Chapter: UNIT 11 Capitalisation and Punctuation
📚 Vocabulary
English Grammar and Composition class 8
⭐ Most Important Exam Words
capital letterproper nameacronympunctuationinterrogation markexclamation markfull stopcommacolonsemicolonquotation markapostrophepossessivecontractiondashhyphenbracketassertiveimperativeoptative
📃 Word Formation Rules
► Capitalise the first letter of a sentence: the bird is flying → The bird is flying.
► Add ’s to a singular noun to form a possessive: Rahim + ’s → Rahim’s.
► Use an apostrophe in contractions where letters are omitted: do not → don’t; is not → isn’t.
► Add a hyphen to form some compound words: father + in + law → father-in-law.
► Form an adjective from history by adding -ical: history → historical.
► Form a verb from clear by adding the prefix en- and suffix -ify: clear → clarify.
► Form a noun from organize by adding -ation: organize → organization.
► Form a noun from omit by adding -ion: omit → omission.
► Form a noun from punctuate by adding -ion: punctuate → punctuation.
► Form an adjective from assert by adding -ive: assert → assertive.
1. Capitalisation: Proper Names and Places (8 words)
capital letter[/ˈkæpɪtl ˈletər/]nouneasy
Meaning: বড় হাতের অক্ষর
Alt: A letter used at the beginning of a sentence or proper name
Example: The first word of a sentence begins with a capital letter.
Syn: uppercase letterAnt: small letter
💡 Exam tip: Use a capital letter at the beginning of every sentence.
proper name[/ˈprɒpər neɪm/]nouneasy
Meaning: বিশেষ নাম
Alt: The particular name of a person, place, or organization
Example: Rakib and Dhaka are proper names.
Syn: proper nounAnt: common noun
💡 Exam tip: Proper names always begin with capital letters.
district[/ˈdɪstrɪkt/]nouneasy
Meaning: জেলা
Alt: An administrative area
Example: Narsingdi is a district of Bangladesh.
Syn: area, region
💡 Exam tip: Capitalize a district name, but not the general word district.
village[/ˈvɪlɪdʒ/]nouneasy
Meaning: গ্রাম
Alt: A small rural settlement
Example: Rakib lived in a small village.
Syn: rural settlementAnt: city
💡 Exam tip: Write the name of a village with a capital letter.
nation[/ˈneɪʃən/]nouneasy
Meaning: জাতি বা রাষ্ট্র
Alt: A country and its people
Example: Bangladesh is a beautiful nation.
Syn: country, state
💡 Exam tip: Names of nations such as Bangladesh and Japan take capital letters.
organization[/ˌɔːɡənaɪˈzeɪʃən/]nounmedium
Meaning: সংস্থা
Alt: A group formed for a particular purpose
Example: The World Bank is an international organization.
Syn: institution, associationAnt: disorganization
💡 Exam tip: Capitalize the main words in the names of organizations.
construction[/kənˈstrʌkʃən/]nounmedium
Meaning: নির্মাণ; নির্মিত স্থাপনা
Alt: A large building or structure
Example: The Eiffel Tower is a famous construction.
Syn: structure, buildingAnt: destruction
💡 Exam tip: Names of famous buildings and constructions begin with capitals.
acronym[/ˈækrənɪm/]nounhard
Meaning: সংক্ষিপ্ত নামের আদ্যক্ষর
Alt: A word or name formed from initial letters
Example: UNICEF is an acronym written in capital letters.
Syn: initialism, abbreviation
💡 Exam tip: Write acronyms such as UNICEF, TV, and IELTS in capitals.
2. Capitalisation: Time, Titles, and History (8 words)
month[/mʌnθ/]nouneasy
Meaning: মাস
Alt: One of the twelve divisions of a year
Example: January is the first month of the year.
Syn: calendar month
💡 Exam tip: Names of months always begin with capital letters.
weekday[/ˈwiːkdeɪ/]nouneasy
Meaning: সপ্তাহের কর্মদিবস
Alt: Any day from Monday to Friday
Example: Sunday is not a weekday in Bangladesh.
Syn: working dayAnt: weekend
💡 Exam tip: Capitalize the names of days, such as Monday and Sunday.
title[/ˈtaɪtl/]nouneasy
Meaning: শিরোনাম
Alt: The name of a book, chapter, or article
Example: The title of the book is Great Expectations.
