In this grammar section, we're talking about how to use punctuation in your isles writing. So let's start by looking at all the different types of punctuation that you're going to be using in your writing. We're starting off with the periods. This here is a period, we use a period at the end of informative sentences in the paragraphs. So whenever you're ending your sentence, you use a period. Next, we have exclamation marks.

Now notice that we do not use exclamation marks in academic writing. This means that you should not be using any exclamation marks in the writing task one or the writing task two. Next, we have commas. Generally speaking, we use the commas whenever we hear a brief audible pause. Alright, so whenever you hear this brief audible pause in a sentence, we use a comma. Next we have apostrophes apostrophes are used to show possession.

For example, you could say, Frances population. Okay, whose population are we talking about? We're talking about France's population. So we use the apostrophe up here. Or you could say, Germany's cars whose cars, Germany's cars. So again, we use an apostrophe here.

Now, keep in mind that you should not be using apostrophes to show contraction in your writing. So contractions are words like, isn't, doesn't. So instead of writing isn't, you should write is not. Instead of writing doesn't, you should write does not. Next we have capitalization. Basically, we capitalize all the words that come at the start of the sentence.

And we also capitalize all proper nouns. So words like names of Country of a person, and so on. Lastly, we have semicolons. We use semicolons to join two independent clauses together. And we do this if the two independent clauses are very closely related in ideas, okay, only if they're related, and we don't want to start another sentence, then we can connect the two independent clauses by just using a semicolon. Now I want to spend more time talking about commas, since you're going to be using a lot of them.

Now there are many different rules to using commas. However, for your isles essays, these four rules are the most relevant. So let's talk about these four most important rules when it comes to using commas. The first rule is that whenever the dependent clause comes before the independent clause, we have to use a comma At the end of the dependent clause, we've already talked about this before. But just to remind you, let's take a look at an example. So here's our complex sentence.

The sentence is, even though junk food is unhealthy, many people consume it due to cheaper costs. So I want you to note that here we have the dependent clause, even though junk food is unhealthy, that's our dependent clause. And here is our independent clause. So whenever the dependent clause comes before the independent clause, we use a comma at the end of the dependent clause. Now let's look at the next rule. We use a comma before any coordinating conjunction that links two independent clauses together.

We've talked about this as well. But let's look at an example. Computers doubled in sales from 2000 Three to 2004, but their price had dropped to half. So in this case, we have two independent clauses. Here's our first independent clause. And here's our second independent clause.

And here we have a coordinating conjunction that is linking these two independent clauses together. So whenever we have a coordinating conjunction that links two independent clauses, we use a comma before the coordinating conjunction. Next, we have rule number three, we use commas to separate the items in the list. So here we have an example of a list. People can improve their mood with a healthy diet, exercise, and a healthy social life. So here we have our commas before exercise, and before and so whenever you have a list, use the commas to separate the different items in the list.

Want you to note that this comma here, which comes before the end is optional, so if you want, you can use it. If you don't want to, then you don't have to. Here's our last rule. Whenever you have an introductory cohesive device, we use a comma after it. Here we have a few different introductory cohesive devices. So if you're starting a new sentence, you may start the sentence with a word Finally, or alternatively, or for example, as a result and so on.

So, whenever you use such introductory cohesive devices, you have to use a comma after them. I want you to note that there are certain introductory cohesive devices with which we do not use a comma such as it is clear or this is due to remember, the easiest way for you to find out if whether or not you should use a comma is to listen for a brief audible pause it If you hear a brief audible pause, then you should use a comma. If you don't hear a brief audible pause, then you shouldn't. So I hope that's clear. Now let's talk about apostrophes. Now apostrophes are commonly used for two purposes.

Firstly, they're used to show contraction of words. For example, words like isn't and doesn't. We already discussed this. So we can use apostrophes to show contraction of words, when we put two words together and shorten them. So is not becomes isn't, does not become doesn't. We also use apostrophes to show possession.

Now, I've already discussed that in your academic writing, you should only be using apostrophes to show possession, you should not use them to show contraction. Now let's take a look at how to use apostrophes correctly. So the first way that we Use the apostrophe is when we have a singular noun. So in this case, we add an apostrophe, plus we add an s to it. So let's look at an example of this. Our nation's population is rapidly increasing.

