What is it for?
Learn to write short English sentences with capital letters and the correct punctuation marks.
What to include
- Use a capital letter at the start of every sentence. Use capitals for I, people's names, days, months, countries, nationalities and languages.
- Use small letters for ordinary words in the middle of a sentence, such as dog, mother and school.
- Use a full stop (.) at the end of a statement.
- Use a question mark (?) at the end of a question.
- Use an exclamation mark (!) for greetings and short replies.
- Write I'm and don't with an apostrophe.
How to organise it
- Greeting: start with a capital letter and use an exclamation mark.
- About me: write your name and country with capital letters.
- My language and day: use capitals for languages and days.
- A question: start with a capital letter and end with a question mark.
- A short reply: use an exclamation mark.
Model text
A Little Introduction
Greeting
Hello!
About me
My name is Amina. I am from Kenya. I am Kenyan. I'm a student.
My language and day
I speak English. My favourite day is Monday. My birthday is in June. My mother likes dogs. I don't speak French.
Question
Do you speak English?
Short reply
Thanks!
Key language
| Rule or pattern | Example | Another example |
|---|---|---|
| Start a sentence with a capital letter. | My name is Amina. | Hello! |
| Write I with a capital letter. | I speak English. | I am from Kenya. |
| Use capitals for people's names. | My name is Amina. | My friend is Omar. |
| Use capitals for countries and nationalities. | I am from Kenya. | I am Kenyan. |
| Use capitals for languages, days and months. | I speak English. | My favourite day is Monday. |
| End a statement with a full stop. | I am Kenyan. | My mother likes dogs. |
| End a question with a question mark. | Do you speak English? | Are you from Kenya? |
| Use an exclamation mark for greetings and short replies. | Hello! | Thanks! |
UK / US: In British English, we say full stop. In American English, we say period. Both mean the mark (.).
Practice
Choose the Correct Sentence
Choose the sentence with the correct capital letters and punctuation.
1.Choose the correct sentence.
A sentence and a person's name start with capital letters.
2.Choose the correct sentence.
I and country names use capital letters.
3.Choose the correct sentence.
I and language names use capital letters.
4.Choose the correct sentence.
Friday and the first word of a sentence use capitals.
5.Choose the correct sentence.
A question starts with a capital and ends with a question mark.
6.Choose the correct sentence.
Thanks is a short reply with an exclamation mark here.
Fix the Capital Letters
Rewrite each line with the correct capital letters and punctuation.
1.my name is sara.
Start the sentence and the name with capital letters.
2.i am from brazil.
I and country names use capital letters.
3.i speak japanese.
I and language names use capital letters.
4.my birthday is in june.
Start the sentence and the month with capital letters.
5.im from peru.
Write I'm with an apostrophe and Peru with a capital letter.
6.i dont speak french.
Write don't with an apostrophe and French with a capital letter.
Choose the Right End Mark
Write ., ? or ! in each gap.
1.My name is David
This is a statement, so use a full stop.
2.Are you from China
This is a question, so use a question mark.
3.Hello
This greeting uses an exclamation mark.
4.I speak Korean
This is a statement, so use a full stop.
5.Do you like Tuesday
This is a question, so use a question mark.
6.Thanks
This short reply uses an exclamation mark.
Put the Words in Order
Put the words in order. Add capital letters and the correct end mark.
1.Put the words in order:
ghanaifromam
Start with I and use a capital for Ghana.
2.Put the words in order:
spanishispeak
Start with I and use a capital for Spanish.
3.Put the words in order:
fromyouarewhere
Start the question with Where and end with a question mark.
4.Put the words in order:
kenyanareyou
Start the question with a capital and end with a question mark.
Now write
Your task
Write five short sentences about yourself. Include your name, your country, your language, your favourite day of the week, and one question for a friend. Use the correct capital letters and punctuation.
Word bank
MondayTuesdayWednesdayThursdayFridaySaturdaySundayJanuaryMarchJuneOctoberDecemberBrazilChinaEgyptIndiaKenyaPeruArabicEnglishFrenchJapanese
Sentence starters
- My name is ...
- I am from ...
- I speak ...
- My favourite day is ...
- Do you like ...?