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Punctuation: Practice Questions with Answers

11 practice questions on Punctuation, with answers; most also have an explanation or a worked solution. Try each one before you open its answer.

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1. Q.1

   Choose the correctly punctuated sentence. (A) She finished her work quickly, she went home early. (B) She finished her work quickly; she went home early.

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   Answer: (B) She finished her work quickly; she went home early.

   Solution:

   1. These are two closely related independent clauses with no connecting word — joining them with only a comma is a comma splice; a semicolon is correct here.

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2. Q.2

   Choose the correctly punctuated sentence. (A) The childrens toys were scattered across the room. (B) The children’s toys were scattered across the room.

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   Answer: (B) The children’s toys were scattered across the room.

   Solution:

   1. "Children" is already plural and does not end in s, so its possessive is formed with apostrophe + s: "children’s".

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3. Q.3

   Choose the correctly punctuated sentence. (A) She packed three things: a map, a torch, and water. (B) She packed three things, a map, a torch, and water.

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   Answer: (A) She packed three things: a map, a torch, and water.

   Solution:

   1. A colon, not a comma, is used after a complete independent clause to introduce the list that follows.

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4. Q.4

   Choose the correctly punctuated sentence. (A) Although it was raining we decided to go for a walk. (B) Although it was raining, we decided to go for a walk.

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   Answer: (B) Although it was raining, we decided to go for a walk.

   Solution:

   1. The sentence opens with a subordinate clause ("Although it was raining") before the main clause, which needs a comma after it.

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5. Q.5

   Choose the correctly punctuated sentence. (A) The teacher said, "Submit your assignments by Friday." (B) The teacher said "Submit your assignments by Friday".

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   Answer: (A) The teacher said, "Submit your assignments by Friday."

   Solution:

   1. A comma is needed before a direct quotation, and the closing punctuation belongs inside the quotation marks.

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6. Q.6

   Choose the correctly punctuated sentence. (A) I need to buy apples, bananas, and oranges from the market. (B) I need to buy apples bananas and oranges from the market.

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   Answer: (A) I need to buy apples, bananas, and oranges from the market.

   Solution:

   1. Three or more items in a list need commas separating them.

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7. Q.7

   Choose the correctly punctuated sentence. (A) It started to rain heavily, the match was postponed. (B) It started to rain heavily; the match was postponed.

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   Answer: (B) It started to rain heavily; the match was postponed.

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8. Q.8

   Choose the correctly punctuated sentence. (A) Its going to be a long day. (B) It’s going to be a long day.

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   Answer: (B) It’s going to be a long day.

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9. Q.9

   Choose the correctly punctuated sentence. (A) My brother who lives in Delhi is visiting us next week. (B) My brother, who lives in Delhi, is visiting us next week.

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   Answer: (B) My brother, who lives in Delhi, is visiting us next week.

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10. Q.10

    Choose the correctly punctuated sentence. (A) Having finished the exam she left the room immediately. (B) Having finished the exam, she left the room immediately.

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    Answer: (B) Having finished the exam, she left the room immediately.

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11. Q.11

    Choose the correctly punctuated sentence. (A) The boys bicycle was parked outside. (B) The boy’s bicycle was parked outside.

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    Answer: (B) The boy’s bicycle was parked outside.

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