Analysing sentence structure in Critical ReadingFull stops and commas

Punctuation

Punctuation is often key to sentence structure.

A writer considers the punctuation of their writing to add clarity and precision.

In the National 5 English Critical Reading assessment, you should consider an analysis of the basic building blocks of the writer’s sentences in order to extract further meaning/intention – in much the same way you already have for sentence structure.

Specific punctuation allows the writer to:

• stop
• pause
• add emphasis to certain parts of their sentence
• change the tone
• introduce contrast

Full stops and commas

What are full stops?

• Full stops are primarily used to end a declarative or imperative sentence.
• They indicate the end of a point, description, or idea.
• Full stops show us how we ought to read sentences.

Full stops can create different sentence lengths and types. These can can have different effects on the the reader.

What are fragments?

Sometimes writers don't even use full sentences. Sentence fragments often emphasise a point, create drama or show surprise, but they are not complete sentences:

• She looked as carefully as she could, but found nothing. Absolutely nothing.
• Imagine this. You're trapped. It's dark. It's cold.

What are commas?

Commas can be used to:

• create a list
• show a pause
• break up a long sentence into smaller chunks

Lists

If a list is present, look at the order of the points listed. If they lead up to the most important item at the end, there is a build-up to a climax:

Jessica wanted to pass her exams, go to University and become a doctor.

Breaking up longer sentences

In a long sentence, a writer can use commas to separate out extra information and make the sentence easier to read.

A clause is the building block for a sentence. Commas can be used to break up sentences that have more than one clause and make them easier to read.

• When Josh saw the food, his stomach started to grumble.
• Josh used to stay up late playing video games, but then his mum found out.

Both these sentences have a subordinate clause. Subordinate clauses do not make sense on their own. These clauses need the main part of the sentence to make sense, so they are connected with a comma. The comma shows that they are closely connected to the main part of the sentence.