✏️ WritingLevel 1Lesson 10
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Question Marks and Exclamation Marks

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Learning Objectives

  • 1Choose the correct end punctuation mark — period, question mark, or exclamation mark — for any sentence
  • 2Explain why a sentence is telling, asking, or excited before picking its mark
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Mini Lesson

Every sentence ends with a punctuation mark. You already know the period. Now meet its two partners — the question mark and the exclamation mark. Each one has its own job.

Period ( . ) — the telling mark

  • Use a period at the end of a telling sentence.
  • A telling sentence states a fact or gives information.
  • Example: The bird can fly.

Question mark ( ? ) — the asking mark

  • Use a question mark at the end of an asking sentence.
  • Asking sentences often start with Who, What, Where, When, Why, or Can.
  • Example: Can you see the bird?

Exclamation mark ( ! ) — the feeling mark

  • Use an exclamation mark when a sentence shows strong feeling or surprise.
  • It means: say this with energy and excitement!
  • Example: The bird just flew into my room!

How to choose the right mark

  • Ask: Is this sentence telling, asking, or excited?
  • Telling → . Asking → ? Excited → !
  • Use exclamation marks sparingly — save them for truly big moments.
Three end punctuation marks side by sideThree example sentences — a telling sentence with a period, an asking sentence with a question mark, and an excited sentence with an exclamation mark — each with its mark shown big and in color.Three End Marks, Three JobsTelling.I likeapples.Asking?Do you likeapples?Excited!I loveapples!
Telling (.), Asking (?), Excited (!) — each sentence type has its own end mark.
Reader faces for each end markThree reader faces — calm for a period, curious for a question mark, and excited for an exclamation mark — showing the feeling each mark gives the reader.How Does the Reader Feel?.calmstop here??curiousasks something!!!excitedbig feelingThe mark tells the reader how to feel.
Each mark changes how the sentence sounds — calm, curious, or excited.
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Ask yourself: "Am I telling something, asking something, or showing excitement?"

Vocabulary
Question mark
A punctuation mark used at the end of an asking sentencee.g. Can you see the bird?
Exclamation mark
A punctuation mark used at the end of a sentence that shows strong feeling or surprisee.g. I won the race!
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