Writing practice
Write clear short texts — a form, a message and a description — with capital letters, full stops and linking words.
In this lesson you will
- Fill in a simple form
- Use capital letters and punctuation correctly
- Join ideas with and, but, because
Learn
Capital letters: start of a sentence, I, names (Sara), countries and nationalities (Spain, Spanish), languages (English), days and months (Monday, June), cities (Lagos).
Punctuation: end sentences with a full stop (.), questions with a question mark (?). Use commas in lists: I like tea, coffee and juice.
Linking words: and adds (I’m tall and I have dark hair), but contrasts (I like fish but I don’t like meat), because gives a reason (I’m tired because I work late).
Forms: first name, surname/family name, date of birth (DOB), nationality, address, postcode, email, phone number, signature.
Examples
- My name is Omar and I’m from Egypt.
- I speak Arabic and English, but I don’t speak French.
- I love Saturdays because I don’t work.
- Date of birth: 12/03/1998
Vocabulary
surname
your family name
date of birth
the day you were born
postcode
letters/numbers in an address (US: zip code)
signature
your name written in your own way
capital letter
A, B, C (not a, b, c)
full stop
the dot at the end of a sentence (US: period)
Practice
Correct the capital letters.
Speaking
Read your writing aloud. Pause at full stops and commas, and let your voice go up at yes/no questions.
Writing
Write a short profile for a language-exchange website (60–80 words): your name, age, where you’re from, languages, job, hobbies and why you are learning English. Use and, but and because.
- ☐ Capital letters for names, places, languages
- ☐ Full stops at the end of sentences
- ☐ and / but / because at least once each
- ☐ Present simple with correct -s
Lesson quiz
Which needs a capital letter?
Review
Key points
- Capitals: I, names, places, languages, nationalities, days, months.
- Full stops and question marks; commas in lists.
- and (add), but (contrast), because (reason).
What you learned
- ✓ I can fill in a form.
- ✓ I can write a short profile.
- ✓ I can punctuate and link simple sentences.