Capital Letters
Capital letters are big letters like A, B, C instead of small letters like a, b, c. We use them to show that something is special or important.
What You'll Learn
In this lesson, you will learn when to use capital letters for:
- Names of people, pets, and places
- Days of the week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday...)
- Months of the year (January, February, March...)
When to Use
- Names of people, pets, and places: "My friend Sarah likes to read." / "My dog Buddy plays in the park." / "We live in Singapore."
- Days of the week: "We have art class on Tuesday."
- Months of the year: "My birthday is in June."
How to Form
What Gets a Capital Letter?
| Type | Use capital letter? | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Names of people | Yes | Ali, Mei Ling, Mr Tan |
| Names of pets | Yes | Fluffy, Goldie, Bella |
| Names of places | Yes | Singapore, Jurong, Changi |
| Days of the week | Yes | Monday, Friday, Sunday |
| Months of the year | Yes | January, March, December |
| Normal words | No | the, cat, happy, school |
Days of the Week
All seven days start with a capital letter:
| Day |
|---|
| Monday |
| Tuesday |
| Wednesday |
| Thursday |
| Friday |
| Saturday |
| Sunday |
Months of the Year
All twelve months start with a capital letter:
| Month | Month | Month |
|---|---|---|
| January | May | September |
| February | June | October |
| March | July | November |
| April | August | December |
Key Rules
-
Names always start with a capital letter: Every person's name, pet's name, and place name must start with a capital letter. "My teacher is Mrs Lim."
-
Every day of the week starts with a capital letter: Never write "monday" or "tuesday". Always write "Monday" and "Tuesday".
-
Every month starts with a capital letter: Never write "january" or "march". Always write "January" and "March".
-
Normal words stay small: Words like "the", "and", "is", "happy", and "school" do not get capital letters (unless they start a sentence). "The boy went to school on Monday."
Common Mistakes
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| I play with sarah. | I play with Sarah. | Names always start with a capital letter |
| We go swimming on saturday. | We go swimming on Saturday. | Days of the week need a capital letter |
| My birthday is in june. | My birthday is in June. | Months need a capital letter |
| I live in singapore. | I live in Singapore. | Place names need a capital letter |
Clue Words
Words that always need a capital letter:
Days: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
Months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
Name words: Mr, Mrs, Miss, Ms (when used before a name)
Tip: If the word answers "What is its name?", it needs a capital letter! What is her name? Sarah. What day is it? Tuesday. What month is it? April.
Practice Tips
- The Name Test: Ask yourself, "Is this the name of a person, pet, or place?" If yes, use a capital letter.
- The Calendar Check: Is the word a day or a month? Look at a calendar. Every day and month on a calendar starts with a capital letter.
- Circle and Check: When you finish writing, circle every name, day, and month. Check that each one starts with a capital letter.
Quick Reference
| Always use a capital letter for | Examples |
|---|---|
| Names of people | Ali, Mei Ling, Mr Tan |
| Names of pets | Buddy, Fluffy, Goldie |
| Names of places | Singapore, Jurong East, Sentosa |
| Days of the week | Monday, Wednesday, Friday |
| Months of the year | January, June, December |