Three ways to end a sentence
About this video
David and Paige introduce the three ways to end an English sentence: the period, the exclamation point and the question mark. A period ends an ordinary statement of fact, an exclamation point shows strong emotion (good or bad), and a question mark ends a question.
You'll be able to
- name the three end-of-sentence punctuation marks.
- choose a period, exclamation point or question mark to fit what a sentence is doing.
- explain that exclamation points show strong emotion, not just happy excitement.
Key words
- terminal punctuation
- A punctuation mark that ends a sentence: a period, exclamation point or question mark.
- period
- The standard mark that ends an ordinary statement, like "My mom ate a cookie."
- exclamation point
- A mark that ends a sentence said with strong feeling, such as excitement, anger or fear.
- question mark
- A mark that ends a question, showing the speaker wants an answer.
Transcript
- [Voiceover] Hello grammarians and hello Paige.
- Hi David. - So today, we're gonna talk about the three different ways to end a sentence. This is what we call a terminal punctuation of English. Paige, what are those three ways?
- So, the first is a period. - Okay. - And then exclamation point.
- Poom. - And a question mark. - Swoosh. Poom.
- A period is just sort of the standard ending to a sentence.
- Sure. - Right, it's... It goes at the end of, I think, most sentences. I would say that all of the sentences that we have spoken so far would probably end in periods.
- So what's a good example sentence that we can use a period at the end of?
- My mom ate a cookie. - So that's just sort of a straight up, regular ol' sentence?
- Yeah. - Just a standard declaration of a fact.
- Exactly. - This is a thing that is true. My mom ate a cookie.
- Yes. - Cool, and then we just put this period there to say that's the end of a... End of line. So then what is, what is an exclamation point for? What would we use that for?
- Yeah, so an exclamation point is pretty much if someone is excited about what they're saying.
- Okay. - So if I were to say I'm gonna eat so much candy when I get home! I think that was probably an exclamation.
- Sure. - And ends in an exclamation point.
- But its not just like good excitement either. It's not just like, wooh, this is awesome!
- Totally. There can be, you know, anger like go to your room!
- Right. - Or like fear. If you said... - Aaah!
- Yes. Exactly. - We have the period, which kind of all purpose terminal punctuation you can just say a regular declarative sentence. Here is a fact, my mom ate a cookie. Or you can use exclamation points to demonstrate excitement or strong emotion whether good or bad, so like an interjection like aaah! Or a command like go to you room!
Or if your super excited, I'm gonna eat so much candy! What is this thing used for? Huuuh?
- Well, I think that was a perfect example but that thing is used for... That is a question mark which goes at the end of a question. So it basically just signifies I don't know the answer to this thing and I would like an answer to it please.
- So okay. So Paige, what's an example question that we can throw out using a question mark?
- How about, is this edible? - Well it's the eternal question. (Paige laughs)
- I ask myself that everyday. (David laughs)
- Okay so we have periods, just statement of facts, exclamations, expressions of strong emotion, or question marks, which ask a question? I guess? (Paige chuckles)
- Yeah. - Cool. Thanks Paige. - Thank you for having me.
- You can learn anything. David out. - Paige out.
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