G azərbaycan respublikasi təHSİl naziRLİYİ azərbaycan texniKİ universiteti M. M. QƏNDİLova e. Q. İsmayilova

Appendix 3: Punctuation
A. Full stop (.), question mark (?) and exclamation mark (!)

A sentence ends with one of these punctuation marks

Full stop: It's cold today. The office was closed. Please be careful Question mark: Who's that? Did you see the show? Could you wait, please? Exclamation mark: Oh, no! I don't believe it!

In the US a full stop is called a 'period'.

B. Semi-colon (;)

We can use a semi-colon between two separate statements which are linked in meaning.

Melanie is a very kind person; she visits David in hospital every day.

We could also use a full stop here.

C. Colon (:)

We can use a colon before an explanation or before a list.

Vicky felt nervous: she hated the dark.

There wasn't much in the fridge: a couple of sausages, some butter, half a bottle of milk.

D. Dash (-)

A dash is rather informal. It is sometimes used instead of a colon or a semi-colon.

I'm having a great time — there's lots to do here.

Vicky felt nervous - she hated the dark.

E. Comma (,)

We often use a comma when we link two statements with and, but or or.

Daniel was tired, and his feet were hurting. It's a really good camera, but I can't afford it. Note the two subjects in each sentence: Daniel... his feet and It... I. When there is only fine subject, we do not use a comma.

Daniel alt down and took his shoes off.

We can also use a comma when a sentence has a linking word like when or although.

When the office is busy, Sarah has to work late.

For commas with relative clauses
Sometimes a comma can separate off an adverb or a phrase.

Sarah, unfortunately, has to work late. On busy days, Sarah has to work late. Here the commas separate off on busy days and unfortunately.

The rules about commas are not very exact. In general, commas are more likely around longer phrases. With a short phrase there is often no comma.

On busy days Sarah has to work late. Sometimes she has to work late.

It is less usual to separate off something at the end of the sentence.

Sarah has to work lute when die office is busy. She stayed late to gel the work done

We do not usually put a comma before to expressing purpose.
We also use commas in a list of more than two. The last two are linked by and. often without a comma.

I went out with Rachel, Vicky, Emma and Matthew.