PE-81: Punctuation: Comma, Apostrophe, Colon, Semicolon
The small marks that carry big meaning — where the comma goes, what a colon does, and the comma splice that spoils good writing.
PE-81: Punctuation: Comma, Apostrophe, Colon, Semicolon
Read these two sentences aloud:
"Let's eat, Grandma!" — a polite invitation to dinner.
"Let's eat Grandma!" — something has gone very wrong.
One comma, an entirely different meaning. Punctuation is not decoration: it tells your reader where to pause, what belongs together, and what your sentence actually means. And it is one of the easiest places to gain marks in written work.
In this lesson you will learn
- The five jobs of the comma
- The comma splice — the most common punctuation error in essays
- What a colon and a semicolon actually do
- The apostrophe rules, gathered in one place
1. The five jobs of the comma
- In lists: I bought bread, milk, eggs and cheese. (British English usually has no comma before the final and.)
- After an introductory phrase or clause: After the lesson, we went home. · Although it rained, we walked. (PE-52)
- Before but, so, and when they join two full sentences: It was late, so we left.
- Around extra information: Afsona, who lives next door, is a nurse. (PE-59)
- When speaking to somebody: Thank you, Jasur. · Sherbek, come here.
However, the plan failed. — First of all, let me explain. — In my opinion, he was right.
Biroq, reja amalga oshmadi. — Avvalo, tushuntirib beraman. — Menimcha, u haq edi.
Linking words at the start of a sentence always take a comma after them.
2. The comma splice — the error to avoid
It was raining, we stayed at home.
It was raining. We stayed at home.
It was raining, so we stayed at home.
It was raining; we stayed at home.
3. The colon and the semicolon
Colon : — "here it comes"
- Introduces a list: I need three things: bread, milk and tea.
- Introduces an explanation: He failed for one reason: he never studied.
Semicolon ; — a strong comma
- Joins two related sentences: She studied hard; she passed easily.
- Before however, therefore: It rained; however, we went.
The recipe is simple: rice, meat, carrots and oil. Cook it slowly; that is the secret.
Retsept oddiy: guruch, goʻsht, sabzi va yogʻ. Sekin pishiring — mana shu sir.
4. The apostrophe, gathered in one place
Two jobs only (PE-75):
1Possession
the boy's book · the boys' books · the children's toys
2Missing letters
don't, it's, I'm, we'll, she'd
3Never for plurals
two book's ✗ → two books ✓
4Never on possessives
it's tail, your's ✗ → its tail, yours ✓
5. Direct speech
Afsona said, "I'll be late." — "Where are you going?" he asked.
Afsona: "Kechikaman," dedi. — "Qayerga ketyapsan?" — deb soʻradi u.
The comma comes before the quotation marks open, and the final punctuation goes inside them.
6. Common mistakes
I like tea he likes coffee.
I like tea, but he likes coffee.
However the weather was bad.
However, the weather was bad.
My mother who is a doctor works here.
My mother, who is a doctor, works here.
We need: bread and milk.
We need bread and milk. / We need three things: bread, milk and tea.
She asked "are you ready"?
She asked, "Are you ready?"
Practice
1 Punctuate: after the lesson we went to the library and borrowed three books
Show answer
After the lesson, we went to the library and borrowed three books.
Comma after the introductory phrase; no comma before and here because it joins two verbs, not two sentences.
2 Fix the comma splice: I was tired, I went to bed early.
Show answer
I was tired, so I went to bed early. (or a full stop, or a semicolon)
3 Colon or semicolon? He gave one excuse ___ he had overslept.
Show answer
A colon — the second part explains the first. A semicolon would work too, but the colon points forward more clearly.
4 Add commas: Bukhara which is an ancient city attracts many tourists.
Show answer
Bukhara, which is an ancient city, attracts many tourists.
Extra information about a unique name → commas (PE-59).
5 What is wrong? The teacher's are waiting in the staff room.
Show answer
The teachers are waiting… An apostrophe never makes a plural.
Key words — Kalit soʻzlar
- Punctuationtinish belgilari
- Commavergul
- Full stopnuqta
- Semicolonnuqtali vergul
- Colonikki nuqta
- Apostropheapostrof
- Quotation marksqoʻshtirnoq
- Comma splicevergul xatosi
- To pausetoʻxtalmoq
- To oversleepuxlab qolmoq
🎯 Remember this
- Comma: lists · after an opening phrase · before but/so joining sentences · around extra information · before a name.
- Never join two sentences with only a comma.
- Colon introduces; semicolon joins two related sentences.
- Apostrophe = possession or missing letters — never a plural.
- In direct speech, the final punctuation goes inside the quotation marks.