english learners

Parts of a sentence

This week's Learning English blog focuses on the different parts of a sentence - learn all about what each part of a sentence does and how they work together. Read More

Question marks

The question mark marks the end of a question. When will we be arriving? Does it really matter? He’s certain to be elected, isn’t he? Question marks are used in direct questions, i.e. when the actual words of a speaker are used. A reported question should end with a full… Read More

Hyphens

The hyphen joins words or parts of words. Hyphens are used at the ends of lines where a word has been split, to warn the reader that the word continues on the next line. If the word you need to split is clearly made up of two or more smaller… Read More

Commas

The comma marks a short pause between elements in a sentence. Main clauses that are joined together with and or but do not normally have a comma before the conjunction unless the two clauses have different subjects. You go out of the door and turn immediately left. It was cold outside, but we decided to… Read More

Quotation marks

Quotation marks are mainly used in direct speech. Direct speech gives the actual words that a speaker is using or has used. It is common in novels and other writing where the actual words of a speaker are quoted. In British English, these marks can also be called ‘inverted commas’. The… Read More

Using colons

The colon indicates a break between two main clauses which is stronger than a comma but weaker than a full stop. A colon is used: in front of a list I used three colours: green, blue and pink. Make sure you wear clothes made from natural fibres: cotton, silk and wool. in… Read More

Semicolons

The semicolon is used to mark a break between two main clauses when there is a balance or a contrast between the clauses. A useful test to work out when to use a semicolon is to ask yourself whether the two clauses could be written instead as separate sentences. If… Read More

The time

Use … o’clock to say what time it is when the clock shows the exact hour. It finishes at eight o’clock. He got up this morning at five o’clock. It’s one o’clock – time for lunch! It’s four o’clock in the afternoon. Midday is used to mean twelve o’clock… Read More