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Grade 5 · English Language Arts · Unit 11 of 12

Punctuation Power

Commas, colons and apostrophes

What your child practises

Placing commas after introductory words, using colons before lists, writing possessives and contractions, choosing its/it's and their/there/they're, and punctuating dialogue.

Alberta Curriculum learning outcome: Experiment with and apply grammar, spelling, and punctuation to develop precise written communication. · commas, quotation marks, colons and apostrophes

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • For, example plants need sunlight.
    • For example plants need, sunlight.
    • For example plants, need sunlight.
    • For example, plants need sunlight.
    Show answer

    For example, plants need sunlight.

    Hint: Put a comma after an introductory phrase like “For example.”

  2. Question 2

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • You will need two tools, a hammer: and a saw.
    • You: will need two tools a hammer and a saw.
    • You will need: two tools a hammer and a saw.
    • You will need two tools: a hammer and a saw.
    Show answer

    You will need two tools: a hammer and a saw.

    Hint: A colon comes right before the list begins, after a complete sentence.

  3. Question 3

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • However the, bus was late.
    • However, the bus was late.
    • However the bus was, late.
    • However the bus, was late.
    Show answer

    However, the bus was late.

    Hint: Put a comma right after a transition word like however.

  4. Question 4

    Which is the correct contraction for “we are”?

    • w'ere
    • we'are
    • were'
    • we're
    Show answer

    we're

    Hint: The apostrophe replaces the missing a in “are”: we + are = we're.

  5. Question 5

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • “I love this song,” said Maya.
    • I love this song,” said Maya.
    • “I love this song” said, Maya.
    • “I love this song, said Maya.”
    Show answer

    “I love this song,” said Maya.

    Hint: Put quotation marks around only the words that are spoken. The comma goes inside the closing quotation mark.

  6. Question 6

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • Mom said “Dinner is ready”.
    • Mom said, “Dinner is ready.”
    • Mom said “Dinner, is ready.”
    • Mom said, Dinner is ready.”
    Show answer

    Mom said, “Dinner is ready.”

    Hint: Quotation marks go around the exact words spoken, and the period goes inside them.

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