Syn: heading, name
💡 Exam tip: Capitalize the main words in a book or chapter title.
historical[/hɪˈstɒrɪkəl/]adjectivemedium
Meaning: ঐতিহাসিক
Alt: Related to important events of the past
Example: The Liberation War of 1971 is a historical event.
Syn: historic, pastAnt: modern, current
💡 Exam tip: Capitalize the main words in the names of historical events.
document[/ˈdɒkjəmənt/]nounmedium
Meaning: দলিল বা নথি
Alt: An official written or printed record
Example: The Declaration of Independence is an important document.
Syn: record, paper
💡 Exam tip: The important words in the names of historical documents take capitals.
revolution[/ˌrevəˈluːʃən/]nounmedium
Meaning: বিপ্লব
Alt: A sudden major change in government or society
Example: The French Revolution changed European history.
Syn: uprising, rebellionAnt: stability
💡 Exam tip: French Revolution is a proper historical name, so both main words are capitalized.
Almighty[/ɔːlˈmaɪti/]adjectivehard
Meaning: সর্বশক্তিমান
Alt: Having unlimited power, especially referring to God
Example: We should be grateful to the Almighty.
Syn: all-powerful, omnipotentAnt: powerless
💡 Exam tip: When used as a name for God, Almighty begins with a capital letter.
pronoun[/ˈprəʊnaʊn/]nouneasy
Meaning: সর্বনাম
Alt: A word used instead of a noun
Example: He is a pronoun used instead of a person's name.
💡 Exam tip: The pronoun I is always written as a capital letter.
3. Punctuation: Sentence End Marks (8 words)
punctuation[/ˌpʌŋktʃuˈeɪʃən/]nouneasy
Meaning: যতিচিহ্নের ব্যবহার
Alt: The system of marks used in writing
Example: Correct punctuation makes a sentence clear.
Syn: punctuation marks
💡 Exam tip: Check punctuation carefully when correcting a paragraph.
interrogation[/ˌɪntəˈreɪʃən/]nounmedium
Meaning: প্রশ্ন করা
Alt: The act of asking a question
Example: An interrogation mark ends a direct question.
Syn: questioning, inquiryAnt: answer
💡 Exam tip: A question mark comes at the end of an interrogative sentence.
exclamation[/ˌekskləˈmeɪʃən/]nounmedium
Meaning: বিস্ময়সূচক অভিব্যক্তি
Alt: A sudden expression of strong feeling
Example: Wow! is an exclamation of surprise.
Syn: cry, outburstAnt: calmness
💡 Exam tip: Use an exclamation mark after strong feelings, commands, or sudden cries.
period[/ˈpɪəriəd/]nouneasy
Meaning: দাঁড়ি বা পূর্ণচ্ছেদ
Alt: A full stop used at the end of a statement
Example: Put a period after the complete statement.
Syn: full stop
💡 Exam tip: Use a full stop after assertive, imperative, and optative sentences.
assertive[/əˈsɜːtɪv/]adjectivemedium
Meaning: বিবৃতিমূলক
Alt: Stating a fact or opinion
Example: “Faridul is a good boy” is an assertive sentence.
Syn: declarative, affirmativeAnt: interrogative
💡 Exam tip: An assertive sentence usually ends with a full stop.
imperative[/ɪmˈperətɪv/]adjectivemedium
Meaning: আদেশসূচক
Alt: Expressing an order, request, or advice
Example: “Do not run in the sun” is an imperative sentence.
Syn: commanding, directiveAnt: optional
💡 Exam tip: An imperative sentence may end with a full stop or an exclamation mark.
optative[/ˈɒptətɪv/]adjectivehard
Meaning: ইচ্ছাসূচক
Alt: Expressing a wish or prayer
Example: “May Bangladesh live long” is an optative sentence.
Syn: wishful, prayerful
💡 Exam tip: Optative sentences generally end with a full stop or exclamation mark.
pause[/pɔːz/]nouneasy
Meaning: বিরতি
Alt: A short stop while speaking or reading
Example: A comma indicates a short pause.
Syn: break, restAnt: continuation
💡 Exam tip: Remember that punctuation marks guide pauses in reading.
4. Punctuation: Comma, Colon, and Semicolon (8 words)
comma[/ˈkɒmə/]nouneasy
Meaning: কমা
Alt: A mark used to separate words or parts of a sentence
Example: We bought rice, lentils, potatoes, and milk.