So notice that nation is a singular noun. And we want to show possession. Whose population are we talking about? We're talking about the nation's population. So to show the possession by a singular noun, we have to use an apostrophe. So here's our apostrophe, and we have to add an s to the word.

So here's the s that we've added. Here's our next rule. If you have any singular nouns, or plural nouns that end in the letter S, then we only use the apostrophe. So let's look at an example of that. Here's our sentence. Ensuring job satisfaction of the employees is The bosses responsibility.

I want you to note that this is a singular noun, and we want to show possession by a singular noun. However, this singular noun ends in the letter S. And when we have a singular noun that ends in the letter S, we only use the apostrophe, we do not add the s to it. So here as you can see, we only have the apostrophe. Let's see another example. The education of children is their teachers responsibility. In this case, we have a plural noun teachers.

And we want to show the possession by this plural noun. So what do we do? We have a word that is ending in the letter S. So again, similar to our previous example, when we have a word that is ending in the letter S, we only use the apostrophe. So here, as you'll see in both of these cases, will We only use the apostrophe. Next, if you have irregular plural nouns, then you use the apostrophe plus the letter S. Here's an example of that. Children's views are hugely shaped by their parents.

I want you to note that children is an irregular noun, and it's an irregular plural noun. So we say one child, and two children. Notice that we don't say to children's, we don't add an s when we're talking about the plural of child, because the plural of child is children. So if you want to show possession by this plural noun, then you have to add an apostrophe plus the letter S. So we say children's views are hugely shaped by their parents. Note that we don't say children's and then add the apostrophe. That's wrong.

Now let's look at our final rule. We do not use the apostrophe for pluralizing a regular noun. So what do I mean by this? Let's look at an example here. There are numerous traditions in the world. So here we have an incorrect sentence.

There are numerous traditions in the world. Notice that the word traditions is plural. But to show a plural noun, we do not add an apostrophe. In the IELTS Writing, we only add the apostrophe when we want to show possession. In this case, we're not showing any possession. So this apostrophe here is incorrect.

And we have to remove this apostrophe to correct the sentence. Next, let's talk about capitalization. Here are the rules for it. Firstly, you should capitalize the first letter of the first word in a sentence. He is the first letter of the first word, so It has to be capitalized. Next, you have to capitalize proper nouns.

Proper nouns include names and places. So here's an example. Research conducted by Harvard University in Massachusetts shows that. So in this case, here are the proper nouns. Harvard University is a proper noun. And Massachusetts is a proper noun.

So notice that since Harvard University is the name of a university, we have to capitalize the H and the U. And since Massachusetts is the name of a place, we have to capitalize the M. Here's the next rule. Whenever you have months or days of the week, you have to treat them as proper nouns and you have to capitalize them. So months like January and February has to be capitalized. Also. days of the week, such as Sunday, Monday, Tuesday.

They have to be capitalized. However, when you're talking about seasons, such as summer, winter, fall, autumn, these seasons are not proper nouns, and they should not be capitalized. So here's our example. After a sharp growth in March, the profit from banana sales plummeted in December, but recovered by the following summer. So in this example, March is a proper noun, because it's the name for month. December is a proper noun, because it's also the name of a month.

And summer is not a proper noun, since this is a season. Here's our last rule. Names of school subjects, such as math, algebra, geology and psychology, are not capitalized. However, the only exception to this rule is if you're talking about school subjects that include languages so if you have a subject such as As French or English, then they have to be capitalized. So here's our example, my favorite subjects in high school or Spanish and psychology. I want you to note that the s in Spanish is capitalized, because this is a name of a language.

But psychology is not capitalized. Now I want to show you some infographics and give you some more example sentences to better describe how to use capitalization. So here we have our first example. In this case, we have a line graph. And here's our example sentence. The graph projects that petrol and oil will continue to rise in demand.

Now, I want you to notice something in this graph. Note that all of the labels in this graph are capitalized. Okay. So petroleum oil, coal, natural gas, all the labels are capitalized. However, when you're writing about them in In your essay, you should not capitalize them, unless they're proper nouns. In this case, we don't have any proper nouns.

