Punctuation is the traffic light for reading; it tells the reader when to pause, when to stop, and how to proceed. Below is a variety of free worksheets on punctuation, including commas, periods, and exclamation points. By clicking on the title, you can see the particulars of the worksheet and download the PDF for printing. Need a punctuation refresher? Here's a helpful article on punctuation. After viewing our punctuation activities please check out all of our grammar worksheets.
An apostrophe is a versatile punctuation mark. It may stand for deleted letters, as in a contraction, or it may be a way to show ownership, as in a possessive, and it may look identical to a single quotation mark. These apostrophe worksheets are free for you to use in class or at home. Simply click on the title to view the details or to download the printable PDF.
The colon is one of the most versatile of the punctuation marks. It can join clauses, introduce lists, separate minutes from hours, and denote a chapter and verse number. While it has many worthwhile uses, it also gets confused with its “little brother,” the semicolon. Below are our worksheets on this multi-talented punctuation mark. They are free to use at your home or in the classroom. Simply click on the title of the worksheet to read the details or to download the PDF.
Besides the period, the comma may be the most used punctuation mark in English. It may also be the most misunderstood. While a comma often denotes a pause, it may also clarify the meaning of words, as in coordinating adjectives. The comma worksheets below are free for you to print and use at home or in the classroom. Click on the title to read the details about a worksheet or to download the PDF.
Each sentence is a complete thought. The punctuation at the end of the sentence tells the reader the sentence is over and tells the type of sentence it is. An exclamation point is at the end of an exclamatory sentence. A question mark ends a interrogative sentence that asks a question. A period marks the end of a declarative sentence, the most common of sentences. Each of the worksheets below is free for home or classroom use. Click on the title to read more or to download the printable PDF.
A dash is a punctuation mark that is often used in order to emphasize the text between the dashes. It often is used instead of parentheses and differs from a hyphen in that it is slightly longer than a hyphen. The worksheets below featuring the dash are free for use in the classroom or at home. To learn more about a worksheet or to download it, click on the title.
Shorter than a dash, a hyphen might be considered word “glue.” It will join two words to make a compound word, such as one-way street. It may also connect a prefix with a root word to create a new one, such as post-war. A hyphen also signals a split word at the end of a line. You can learn more about these hyphen worksheets or download them by clicking on the title. They are free for home or classroom use.
The punctuation world includes symbols that aren't often used but still have a valuable purpose. The ellipsis, for example, shows omitted text or a trailing thought. A slash often denotes alternative choices, such as Y/N. Brackets are important for signaling a quotation has been adjusted for grammar. They also are used to clarify textual references. Each of the worksheets below may be viewed by clicking on the title. They are free for home or classroom use.
Quotation marks are punctuation marks most often used to signal direct quotations: the actual words or text that someone said or wrote. However, they may also signal an unusual use of a word, such as an ironic reference or a slang expressions. Title of songs, short stories and other short works are also enclosed in quotation marks in text. The punctuation worksheets below are free for you to use at home or in class. To read about each one, click on the title.
Half colon and half comma, the semicolon has many uses. It can separate independent clauses when there is no coordinating conjunction, it can separate items in a list when the items have a comma, and it can separate clauses joined with conjunctive adverbs. The semicolon worksheets below may be viewed or downloaded by clicking on the title. Each is free for you to use in the classroom or in your home.
During third grade, children are really flexing their “idea” muscles and learning to express those ideas in more sophisticated ways. Sentences are getting longer and more complex. Kids are learning to use a dictionary to correct their own spelling. Grammar improves; for example, you'll see appropriate punctuation, contractions, and correct subject-verb agreement. Third graders can write an essay with a simple thesis statement, examples and supporting details, and a thoughtful concluding sentence. They are building skills in the writing process — research, planning, organizing, revising, and editing (with help from teachers and peers).
Written by a third grader who receives special education for language arts. Writing is in response to a prompt, Think about a person who is special; this could be a family member, a friend, or anyone else who is important to you. Write about why this person is special to you. Be sure to describe a few experiences you have had together that show why you chose this person.