Key Punctuation Rules and Practice Exercises for CBSE Class 10 Exam Preparation
In today’s lesson, we will discuss punctuation. We will begin with understanding the definition of punctuation. Then we will see examples of this punctuation. Moving ahead we will learn about punctuation marks. Practice questions and solved examples are given throughout the article for better understanding and concept clarity. Let’s begin the journey on this amazing topic.
English
What is a Punctuation Mark?
Punctuation is the use of white space after a sentence, in between words in a sentence using standard symbols called punctuation marks. They are certain typographical elements to aid in the comprehension and accurate reading of the written text, whether it is read by oneself or while together.
Full stops (. ), commas (,), question marks (?) and exclamation points (!) are a few examples of various punctuation marks.
Punctuation
Punctuation Marks
Punctuation Marks
Full Stop (.)
One of the most often used punctuation symbols in the English language is the full stop, sometimes known as the period (.) in American English. According to textual analysis, full stops make up almost half of all punctuation.
Full stops were used to conclude declarative sentences or other statements regarded as complete. Additionally, this punctuation is used after an acronym. A full stop can also indicate the conclusion of a string of words that does not usually compose a sentence.
Examples of a full stop(.)
Lina is going on a holiday.
Freya is riding a horse.
There is no one in the world like my mother. She is my best friend.
Question Mark(?)
To end interrogative phrases or queries, use a question mark as a punctuation mark. The sentence's arrangement will determine where the question mark goes.
Examples of a question mark:
Have you seen this girl?
Do you have a pen?
Quotation Marks
Quotation Marks(“ “)
When you want to paraphrase someone else's remarks in your work, use quotation marks.
Examples of quotation mark:
Henry asked, “ where is my notebook?”
Hiya told journalists, “ it's a capturing moment.“
Apostrophe (')
When certain letters have been removed from a word, an apostrophe (') is used to indicate this. Along with indicating the plural form of lowercase letters, the punctuation mark can also be used to signify a noun's possessive form.
Examples of the apostrophes:
It is – It's: “I can't believe it's raining again.”
Lisa’s house is in Itlay.
Jennie’s dogs are at the Vet’s clinic.
The Comma (,)
To distinguish between two distinct concepts or sentence components, use a comma (,).
The comma rules and examples:
(1) When two distinct sentences are joined, a comma should be used.
Example: We purchased some dairy, and we purchased some fruit.
(2) Separate words in a series with commas. Take note that the final word in the series is not followed by a comma.
Example: He was tall, beautiful, and clever.
(3) Set the words "yes" and "no" apart with a comma.
Example: Thank you, but no.
The Hyphen (-)
The punctuation mark "hyphen" (-) is used to separate words or sections of words. It cannot be used in place of other dashes of any kind.
Examples of the hyphen(-)
Self-confidence
Merry-go-round
Co-operate
Long-term
Close-up
Dash
A dash is a punctuation mark that divides words into statements. There are two different types of dashes: en dash and em dash. En dash indicates range or connections. The em dash, on the other hand, is used in situations where a comma could also be appropriate. The dash can also be used to delete words or phrases that are not necessary for understanding the sentence. In situations where a comma would normally be used, a dash may be substituted.
"En dash" (–)
The en dash, which is a symbol (-) used in writing and printing to denote a range or links, is slightly larger than a hyphen.
Examples:
1987-2009
"Em dash" (—)
The em dash (—), which is twice as long as the en dash, can be used in place of a comma, parenthesis, or colon to improve readability or emphasize a sentence's end.
examples:
He gave her his answer—Yes!
Exclamation Mark (!)
It may be used at the beginning or conclusion of a statement. It also serves as a full stop or a period at the end of a sentence when used in this way. To convey an order or a strong passion, we frequently employ the exclamation mark (!)
Examples:
Bravo!
Lie down!
Hurray!
Yay!
Colon (:)
A colon (:) is a fairly common and widely used punctuation character. A quotation, an illustration, a sequence, or even an explanation can be introduced using this technique. The second application is to divide two independent clauses with it. Finally, emphasis can be conveyed by using a colon.
Examples:
You have two tasks: finish the assignment and submit on the portal.
Tony has the ingredients list: milk, potatoes, and tomatoes.
Semicolon (;)
A semicolon (;) is used to indicate a tight relationship between two independent clauses while separating them. A semicolon does a better job than a full stop at illustrating the relationship between two assertions.
Examples:
My wife is a teacher; at St. Paul school.
I want to go to a park; to clear my head and have fun.
I am here; you are over there.
Difficult Word Meaning
Practice questions
Put the correct punctuation mark to the following sentences.
This is absolutely incredible
Stand up straight
Who do you think will win the show
Hurray. We won the match today.
Walk fast
I love cooking meat fish different types of curries and baking
This is Kiaras party dress
He asked Are you unwell
He is a well respected man
I want coffee I am feeling tired
Answers:
This is absolutely incredible!
Stand up straight.
Who do you think will win the show?
Hurray! We won the match today.
Walk fast.
I love cooking meat, fish, different types of curries and baking.
This is Kiara’s party dress.
He asked, “Are you unwell?”
He is a well-respected man.
I want coffee; I am feeling tired.
Benefits of Learning Punctuation Class 10
The importance of punctuation in English grammar is above all. Punctuation marks are the silent intonation that tells us where to emphasise, question, pause, or stop while reading by using exclamation marks (‘!’), question marks (‘?’), comma (‘,’), or a period or full stop (‘.’).