Therefore, you should not capitalize them in your writing. So when you write a sentence like this, notice that the P in patrol is not capitalized. The O in oil is also not capitalized, because these are not proper nouns. So keep in mind that when you see a graph, the words here may be capitalized. But that does not mean that you should capitalize them when you're writing your essay. Only capitalize the words that are proper nouns.

Let's look at another example. In this graph, we have data from two different countries, from Yemen, and Italy. Notice that in this graph, every letter in the word hegemon is capitalized, and every letter in the word Italy is capitalized. Now this does not mean When you're writing your essay, you have to capitalize the words exactly as is shown in the infographic. Remember, you should only capitalize the proper nouns. In this case.

In our sentence, we have capitalized the Y in Yemen, and the i in Italy, because these are proper nouns. These are names of countries. Here's our final example. Notice in this bar graph, we also have some labels. And in these labels, some words are capitalized, and others are not. Again, you should not be capitalizing words in your essay, just because they are capitalized in the graph or the chart.

Okay, you should only capitalize proper nouns. So in this case, when we're talking about local fixed line calls, we're not capitalizing anything, even though we have the word local capitalized here. The reason that we don't capitalize it in our Writing is because this is not a proper noun. Okay, so here's our sentence. It is evident that local fixed line calls were the most prominent choice, whereas mobiles were the least popular. Notice here as well, with the word mobile's The M is not capitalized, but here, the word M is capitalized.

So keep in mind that you should not capitalize something in your writing just because it's capitalized in the infographic. Now, let's talk about semi colons. Basically, semi colons are used to indicate an audible pause that is longer than a comma, but shorter than a period. Now take note that you will probably not need to use the semicolons in your essay. However, I just want to mention the main rules, just in case you do end up using them. So here's the first rule.

We use the semicolon to link two independent clauses together that are closely related in ideas. For example, you can say, some people write on computers, others prefer to write by hand. Okay, so here we have two independent clauses. And these clauses are closely related in ideas, because both of them are talking about how people prefer to write. Some prefer to write on computers, others like to write by hand. So we can connect these two independent clauses by using a semicolon.

Next, avoid a semicolon when a dependent clause comes before an independent clause. So in this case, we have the example. Although they tried, they failed. Alright, notice that this use of the semicolon is wrong. In order to correct this sentence, we have to say, although they tried, comma, they failed. Here's our next rule.

We use a semicolon before words like namely, however, therefore That is, for example, for instance, etc. And we use the semicolon before these words, when these words introduce a complete sentence. So let's look at an example of that. Science is one of the most significant subjects. However, the arts are just as important. So notice, here we have our independent clause.

Then we have a semicolon before the word however, and we use a semicolon before the word However, because this word is introducing a complete sentence, the arts are just as important. Notice that when we use a semicolon before a word, like however, or therefore or, for example, we also have to use a comma here. Here's our last rule. We do not capitalize any ordinary words after a semicolon. So keep in mind semicolon is not a period. Okay?

So we capitalize words when we're starting a new sentence, but with semi colon, we do not capitalize ordinary words, because the semicolon is still part of the same sentence. So here we have our example. I'm here, you were over there. Notice that we've capitalized the why in the you after the semicolon here, this is wrong. We can only capitalize proper nouns, not ordinary words. So to correct this sentence, we have to say, I'm here, semi colon, you are over there.

The why in the you should not be capitalized. All right. So that's pretty much it for all the different punctuation rules. Now what I want to do is I want to test your knowledge of the punctuation rules that you've learned so far. So I want you to now pause this video and read this paragraph below. In this paragraph, there are 12 punctuation errors.

And after you've paused the video, I want you to read this paragraph and find all these 12 punctuation errors. So go ahead, you can pause the video now. Okay, I hope you've had a chance to look over this paragraph and find the 12 punctuation errors. I'm now going to give you the answer. Here we have the 12 different punctuation errors. Did you get them all?

Let's see what the correct version of this paragraph looks like. This here is the correct version of this paragraph. Again, I want you to pause this video and make sure that you got all of the 12 punctuation errors correct. So that's all for this video. I'll see you in the next grammar section, which is also our last grammar section, in which we're going to talk about how to write about numbers in your writing task one essay. So I'll see you there.