French Punctuation: A Comprehensive Guide193

[fʁɑ̃sɛ pœ̃ktyasyon] The French language uses a variety of punctuation marks to convey meaning and structure. These marks include the period, comma, semicolon, colon, question mark, exclamation mark, apostrophe, hyphen, and ellipsis. Each mark has its own specific rules and conventions, which are outlined below.

Period [.]

The period is used to mark the end of a sentence that is not a question or exclamation. It is also used after abbreviations, such as "M." for "Monsieur" or "Mme." for "Madame."

Example:
La tour Eiffel est une icône de Paris. (The Eiffel Tower is an icon of Paris.)

Comma [,]

The comma is used to separate items in a list, to set off introductory phrases, and to separate the subject from the verb in certain cases.

Example:
J'aime les pommes, les oranges et les bananes. (I like apples, oranges, and bananas.)

Semicolon [;]

The semicolon is used to connect two closely related independent clauses. It can also be used to introduce a list.

Example:
La France est un pays riche en culture; elle possède de nombreux monuments historiques. (France is a country rich in culture; it has many historical monuments.)

Colon [:]

The colon is used to introduce a list, a quotation, or an explanation. It is also used after certain words and expressions, such as "comme suit" (as follows).

Example:
Les ingrédients sont les suivants: farine, sucre, beurre et œufs. (The ingredients are as follows: flour, sugar, butter, and eggs.)

Question Mark [? ]

The question mark is used to mark the end of a question.

Example:
Où est la bibliothèque? (Where is the library?)

Exclamation Mark [! ]

The exclamation mark is used to express strong emotion or surprise.

Example:
Quelle belle journée! (What a beautiful day!)

Apostrophe [']

The apostrophe is used to indicate the omission of a letter or letters in a word. It is also used to form the possessive case of nouns.

Example:
L'ordinateur est sur le bureau. (The computer is on the desk.)

Hyphen [-]

The hyphen is used to connect two words that form a compound word. It can also be used to divide a word at the end of a line.