End Punctuation
Every sentence needs a special mark at the end. This mark tells the reader how to read the sentence — is it telling, asking, or showing a big feeling?
What You'll Learn
- How to use a full stop (.), a question mark (?), and an exclamation mark (!) at the end of a sentence.
- How to pick the right end mark for what you want to say.
When to Use
- Telling something: Use a full stop (.) when your sentence tells or shares something. "I like to eat rice**.**"
- Asking something: Use a question mark (?) when your sentence asks something. "Do you like cats**?**"
- Showing a big feeling: Use an exclamation mark (!) when your sentence shows surprise, excitement, or a strong feeling. "Wow, that is so cool**!**"
How to Form
| What your sentence does | End mark | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Tells or shares | Full stop . | I have a pet dog. |
| Asks a question | Question mark ? | Where is my bag? |
| Shows a big feeling | Exclamation mark ! | The bus is here! |
Key Rules
- Every sentence needs an end mark: You must always put a full stop, question mark, or exclamation mark at the end of a sentence. Do not leave it empty.
- Only one end mark: Use only one mark at the end. Do not put two or three together.
- Match the mark to what you say: If you are telling, use a full stop. If you are asking, use a question mark. If you feel excited or surprised, use an exclamation mark.
Common Mistakes
| Wrong | Right | Why |
|---|---|---|
| I like dogs | I like dogs. | A telling sentence needs a full stop |
| Where is my book. | Where is my book? | An asking sentence needs a question mark |
| Wow, that is great. | Wow, that is great! | A sentence with a big feeling needs an exclamation mark |
Clue Words
Telling sentences (use a full stop)
I, we, he, she, it, they, there is, there are
Asking sentences (use a question mark)
who, what, where, when, why, how, do, does, did, is, are, can
Feeling sentences (use an exclamation mark)
wow, hooray, oh no, help, ouch, stop, what a, how wonderful
Tip: If the sentence starts with a question word like "who", "what", or "where", it is probably asking something — use a question mark!
Practice Tips
- Read it out loud: Say the sentence. Does your voice go up at the end? It is probably a question. Use a question mark.
- Ask yourself: "Am I telling, asking, or feeling?": This helps you pick the right end mark every time.
Quick Reference
| Type | End mark | Clue | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Telling | . | Says something | The cat is sleeping. |
| Asking | ? | Wants to know something | Is the cat sleeping? |
| Feeling | ! | Shows a strong feeling | The cat is so cute! |