CIG1014

Lesson 16
 Basic
Punctuation
This Lesson Sentence
Rules
Elements
How many sentences can you identify in the
text below?
Punctuation is the system of marks used to clarify meaning and
structure in written language. It helps to guide readers and
make the text easier to understand. Common punctuation
marks include periods, commas, question marks, exclamation
points, apostrophes, quotation marks, colons, and semicolons.
Each mark has a specific purpose. For example, periods
indicate the end of a sentence, while commas are used to
separate items in a list or to pause for emphasis. Understanding
and using punctuation correctly is essential for effective writing.
How many sentences can you identify in the
text below?
Punctuation is the system of marks used to clarify meaning and
structure in written language.1 It helps to guide readers and
make the text easier to understand.2 Common punctuation
marks include periods, commas, question marks, exclamation
points, apostrophes, quotation marks, colons, and semicolons.3
Each mark has a specific purpose.4 For example, periods
indicate the end of a sentence, while commas are used to
separate items in a list or to pause for emphasis.5
Understanding and using punctuation correctly is essential for
effective writing.6
What is a Sentence?
• A group of words, usually
containing a verb, that expresses
a thought in the form of a
statement, question, instruction,
or exclamation.
• A sentence starts with a
capital letter and ends with a
period or full stop (.), question
mark (?) or exclamation point
(!).
What is a Clause?

• A group of words, consisting of a subject and

a finite form of a verb.
• One sentence must have a minimum of 1
clause.
• There’s no maximum number of clauses that a
sentence can have.
• However, for the purposes of our course, the
maximum number of clauses a sentence can
have is 3.
Subject: A person, animal, place, thing, or concept that does an
action. It is the doer/experiencer. Determine the subject in a
sentence by asking the question “Who or what is
doing/experiencing something?”
• I like spaghetti.
• He reads many books.

Verb: Expresses what the person, animal, place, thing, or

concept does. Determine the verb in a sentence by asking the
question “What was the action/state the subject is
doing/experiencing?”
• I like spaghetti.
• He reads many books.
Finite vs Non-Finite Verbs
A finite verb is a verb whose form indicates the person, number,
tense, and mood of the sentence. This means it can be
conjugated to match the specific subject of the sentence.

Examples of finite verbs:

a. I *run* every day. (present tense, first person singular)
b. They *ran* a marathon. (past tense, third person plural)
c. We *will run* a race tomorrow. (future tense, first person plural)
d. Do you *run* track? (present tense, second person singular)
Finite vs Non-Finite Verbs
Non-finite verbs, on the other hand, do not have a specific
person, number, tense, or mood. They are often used as verbals
(like gerunds, participles, or infinitives).

Examples of non-finite verbs:

1. *Running* is good exercise. (gerund)

2. The *broken* vase. (participle)
3. *To run* a marathon is a challenge. (infinitive)
How many clauses can you identify in each of the sentences
below? Identify the subject and finite verb inside each sentence
to help you.
Punctuation is the system of marks used to clarify meaning and
structure in written language. It helps to guide readers and
make the text easier to understand. Common punctuation
marks include periods, commas, question marks, exclamation
points, apostrophes, quotation marks, colons, and semicolons.
Each mark has a specific purpose. For example, periods
indicate the end of a sentence, while commas are used to
separate items in a list or to pause for emphasis. Understanding
and using punctuation correctly is essential for effective writing.
How many clauses can you identify in each of the sentences
below? Identify the subject and finite verb inside each sentence
to help you.
Punctuation is the system of marks used to clarify meaning and
structure in written language.1 It helps to guide readers and
make the text easier to understand.2 Common punctuation
marks include periods, commas, question marks, exclamation
points, apostrophes, quotation marks, colons, and semicolons.3
Each mark has a specific purpose.4 For example, periods
indicate the end of a sentence, while commas are used to
separate items in a list or to pause for emphasis.5
Understanding and using punctuation correctly is essential for
effective writing.6
Definitions of Elements:
Independent Clauses
• An independent clause can
stand alone as a sentence.
• It contains a subject and a verb
and is a complete idea.

a. I like spaghetti.
b. He reads many books.
Definitions of Elements: Dependent Clauses

• A dependent clause is not a complete sentence (or idea).

• It must be attached to an independent clause to become
complete.
• This is also known as a subordinate clause.

a. Although I like spaghetti,…

b. Because he reads many books,…
If you see a clause that has:

Although, because, if, when, since, unless, while, even though,

before/after, that, etc.

then you’re probably looking at a dependent/subordinate clause.

On its own, it’s a sentence fragment — grammatically incorrect as a

complete sentence.
Examples — When it must be part of a larger
sentence:
1. Because she was tired. ← Not a sentence
She went to bed early because she was tired.

