Tshivenda First Additional Language - Term 3 - Week 2

A sentence is a group of words that express a complete thought. In Tshivenda, just like in English, we use punctuation marks to help us understand the meaning of sentences. The full stop (.) is used at the end of a statement, while a question mark (?) is used at the end of a question. Today, we will learn how to write sentences correctly and use punctuation marks to make our writing clear.

Let’s look at some examples of sentences. 'Ndi a livhuwa.' means 'I am happy.' This sentence ends with a full stop. Another example is 'Ndi na mbilu.' which means 'I have a heart.' Notice how both sentences have a clear meaning and end with a punctuation mark. When we write, we must remember to start with a capital letter and end with the correct punctuation.

Now, let’s practice writing sentences together. I will say a sentence, and you will help me write it on the board. For example, if I say 'Ndi a shuma,' which means 'I am working,' we will write it together, ensuring we start with a capital letter and end with a full stop. After writing, we will read it aloud and check if we used the correct punctuation.

Now it’s your turn! I want you to write three sentences about your favorite animal. Remember to start each sentence with a capital letter and end with a full stop. After you finish writing, share your sentences with a partner and check if they used punctuation correctly. This will help you learn from each other!

• Comma (,)
• Full stop (.)
• Question mark (?)

Answer: Full stop (.)

A full stop is used to indicate the end of a statement.

• Ndi a shuma.
• ndi a shuma
• Ndi a shuma?

Answer: Ndi a shuma.

The correct sentence starts with a capital letter and ends with a full stop.

Answer: Ndi a dya mbatata.

This sentence means 'I eat potatoes' and should end with a full stop.

• Exclamation mark (!)
• Comma (,)
• Question mark (?)

Answer: Question mark (?)

A question mark is used at the end of a question.

Answer: Capital letter.

The first letter of a sentence should always be a capital letter.

• One
• Two
• Three

Answer: Three

You should write three sentences about your favorite animal.

• Full stop (.)
• Comma (,)
• Letter (A)

Answer: Letter (A)

A letter is not a punctuation mark; it is a character used in writing.

Answer: Check for punctuation.

After writing a sentence, it is important to check if you used the correct punctuation.