💡 Exam tip: Use commas to separate items in a list.
colon[/ˈkəʊlən/]nounmedium
Meaning: কোলন
Alt: A punctuation mark used before an explanation or list
Example: The list is as follows: rice, lentils, and milk.
💡 Exam tip: Use a colon after phrases such as as follows and the following.
semicolon[/ˌsemiˈkəʊlən/]nounmedium
Meaning: সেমিকোলন
Alt: A mark used to separate closely related clauses
Example: To err is human; to forgive is divine.
💡 Exam tip: Use a semicolon between related independent clauses without a conjunction.
address[/əˈdres/]verbeasy
Meaning: সম্বোধন করা
Alt: To speak or write to someone directly
Example: Use a comma after the name when you address someone.
Syn: call, speak toAnt: ignore
💡 Exam tip: Write “Dear Sir,” and “Dear Rakib,” with a comma.
introductory[/ˌɪntrəˈdʌktəri/]adjectivemedium
Meaning: ভূমিকাসূচক
Alt: Coming at the beginning to introduce something
Example: A comma follows an introductory word such as Well.
Syn: opening, initialAnt: concluding
💡 Exam tip: Use a comma after introductory words like Yes, No, and Well.
clause[/klɔːz/]nounmedium
Meaning: উপবাক্য
Alt: A group of words containing a subject and a verb
Example: If it rains is an introductory adverbial clause.
Syn: part of a sentence
💡 Exam tip: Put a comma after an adverbial clause placed at the beginning.
clarify[/ˈklærɪfaɪ/]verbmedium
Meaning: স্পষ্ট করা
Alt: To make an idea easier to understand
Example: The second sentence clarifies the meaning of the first.
Syn: explain, illuminateAnt: confuse, obscure
💡 Exam tip: A colon can separate a statement from an explanation.
coordinate[/kəʊˈɔːdɪneɪt/]verbhard
Meaning: সমন্বয় করা
Alt: To join or arrange parts equally
Example: And and but are coordinating conjunctions.
Syn: combine, uniteAnt: separate
💡 Exam tip: A semicolon may join clauses when no coordinating conjunction is used.
5. Punctuation: Quotation Marks and Apostrophe (8 words)
quotation[/kwəʊˈteɪʃən/]nounmedium
Meaning: উদ্ধৃতি
Alt: The exact words spoken or written by someone
Example: The teacher gave a quotation from the poem.
Syn: citation, extractAnt: paraphrase
💡 Exam tip: Use quotation marks around a person's exact words.
direct speech[/dəˈrekt spiːtʃ/]nounmedium
Meaning: প্রত্যক্ষ উক্তি
Alt: The exact words spoken by a person
Example: My father said, “Help the poor.”
Syn: direct quotationAnt: indirect speech
💡 Exam tip: Begin the first word inside quotation marks with a capital letter.
inverted comma[/ɪnˈvɜːtɪd ˈkɒmə/]nounmedium
Meaning: উদ্ধৃতিচিহ্ন
Alt: A mark used to show direct speech or a special word
Example: The sentence uses inverted commas around Help the poor.
Syn: quotation mark
💡 Exam tip: Inverted commas can indicate direct speech, book titles, or highlighted words.
apostrophe[/əˈpɒstrəfi/]nounmedium
Meaning: অপস্ট্রফি
Alt: A mark used in possession, contractions, or omissions
Example: Rahim’s book contains an apostrophe.
💡 Exam tip: Use an apostrophe in possessives such as Rahim’s and in contractions such as don’t.
possessive[/pəˈzesɪv/]adjectivemedium
Meaning: অধিকারসূচক
Alt: Showing ownership or belonging
Example: Rahim’s book is a possessive form.
Syn: ownership-relatedAnt: non possessive
💡 Exam tip: Add ’s to a singular noun to show possession.
contraction[/kənˈtrækʃən/]nounmedium
Meaning: সংক্ষিপ্ত রূপ
Alt: A shortened form made by omitting letters
Example: Don’t is a contraction of do not.
Syn: short form, abbreviationAnt: expanded form
💡 Exam tip: Use an apostrophe where letters are omitted in a contraction.
omission[/əˈmɪʃən/]nounhard
Meaning: বর্জন বা বাদ দেওয়া
Alt: The act of leaving something out
Example: The apostrophe shows the omission of letters in O’clock.
