Tshivenda Home Language - Term 1 - Week 9

Punctuation marks are important in writing because they help us understand the meaning of sentences. In Tshivenda, we use full stops, commas, and question marks to show pauses and the end of thoughts. For example, a full stop (.) tells us that a sentence has finished, while a question mark (?) indicates that someone is asking something. Today, we will learn how to use these punctuation marks correctly.

Let’s look at the following sentence: 'ndivhula nḓila u ya ṱhoma'. This sentence is missing a full stop at the end. The correct sentence should be 'ndivhula nḓila u ya ṱhoma.' Now, let’s add a comma to this sentence: 'Ndi a funa, u ya ṱhoma.' The comma helps to separate the ideas in the sentence.

Now, let’s work together to build sentences. I will give you some words: 'mukoma', 'u', 'bva', 'u', 'ya', 'ḓivha'. Can you arrange these words into a correct sentence? Remember to use a full stop at the end. (Expected answer: 'Mukoma u bva u ya ḓivha.') Let’s discuss why this sentence is correct and how punctuation helps convey meaning.

For your independent practice, I want you to write three sentences about your favorite animal. Make sure to use correct punctuation and spacing. After writing, exchange your work with a partner and check each other’s sentences for any punctuation errors. Discuss what you find and correct them together.

• Full stop
• Comma
• Question mark
• Exclamation mark

Answer: Question mark

A question mark is used to indicate that a sentence is asking something.

• Ndi a funa u ya ṱhoma
• Ndi a funa, u ya ṱhoma.
• Ndi a funa u ya ṱhoma.
• Ndi a funa u ya ṱhoma?

Answer: Ndi a funa, u ya ṱhoma.

The correct sentence includes a comma to separate the ideas.

Answer: Full stop

A full stop indicates that a sentence has finished.

• Ndi a funa
• Ndi a funa u ya ṱhoma
• Ndi a funa, u ya ṱhoma
• Ndi a funa u ya ṱhoma?

Answer: Ndi a funa u ya ṱhoma

This sentence is missing a full stop at the end.

Answer: Responses will vary.

Students should create a sentence that correctly uses a full stop.

• Full stop
• Comma
• Question mark
• Exclamation mark

Answer: Exclamation mark

An exclamation mark shows strong feelings or excitement.

Answer: To separate ideas or items in a list.

Commas help clarify the meaning by separating different parts of a sentence.

• Comma
• Question mark
• Period
• Letter