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Noteclass 11 12

Punctuation — comma, semicolon, dash, quotation

Lesson 67 of 84

B2

End marks . ? ! = 18. Yahan: comma splice (do jumle sirf comma se), extra-info commas, semicolon, dash, British inverted commas (quotes). who / which matlab = 43 / 61. however matlab = 53.

1. Kya hai

Mark = breath + boundary. Galat comma = exam me galti (do jumle sirf comma se — comma splice).

Mark Job Not this page
, comma list, intro, extra info pair . ? ! (18) / Well, = 66
; semicolon do poore jumle / before however however matlab (53)
— dash extra beat, strong pause hyphen in well-known
'…' inverted commas speech / quote 's possessive (21)

2. Comma

Use Rule Galti
List (British) chai, samosas and tea chai, samosas, and tea (Oxford: sirf clarity)
Intro / dependent pehle After chai, we left. When I reached, the shop was shut. After chai we left. (pause missing)
Extra info (non-defining = extra baat) My brother, who lives in Pune, is a doctor. no pair of commas. who/which matlab = 43
Defining (kaunsa) The brother who lives in Pune… (no comma) commas when the clause picks which one
Do jumle sirf comma nahi I was tired. I cooked. / I was tired; I cooked. I was tired, I cooked.

However, naya vakya: full stop ya semicolon pehle. I was tired. However, I cooked. / I was tired; however, I cooked. Marker comma (Well,) = 66, yahan extra nahi.

3. Semicolon / dash / inverted commas

Mark Rule Example
; do poore jumle, related The metro is cheap; it is crowded.
— extra beat (brackets jaisa) The form — the long one — is on the table.
'…' British speech (single first) 'Let's go,' said Ravi.
said + quote comma before quote Ravi said, 'Let's go.'

Quote ke andar quote = double: 'She said, "Take the metro," and left.' Indian paper me double "…" bhi milega — dono padhna. Colon before list extra, yahan nahi. Apostrophe Ravi's = 21.

4. Examples

Bold = the mark in play.

  1. We bought chai, samosas and tea.
  2. After chai, we took the metro.
  3. When I reached, the shop was shut.
  4. My brother, who lives in Pune, is a doctor.
  5. The train which goes to Pune is late. (no extra commas)
  6. I was tired. I cooked. (comma splice nahi)
  7. I was tired; I cooked.
  8. I was tired; however, I cooked.
  9. The metro is cheap; it is crowded.
  10. The form — the long one — is on the table.
  11. Ravi — not Amit — filled the form.
  12. 'Let's go,' said Ravi.
  13. Ravi said, 'Let's go.'
  14. Mr Khan asked, 'Is the exam on 15 May?'
  15. Amma said, 'Take the local after chai.'

5. Common mistakes

I was tired, I cooked. / We waited, the local came.
I was tired. I cooked. / I was tired; I cooked. / I was tired, and I cooked. (30)
I was tired, however I cooked.
I was tired. However, I cooked. / I was tired; however, I cooked. (53 meaning)
My brother who lives in Pune is a doctor. (extra info, no commas)
My brother, who lives in Pune, is a doctor. Defining: the brother who lives in Pune (43)
chai, samosas, and tea (British me sirf yahi samajhna)
chai, samosas and tea
'Let's go', said Ravi. / Let's go, said Ravi. (no marks)
'Let's go,' said Ravi.
Ravi said 'Let's go.' (no comma) / well-known used as a 67 dash
Ravi said, 'Let's go.' Hyphen in well-known ≠ dash —
The metro is cheap, it is crowded. (comma splice phir se)
The metro is cheap; it is crowded. / …cheap. It is crowded.
Where is Ravi. (18 extra nahi) / Well actually yahan nahi (66 as 67)
Where is Ravi? (18) Well, … = 66. Yahan marks, not marker words.
Hindi note. Do jumle = full stop ya semicolon, sirf comma nahi (comma splice). Extra info = comma ki jodi. Kaunsa-wala clause = comma nahi (43). British list: A, B and C. Speech: inverted commas; 'Let's go,' said Ravi. End . ? ! = 18.

6. Practice

A. 10 MCQ

1. British list: We bought chai, samosas ______ tea.
2. Fix the comma splice: I was tired, I cooked.
3. Extra info: My brother ______ who lives in Pune ______ is a doctor.
4. Defining (kaunsa): The train ______ goes to Pune is late.
5. Do poore jumle: The metro is cheap ______ it is crowded.
6. I was tired ______ however, I cooked.
7. Extra beat: The form ______ the long one ______ is on the table.
8. British speech:
9. Ravi said ______ 'Let's go.'
10. Fact sentence end (pehle padha, 18): We took the metro______

B. 5 fill-in

1. After chai______ we left. (one mark)

2. I was tired______ however, I cooked. (one mark)

3. The metro is cheap______ it is crowded. (join, comma splice nahi)

4. British list (write the three items): We bought ______.

5. Sahi karo: I was tired, I cooked.

C. 3 sentences

Model answers neeche. Ek list, ek comma-splice fix, ek quote.

  1. list: We bought chai, samosas and tea.
  2. semicolon: The metro is cheap; it is crowded.
  3. quote: 'Let's go,' said Ravi.

7. Answer key

MCQ
  1. a) and — British A, B and C. Oxford comma sirf clarity.
  2. b) full stop or semicolon — comma splice nahi. ? = 18 sawal.
  3. a) , , — extra info = comma pair. who matlab = 43.
  4. b) which — defining, no commas.
  5. a) ; — do poore jumle. comma = comma splice.
  6. b) ; — however ke pehle semicolon ya full stop, sirf comma nahi.
  7. a) — — — dash pair. full stops = do sentences, extra beat nahi.
  8. a) 'Let's go,' said Ravi. — comma inside the inverted commas. No marks galat. Comma bahar British English nahi.
  9. b) , — said + comma + quote.
  10. c) . — fact end = 18 full stop, not 67 semicolon/dash by default.
Fill-in
  1. , — intro comma.
  2. ; — before however.
  3. ; — do poore jumle.
  4. chai, samosas and tea
  5. I was tired. I cooked. / I was tired; I cooked. / I was tired, and I cooked.
Model sentences
  1. We bought chai, samosas and tea.
  2. The metro is cheap; it is crowded.
  3. 'Let's go,' said Ravi.

Check: no comma splice; extra-info comma pair; defining no comma (43 meaning); ; before however (53 meaning); British list; inverted commas + said comma; dash ≠ hyphen; .?! = 18; Well, = 66; 's = 21; exam spotting method extra = 68.