Syn: exclusion, deletionAnt: addition, inclusion
💡 Exam tip: An apostrophe may show that one or more letters have been omitted.
highlight[/ˈhaɪlaɪt/]verbmedium
Meaning: গুরুত্ব দিয়ে দেখানো
Alt: To emphasize or draw attention to something
Example: Quotation marks can highlight a special word.
Syn: emphasize, stressAnt: hide, understate
💡 Exam tip: Quotation marks may be used to highlight a word or expression.
6. Punctuation: Dash, Hyphen, and Brackets (8 words)
dash[/dæʃ/]nouneasy
Meaning: ড্যাশ
Alt: A long mark showing a break or sudden change
Example: The dash indicates a sudden change in the sentence.
Syn: long stroke
💡 Exam tip: Use a dash to show a sudden change or interruption of thought.
hyphen[/ˈhaɪfən/]nouneasy
Meaning: হাইফেন
Alt: A short mark joining parts of a compound word
Example: Father-in-law contains two hyphens.
Syn: joining mark
💡 Exam tip: A hyphen joins words or parts of words in compounds.
compound word[/ˈkɒmpaʊnd wɜːd/]nounmedium
Meaning: যৌগিক শব্দ
Alt: A word formed by joining two or more words
Example: Father-in-law is a compound word.
Syn: combined wordAnt: simple word
💡 Exam tip: Some compound words require a hyphen between their parts.
bracket[/ˈbrækɪt/]nouneasy
Meaning: বন্ধনী
Alt: A pair of marks enclosing extra information
Example: The explanation is given in brackets.
Syn: parenthesis, enclosure
💡 Exam tip: Use brackets to add an explanation or extra information.
explanation[/ˌekspləˈneɪʃən/]nouneasy
Meaning: ব্যাখ্যা
Alt: Information that makes something clear
Example: The bracket contains an explanation of the word realia.
Syn: clarification, descriptionAnt: confusion
💡 Exam tip: Brackets may enclose a brief explanation within a sentence.
emphasize[/ˈemfəsaɪz/]verbmedium
Meaning: গুরুত্ব আরোপ করা
Alt: To give special importance to something
Example: The dash emphasizes the previous idea.
Syn: stress, underlineAnt: ignore, minimize
💡 Exam tip: A dash can emphasize an important word or idea.
sudden[/ˈsʌdən/]adjectiveeasy
Meaning: আকস্মিক
Alt: Happening quickly and unexpectedly
Example: A dash may indicate a sudden change of thought.
Syn: unexpected, abruptAnt: gradual, planned
💡 Exam tip: Remember the connection: sudden change often requires a dash.
realia[/riːˈeɪliə/]nounhard
Meaning: বাস্তব বস্তু
Alt: Real objects used in teaching
Example: Some teachers use realia in their teaching.
Syn: real objects, teaching aidsAnt: imaginary objects
💡 Exam tip: Brackets can explain a word such as realia in a sentence.
💡 Exam Tips
• Begin every sentence with a capital letter and end it with the appropriate punctuation mark.
• Use capital letters for names of people, places, nations, organizations, days, months, rivers, mountains, and famous buildings.
• The pronoun I is always written with a capital letter.
• Capitalize the main words in book titles, chapter titles, historical events, and important documents.
• Write acronyms such as UNICEF, TV, and IELTS entirely in capital letters.
• Use a question mark after a direct question, not after an ordinary statement.
• Use an exclamation mark to express surprise, joy, anger, strong feeling, or a forceful command.
• Use a comma to separate items in a list, direct address, introductory words, and an introductory adverbial clause.
• Use a colon before a list, an explanation, or a quotation introduced by a phrase such as as follows.
• Use a semicolon to separate closely related independent clauses when no coordinating conjunction is present.
• Use quotation marks for direct speech, book titles, and highlighted words.
• Use an apostrophe to show possession, contractions, omitted letters, and plurals of letters or numbers.
• Use a dash for a sudden change or emphasis, a hyphen for compound words, and brackets for extra explanation.
• In dialogue, place a comma before the opening quotation mark when a reporting clause comes first.
• When correcting an application, check capitalization in addresses, subjects, greetings, paragraphs, and closing expressions.