Question about a period.

[learning54]

Hi Teachers,
I have this exercise in a text book. My question is: Shouldn't it have a period at the end of the options? Because the book doesnt have them. Am I wrong? If yes, could you tell me why there is no period if they are asking to complete a sentence?

Circle the letter that best completes the sentences.

1. A location is
a. a town
b. a city
c. a place

2. City dwellers are people who
a. live in a city
b. work in a city
c. are always at home

Thanks in advance

[fighting spirit]

What do you mean under "a period"? A full stop perhaps? If so, I'll try to answer your question.

There is no full stop because there is no sentence. Here we have some suggestions listed below, but however, they are not written as clear, separated sentences.

[Barb_D]

I could go either way on this.

You are specifically being asked to find the words that complete the sentence. Sentences end in a period (or other form of final punctuation) so a period would make sense.

On the other hand, I usually don't use end punctuation in a bulleted list of such short phrases.

[learning54]

What do you mean under "a period"? A full stop perhaps? If so, I'll try to answer your question.

There is no full stop because there is no sentence. Here we have some suggestions listed below, but however, they are not written as clear, separated sentences.

Hi,
Thank you for your reply. I think I got it. There is no period or full stop because it is a fragment, isn't it?

Best,
L54

[learning54]

I could go either way on this.

You are specifically being asked to find the words that complete the sentence. Sentences end in a period (or other form of final punctuation) so a period would make sense.

On the other hand, I usually don't use end punctuation in a bulleted list of such short phrases.

Hi,
Thank you for your reply. I think I got it. Those short phrases are fragments, aren't they? So there is no need to use it.

Best,
L54

[Barb_D]

The phrases themselves are fragments. However, they complete a sentence. Hence, they could go either way.

Let's say the questions asked you to complete the question, instead of a sentence. Which one is not a natural stand-alone question?

What time
a. should I pick you up
b. would I pick you up
c. could I pick you up
d. shall I pick you up

In that case, wouldn't you expect the little fagments to each end in a question mark? I would.

What time
a. should I pick you up?
b. would I pick you up?
c. could I pick you up?
d. shall I pick you up?

[emsr2d2]

I am in the same position as BarbD. When the fragment simply ends a sentence, I probably wouldn't really care whether there was a full stop or not. However, to finish a question, I would expect there to be a question mark at the end of each choice.

[learning54]

The phrases themselves are fragments. However, they complete a sentence. Hence, they could go either way.

Let's say the questions asked you to complete the question, instead of a sentence. Which one is not a natural stand-alone question?

What time
a. should I pick you up
b. would I pick you up
c. could I pick you up
d. shall I pick you up

In that case, wouldn't you expect the little fagments to each end in a question mark? I would.

What time
a. should I pick you up?
b. would I pick you up?
c. could I pick you up?
d. shall I pick you up?

Hi Madam,
Thank you so much for all your replies and examples.
I really have no further question about it.

Best,
L54

[riquecohen]

What do you mean under "a period"? A full stop perhaps? If so, I'll try to answer your question.

There is no full stop because there is no sentence. Here we have some suggestions listed below, but however, they are not written as clear, separated sentences.

Yes. In AmE, a period is what you call a full stop.

[5jj]

What do you mean under "a period"? A full stop perhaps?

'Period' does not mean 'full stop' any more than 'full stop' means 'period'. This punctuation mark, '.', has various names. When it marks the end of a sentence, it is a 'period' in AmE, as riquecohen said, and a 'full stop' in BrE.