---
title: "Starting and ending sentences"
description: "Begin sentences with a capital letter and end them with the appropriate mark (full stop, question mark, or exclamation mark); recognise and name end punctuation"
canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/starting-and-ending-sentences-mt_QEr24lqzvH
source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/starting-and-ending-sentences-mt_QEr24lqzvH.md
retrieved: 2026-10-19
---

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# Starting and ending sentences

Begin sentences with a capital letter and end them with the appropriate mark (full stop, question mark, or exclamation mark); recognise and name end punctuation

Subject: English · Area: Grammar & Punctuation · Ages 5 to 8
Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/starting-and-ending-sentences-mt_QEr24lqzvH

## Ready when they can

- Write sentences beginning with a capital letter
- Choose and use the correct end punctuation for statements, questions, and exclamations
- Identify and name full stops, question marks, and exclamation marks when reading

## Lesson: How sentences start and end

Start a sentence with a capital letter. Capital letters include T and A. Small letters include t and a. For the word 'our' at the start, write 'Our': capital O, then small u and r. Other words, such as names, may need capitals too.

*(drawing: Capital A starts the sentence. The full stop touches the last word.)*

A sentence needs an end mark. A full stop (.) is a dot. Use it for calm telling or a calm instruction. A question mark (?) has a hook above a dot. Use it for asking. An exclamation mark (!) has a straight line above a dot. It can show strong feeling. Put the end mark against the last word, with no space before it.

*(drawing: The marks are called a full stop, a question mark and an exclamation mark.)*

Check both ends of a written sentence. Start with a capital letter. Choose a full stop for calm telling, a question mark for asking, or an exclamation mark to show strong feeling. Fix 'are we ready' as 'Are we ready?' Keep spaces between words, but do not leave a space before the end mark.

**Recap.** Start with a capital letter, end with the right mark.

## Practice

24 questions on this page, each with its working shown.

## Needs first

- [Spaces between words](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/spaces-between-words-mt_of2GggtxFl)

## Opens up

- [Punctuating Direct Speech](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/punctuating-direct-speech-mt_-mw3JeIjhU)
- [Spelling from Dictation](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/spelling-from-dictation-mt_AhfyJoTQtY)
- [Revising and editing](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/revising-and-editing-mt_I65kFjWwnF)
- [Apostrophes: Contraction and Possession](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/apostrophes-contraction-and-possession-mt_mKAZTqItRG)
- [Commas in lists](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/commas-in-lists-mt_ntqNLHsj5n)
- [Grammar words: letter, word, sentence](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/grammar-words-letter-word-sentence-mt_TfOiog-ALs)
- [Four Types of Sentences](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/four-types-of-sentences-mt_u1-UfD0rTH)
- [Capitals for Names, Days and I](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/capitals-for-names-days-and-i-mt_uM6q_KBWKy)
- [Reading fluently](https://lightmysky.com/learn/english/reading-fluently-mt_ZhvwM6LMBL)