separate the day of the week, the day of the month, and the year.
Example: Today is Thursday April 18 1943.
                 Today is Thursday, April 18, 1943.
1. Tomorrow will be Sunday December 2.
2. George Washington was born on February 22 1732.

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