Punctuation marks bring clarity to the sentence and make it precise.
The punctuation syllabus for Class 10 is easy and short. If you want to learn and adapt proper sentence formation and develop excellently precise writing, then you need to learn the usage of different punctuation marks in a sentence.
Examples of Punctuation
Facts About Punctuation
All the punctuation symbols must be placed parallelly. It means when the main clause is interrupted with a dash or a comma, it also needs to be interrupted by the same punctuation symbols at the end and beginning of the clause.
You can’t use a semicolon (;) to divide just a single item in a list.
Colons are placed at the end part of the main clause. When the sentence is completed, you can use a colon to add a restatement, elaboration, or list.
Semicolons can act as an alternative to the coordinating conjunction by connecting two related independent sentences or clauses in a compound sentence.
Apostrophes can’t be used in possessive pronouns like her, his, yours, whose, theirs.
Colons and semicolons are placed outside the quotation (“ ”) marks.
With Compound phrases, hyphens are widely used (seven-year-old, brother-in-law).
Important Topics of Class 10 English Grammar Chapter 22 Punctuation
In the Punctuation for Class 10, we will learn about the following things:
What is punctuation?
What are the different types of punctuation marks?
The usage of different types of punctuation marks.
Class 10 English Punctuation Free PDF Download
The Class 10 English grammar Chapter 22 Punctuation PDF is well-explained with many examples.
Professional educators at Vedantu have made the punctuation exercises for Class 10 students, which are very helpful for the kids.
We aim to change India’s education system by introducing short and interesting online tutorial videos. Our online tutorial video of Punctuation Class 10 is a standalone masterclass for learning punctuation in English grammar.
Summary
In this chapter, we studied punctuation. Punctuation is derived from the Latin term "punctum," which refers to the proper placement of points and stops in written communication. Punctuation enhances our work by adding quiet intonation. We can halt, stop, stress, or pose a question by using a comma, a period, an exclamation point, or a question mark. When punctuation is utilised appropriately, writing becomes more precise and clear because it allows the writer to pause, stop, or emphasise specific words or clauses. The reader is told to pause at opportune points and organise the material on the page they're reading by utilising effective punctuation that mimics speech rhythms. It clarifies the writing and reduces misunderstandings.
FAQs on Complete Punctuation Guide for Class 10 English Grammar (2025-26)
1. What types of questions on punctuation are considered important for the CBSE Class 10 English Board Exam 2025-26?
For the Class 10 English exam, important questions on punctuation are application-based and typically appear in the Grammar section. You can expect formats such as:
- Editing/Omission: You will be given a short paragraph with missing or incorrect punctuation, and you must identify the error and provide the correction.
- Gap Filling: Sentences or short dialogues will be provided with blanks where you need to insert the appropriate punctuation marks.
- Dialogue Completion: You may need to punctuate a conversation correctly, using quotation marks, commas, and end marks.
2. How many marks are allotted to punctuation questions, and how can I ensure I get full marks?
Punctuation questions are usually part of the integrated grammar section and do not have a separate weightage. Typically, each correction or insertion carries 1 mark. To secure full marks, you must be precise. Pay close attention to the use of commas in separating clauses, correct placement of quotation marks in direct speech, and using capital letters at the beginning of sentences and for proper nouns.
3. Which punctuation marks are most frequently tested in Class 10 board exam questions?
Based on previous board exam trends, the most frequently tested punctuation marks are:
- Commas: Used for separating items in a list, setting off clauses, and after introductory phrases.
- Full Stops: For ending declarative and imperative sentences.
- Quotation Marks: For enclosing direct speech in dialogues and stories.
- Apostrophes: Crucial for showing possession (e.g., Rohan's book) and contractions (e.g., don't, can't).
- Question Marks: For ending interrogative sentences.
4. What is a common punctuation trap that Class 10 students fall into during exams?
A very common and important trap is the comma splice. This error occurs when a student joins two complete sentences with only a comma, which is grammatically incorrect. For example: "The weather was bad, the match was cancelled." To avoid losing marks, you should use a full stop, a semicolon, or a conjunction. The correct sentences would be: "The weather was bad. The match was cancelled." or "The weather was bad, so the match was cancelled."
5. Why is the correct use of capital letters considered an important part of punctuation in exam answers?
Correct capitalisation is a fundamental aspect of punctuation that examiners look for as it signals sentence boundaries and identifies proper nouns. Failing to capitalise the first word of a sentence, the pronoun "I", or names of people and places shows a lack of attention to detail and can lead to a deduction of marks, especially in editing tasks and the writing section. It is a critical component of sentence-level accuracy.
6. How does mastering punctuation impact scores in the Literature and Writing sections of the exam?
Mastering punctuation is crucial beyond just the grammar questions. In the Literature section, well-punctuated answers create clear, coherent arguments, making your points more convincing. In the Writing section, using correct punctuation in a story or letter (especially quotation marks for dialogue) makes your work look more professional and can directly contribute to higher marks for expression and overall coherence.
7. For a question asking to punctuate a dialogue, what are the most important rules to remember?
When punctuating a dialogue, it is important to remember these key rules:
- Enclose the exact words spoken within double quotation marks (“ ”).
- The first word of the dialogue always begins with a capital letter.
- Punctuation marks like commas, full stops, and question marks that belong to the dialogue must be placed inside the closing quotation mark.
- Start a new paragraph for each new speaker.
