This set of English Grammar Exercises (MCQs) focuses on “Punctuation – Set 4”.
1. To indicate an abrupt stop or a change of thought, which of the following should be used?
a) Period
b) Hyphen
c) Dash
d) Colon
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Explanation: Consider the sentence, ‘If only I had accepted that offer–but why think about the past?’. Here, the dash implies the change of thought.
2. Select the option which punctuates the below sentence correctly.
his qualifications are BE MS and DPhil.
a) His qualifications are B.E, M.S and D.Phil.
b) His qualifications are B.E. M.S. and D.Phil.
c) His qualifications are B.E., M.S. and D.Phil.
d) His qualifications are BE., MS. and D.Phil.
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Explanation: The abbreviations such as ‘B.E.’, ‘M.S.’ and ‘D.Phil.’ should be used with full stops. ‘His qualifications are B.E., M.S. and D.Phil.’ is the correct punctuated sentence.
3. Select the sentence in which the punctuation is correct.
a) The match starts at 3.00.
b) Joseph likes sports; however, he does not like rugby.
c) I am exhausted!
d) Did Edwin find his bike!
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Explanation: To separate hours from minutes, a colon should be used like in the sentence, ‘The match starts at 3:00’. The sentence, ‘I am exhausted’ should end with a full stop. For the sentence, ‘Did Edwin find his bike’, a question mark should be used.
4. The below sentence has no errors in punctuation.
He studied at Oxford university.
a) True
b) False
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Explanation: In the given sentence the first letter of the word ‘University’ should be capitalized. Names of academic institutions, political parties and statutory organizations should be capitalized.
5. Identify the option which punctuates the below sentence correctly.
why dont you see a dentist.
a) Why don’t you see a dentist?
b) Why dont you see a dentist?
c) Why don’t you see a Dentist!
d) Why don’t you see a dentist.
View Answer
Explanation: The given sentence should terminate with a question mark as it puts forward a direct question. Thus, the sentence ‘Why don’t you see a dentist?’ is the required answer.
6. Identify the sentence with the wrong punctuation.
a) “Today is my birthday”, said Nagaraj.
b) The answers to last week assignment are, 1,A, 2,A, 3,B and 4,D.
c) How are you this fine morning?
d) I submitted the record on Monday.
View Answer
Explanation: The sentence should use a semicolon instead of a comma. Thus the correct form of punctuation should be ‘The answers to last week assignment are; 1,A, 2,A, 3,B and 4,D’.
7. Before an enumeration or an example, which of the following punctuation is used?
a) period
b) semicolon
c) colon
d) dash
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Explanation: Colon is used for the purpose of enumeration or example. Consider the sentence, ‘The three major teams of the tournament are: Barcelona, Liverpool and Juventus’.
8. Among the options, select the one that punctuates the below sentence correctly.
good heavens you look gorgeous.
a) Good heavens! You look gorgeous.
b) Good Heavens! You look gorgeous!
c) Good heavens, You look gorgeous!
d) Good Heavens, You look gorgeous.
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Explanation: The sentence is of exclamatory nature and thus, should end with an exclamation mark. Also, the word ‘Good Heavens’ is an exclamatory word which has to terminate with an exclamation mark.
9. The below sentence has no errors in punctuation.
I’m strong in german but weak in spanish.
a) True
b) False
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Explanation: The words ‘German’ and ‘Spanish’ are names of languages and comes under Proper nouns. Thus, their first letters should be capitalized.
10. Identify the sentence with the correct punctuation.
a) Does anyone want to join me.
b) I am wearing a thick jacket, still I’m freezing.
c) Use a 3:1 ratio of milk to sugar.
d) What a legend?
View Answer
Explanation: A question mark should be used to terminate the sentence ‘Does anyone want to join me’. A semicolon should be introduced between the two clauses ‘I am wearing a thick jacket’ and ‘still I’m freezing’. The sentence ‘What a legend’ should end with an exclamation mark.
11. Which of the following options has the correct punctuation for the below sentence?
everyone expected the match to be a dead rubber nevertheless it turned out to be a nail biter.
a) Everyone expected the match to be a dead rubber, nevertheless, it turned out to be a nail biter.
b) Everyone expected the match to be a dead rubber: nevertheless, it turned out to be a nail biter.
c) Everyone expected the match to be a dead rubber; nevertheless, it turned out to be a nail biter.
d) Everyone expected the match to be a dead rubber; Nevertheless it turned out to be a nail biter.
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Explanation: A semicolon should be used in sentences which joins two independent clauses by words such as however, nevertheless, nonetheless and so on.
12. Which of the following sentences is wrong in terms of its punctuation?
a) Gita’s father is an Indian.
b) What a magnificent knock that was!
c) The second world war ended in 1945.
d) Arjun, the warrior, is best known for his archery skills.
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Explanation: The historical events should be mentioned in capital letters. The correct form of punctuation for that sentence would be ‘The Second World War ended in 1945’.
13. Select the option which punctuates the below sentence correctly.
dont spell accommodation with three c s.
a) Don’t spell accommodation with three c’s.
b) Don’t spell accommodation with three c’’s.
c) Don’t spell accommodation with three c-s.
d) Don’t spell accommodation with three c’’s!
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Explanation: To denote the plural form of letters, an apostrophe should be used. Also, the given sentence should terminate with a period.
14. Which punctuation is used to separate each pair of words connected by ‘and’?
a) parentheses
b) comma
c) semicolon
d) hyphen
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Explanation: Consider the sentence, ‘Always try to be smart and kind, happy and peaceful’. Here, each pair of words connected by ‘and’ are separated by a comma.
15. Choose the option which punctuates the below sentence in the correct manner.
can we go to the childrens park behind the complex.
a) Can we go to the childrens park behind the complex?
b) Can we go to the childrens’ park behind the complex?
c) Can we go to the children’s park behind the complex!
d) Can we go to the children’s park behind the complex?
View Answer
Explanation: The sentence refers to a direct question and hence, should terminate with a question mark. To make the possessive form, ‘children’s park’ an apostrophe must be included before the letter ‘s’.
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