This set of English Grammar Exercises (MCQs) focuses on “Punctuation – Insertion of Commas”.
1. Select the option which punctuates the below sentence correctly.
when I was looking for a job he helped me.
a) When I was looking for a job he helped me.
b) When I was looking for a job, he helped me!
c) When I was looking for a job, he helped me.
d) When I was looking for a job? He helped me!
View Answer
Explanation: The adjectival clause ‘When I was looking for a job’ should be separated from the principal clause ‘he helped me’ by the insertion of a comma.
2. The below sentence has no errors in punctuation.
Beethoven the legendary composer, was deaf.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: The noun and the adjectival phrase when placed in apposition should be separated by a comma. Thus, the correct sentence would be, ‘Beethoven, the legendary composer, was deaf’.
3. Identify the option which punctuates the below sentence correctly.
germany japan and italy formed an alliance during second world war.
a) Germany, Japan and Italy formed an alliance during Second World War.
b) Germany, Japan, and Italy formed an alliance during Second World War.
c) Germany, Japan and Italy formed an alliance during second world war.
d) Germany, Japan and Italy, formed an alliance during Second World War!
View Answer
Explanation: The first letters of the names of countries and historical events should be capitalized. Also, a comma is inserted between ‘Germany’ and ‘Italy’ to separate them.
4. Select the sentence in which the punctuation is wrong.
a) What have you done?
b) How we are to complete it within the deadline is the question?
c) “Bring me the documents”, said the accountant.
d) He is a jack-of-all-trades.
View Answer
Explanation: Here, the clause preceding the verb must be separated from it by a comma. The correct form of punctuation for that sentence is, ‘How we are to complete it within the deadline, is the question’.
5. Among the options, select the one that punctuates the below sentence correctly.
how did you do that bernard.
a) How did you do that Bernard?
b) How did you do that, Bernard?
c) How did you do that, Bernard!
d) How did you do that bernard?
View Answer
Explanation: A comma should be inserted to separate the Subject ‘Bernard’ from the rest of the sentence. The sentence should terminate with a question mark.
6. Which of the following options has the correct punctuation for the below sentence?
his attitude to say the least was nonchalant.
a) His attitude to say the least was nonchalant.
b) His attitude, to say the least, was nonchalant.
c) His attitude to say the least, was nonchalant.
d) His attitude, to say the least was nonchalant.
View Answer
Explanation: The sentence is divided into three phrases. A comma should be inserted between each of them. Thus, ‘His attitude, to say the least, was nonchalant’ is the required answer.
7. The below sentence has no errors in punctuation.
She came, and took him to the book store.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: The given sentence uses the conjunction ‘and’ to join the two clauses. In such cases, a comma should not be used in between.
8. Select the option which punctuates the below sentence correctly.
rakesh received a laptop deva a mobile phone.
a) Rakesh received a laptop; Deva, a mobile phone.
b) Rakesh received a laptop, Deva, a mobile phone.
c) Rakesh received a laptop: Deva, a mobile phone.
d) Rakesh received a laptop; Deva a mobile phone.
View Answer
Explanation: A semicolon is used to separate the two phrases. Also, in the second phrase, the verb is omitted. Thus, a comma should be used after the noun ‘Deva’.
9. Identify the sentence with the wrong punctuation.
a) This is the car that Das purchased.
b) The word tomorrow has two Rs.
c) His side of the story, in several ways, is quixotic.
d) Have you finished the assignment!
View Answer
Explanation: For indicting the plural form of a letter, an apostrophe should be used. The sentence should be rephrased as, ‘The word tomorrow has two r’s.’
10. Choose the option which punctuates the below sentence in the correct manner.
mam i would rather be honest than be manager.
a) Mam, I would rather be honest than be manager!
b) Mam; I would rather be honest than be manager.
c) Mam I would rather be honest than be manager.
d) Mam, I would rather be honest than be manager.
View Answer
Explanation: The sentence is not of an exclamatory sense. It should rather be terminated with a period. A comma should be inserted to mark off the word ‘Mam’ from the rest of the sentence.
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