Full Stop (.) — End of a sentence

Use a full stop at the end of a sentence that tells or states something.

Examples:

• We walk to school. ✅
• The cat is sleeping. ✅
• I have an orange. ✅

Do not use a full stop after a question. Use a question mark instead.

Comma (,) — Small pause and lists

Use a comma:

• To separate items in a list: I bought bananas, maize, rice and sugar.
• After a name when speaking to someone: Good morning, Amina.
• To join two short sentences with and (sometimes): She ran, and he walked. (For young learners keep lists and names first.)

Remember: do not put a comma where a full stop should be.

Capital Letters — Big letters (A B C)

Use a capital letter:

• At the start of a sentence: The sun is hot.
• For names of people: Peter, Aisha
• For places: Nairobi, Mombasa, Mt. Kenya
• For days and months: Monday, March
• For the pronoun I: I am happy.

Tip: Always check the first word of a sentence and names — they usually need a capital.

Question Mark (?) — At the end of a question

Use a question mark when you ask something.

• Where do you live? ❓
• Is that your school bag? ❓
• Are you ready for the test? ❓

Questions usually start with words like: Who, What, Where, When, Why, How, or with words like Can, Is, Do.

Quick Rules

1. End statements with a full stop (.).
2. Use commas (,) for lists and when speaking to someone.
3. Start sentences and names with capital letters.
4. End questions with a question mark (?).

Practice — Fill in the blanks

Write the correct punctuation or capital letters. Use: . , ? Capital letters where needed.

1. what is your name ______
2. my name is patrick ______
3. we went to nairobi on monday ______
4. Do you like ugali ______
5. Good morning amina ______
6. I bought apples bananas and oranges ______
7. where is mt. kenya ______
8. please sit down ______

Exercise 2 — Choose the right punctuation

Add either a full stop (.), a comma (,) or a question mark (?) to each sentence below:

1. How are you ______
2. I like to read books ______
3. Thank you ali ______
4. Which school do you go to ______

Exercise 3 — Capital letters

Rewrite the sentence with capitals where needed:

1) my friend lives in kisumu and he goes to kisumu primary school

Answers

Exercise 1

1. What is your name? ❓
2. My name is Patrick. ✅
3. We went to Nairobi on Monday. ✅
4. Do you like ugali? ❓
5. Good morning, Amina. ✅ (comma when speaking to someone + capital A)
6. I bought apples, bananas and oranges. ✅
7. Where is Mt. Kenya? ❓ (Capital W and question mark)
8. Please sit down. ✅

Exercise 2

1. How are you? ❓
2. I like to read books. ✅
3. Thank you, Ali. ✅ (comma before name when speaking + capital)
4. Which school do you go to? ❓

Exercise 3

My friend lives in Kisumu and he goes to Kisumu Primary School.

Well done! Practice these rules when you write. Always check: end signs (., ?), commas in lists and names, and capital letters at the start and for names.