2. Although he studied hard. ← Not a sentence

Although he studied hard, he didn’t pass the test.

3. If you want to succeed. ← Not a sentence

If you want to succeed, you need to work consistently.
Practice
Read each statement and determine if it is a dependent or
independent clause. Note that punctuation has been removed
from these statements.

1. Because it was raining 9. Although she is tired

2. The dog barked loudly 10. As soon as I finish my homework
3. She went to the store 11. Unless you hurry
4. While I was sleeping 12. The cat sat on the mat
5. If you study hard 13. The sun is shining
6. The book is on the table 14. After we eat dinner
7. He ate a sandwich 15. The movie was very funny
8. When the bell rings
Combine each pair of independent clauses into ONE complex
sentence by adding an appropriate subordinating conjunction.

1. He overslept. He arrived on time.

2. You finish your homework. You can play video games.
3. The dog barked loudly. The mail carrier approached the gate.
4. I’ll bring an umbrella. It looks like rain.
5. Maria speaks fluent French. She has never lived in France.
6. She studied for weeks. She failed the exam.
7. We stayed indoors. It was raining heavily.
8. They arrived early. The event had already started.
Answers
• Although he overslept, he arrived on time.
• When you finish your homework, you can play video games.
• The dog barked loudly as the mail carrier approached the gate.
• I’ll bring an umbrella because it looks like rain.
• Although Maria speaks fluent French, she has never lived in France.
• Although she studied for weeks, she failed the exam.
• Because it was raining heavily, we stayed indoors.
• Even though they arrived early, the event had already started.
Read the text and identify sentences boundaries, adding the
necessary punctuation and capitalization

although the sky was clear in the morning the storm arrived suddenly in the
afternoon catching hikers who hadn’t checked the forecast because the trails
were slippery those who continued climbing struggled to keep their balance
even when they used walking poles while some turned back others pressed
on unaware that the path ahead had already been closed by park rangers
since mobile signals were weak in the area no one could call for help when
the rain intensified as thunder echoed through the valley trees began to sway
violently and visibility dropped hikers who had taken the lower route fared
better although they still faced deep puddles and falling branches until
rescue teams arrived everyone was instructed to remain where they were
Answers
Although the sky was clear in the morning, the storm arrived suddenly in the
afternoon, catching hikers who hadn’t checked the forecast. Because the trails
were slippery, those who continued climbing struggled to keep their balance,
even when they used walking poles. While some turned back, others pressed
on, unaware that the path ahead had already been closed by park rangers.
Since mobile signals were weak in the area, no one could call for help when
the rain intensified. As thunder echoed through the valley, trees began to
sway violently, and visibility dropped. Hikers who had taken the lower route
fared better, although they still faced deep puddles and falling branches.
Until rescue teams arrived, everyone was instructed to remain where they
were.
Extra Practice
Read the text and identify the mistakes.
Correct them.
Cultural Hegemony refers to the dominance of one cultural group over
another within a society. It's a concept often associated with Marxist
theory. Where the ruling class exerts control over the cultural values and
norms of a society, shaping beliefs and behaviors. This dominance can
be seen in various aspects of culture. Including media, education, and
politics. Cultural hegemony can lead to the marginalization of other
cultures and perspectives. And it can reinforce existing power structures.
While the concept has been criticized for its deterministic nature. It
remains a valuable tool for understanding the ways in which culture and
power intersect.
Answers

Cultural Hegemony refers to the dominance of one cultural group

over another within a society. It's a concept often associated with
Marxist theory, where the ruling class exerts control over the cultural
values and norms of a society, shaping beliefs and behaviors. This
dominance can be seen in various aspects of culture, including
media, education, and politics. Cultural hegemony can lead to the
marginalization of other cultures and perspectives, and it can
reinforce existing power structures. While the concept has been
criticized for its deterministic nature, it remains a valuable tool for
understanding the ways in which culture and power intersect.
Identify sentences boundaries. Add punctuation
accordingly.

Cultural capital refers to the non-economic resources that

individuals possess which give them advantages in society
these resources can include education qualifications
knowledge of cultural norms and values social networks and
other forms of cultural knowledge and skills cultural capital can
be acquired through education socialization and personal
experiences it plays a significant role in shaping individuals
social and economic opportunities and can contribute to social
inequality
Answer

Cultural capital refers to the non-economic resources that

individuals possess which give them advantages in society.
These resources can include education, qualifications,
knowledge of cultural norms and values, social networks, and
other forms of cultural knowledge and skills. Cultural capital can
be acquired through education, socialization, and personal
experiences. It plays a significant role in shaping individuals'
social and economic opportunities and can contribute to social
inequality.