This set of English Grammar Exercises (MCQs) focuses on “Punctuation”.
1. To enclose a quotation, which of the following punctuation is used?
a) parentheses
b) apostrophe
c) inverted commas
d) colon
View Answer
Explanation: To enclose the direct words of the speaker or a quotation, the inverted commas are used. Example: “Bring the notebook”, said the teacher.
2. Select the option which punctuates the below sentence correctly.
Im looking for the key she said.
a) ‘I’m looking for the key’, she said.
b) “Im looking for the key”, she said.
c) “I’m looking for the key”, she said.
d) “I’m looking for the key” she said.
View Answer
Explanation: The phrase ‘I’m looking for the key’ should be in double inverted commas as it denotes the exact words of the speaker. There should be an apostrophe following the word ‘I’.
3. The below sentence has no errors in punctuation.
Alexander a Greek king, was one of the greatest military leaders of all time.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: A comma should be included after the noun Alexander. Thus, the correct sentence will be ‘Alexander, a Greek king, was one of the greatest military leaders of all time’.
4. Select the sentence in which the punctuation is correct.
a) Mother enquired about where I have been?
b) What a terrible accident it was?
c) The teacher said, “Complete the assignment tomorrow”.
d) Sir you are a good person
View Answer
Explanation: The sentence ‘Mother enquired about where I have been’ should terminate with a full stop. An exclamation mark should follow the sentence ‘What a terrible accident it was’. For the sentence ‘Sir you are a good person’ a comma should be inserted after the word ‘Sir’.
5. Identify the option which punctuates the below sentence correctly.
Look thats bala over there.
a) Look! That’s Bala over there.
b) Look, that’s bala over there.
c) Look! that’s bala over there.
d) Look. That’s Bala over there.
View Answer
Explanation: The word ‘Look’ should be followed by an exclamation mark as it denotes a sudden expression. The word ‘Bala’ is a noun referring to the name of that person. Hence, it should start with a capital letter.
6. Identify the sentence with the wrong punctuation.
a) Where did you stay yesterday?
b) He studied in a boy’s school.
c) What a brave soldier!
d) I met him in the mall.
View Answer
Explanation: The sentence should be rephrased as ‘He studied in a boys’ school’. The apostrophe should be placed after the word for those with plural endings.
7. For connecting parts of a compound word, which of the following punctuation is used?
a) Full stop
b) Hyphen
c) Comma
d) Colon
View Answer
Explanation: The Hyphen is used for connecting parts of a compound word. Consider the example, ‘man-of-war’ where the parts are connected together by the hyphen.
8. Among the options, select the one that punctuates the below sentence correctly.
He was a gallant leader his followers stood by him.
a) He was a gallant leader, his followers stood by him
b) He was a gallant leader: his followers stood by him.
c) He was a gallant leader, his followers stood by him
d) He was a gallant leader; his followers stood by him
View Answer
Explanation: A colon should be used between these two sentences. They require a pause that are longer than those shown by a semicolon.
9. The below sentence has no errors in punctuation.
Mango, pomegranate, orange, and banana are all fruits.
a) True
b) False
View Answer
Explanation: The word ‘orange’ is followed by the conjunction ‘and’. In such cases the comma should not be used. The rephrased sentence is ‘Mango, pomegranate, orange and banana are all fruits’.
10. Which of the following options has the correct punctuation for the below sentence?
The teacher asked him why he was absent yesterday.
a) the teacher asked him why he was absent yesterday?
b) The teacher asked him why he was absent yesterday?
c) The teacher asked him why he was absent yesterday.
d) The teacher asked him, why he was absent yesterday?
View Answer
Explanation: The given sentence implies an indirect question. For such cases, the question mark should not be used at the end of the sentence.
11. Identify the sentence with the correct punctuation.
a) “Where is your homework”, asked the teacher
b) First, we checked in the bag; then we looked in the playground; we were not able to find it.
c) Where is that noise coming from!
d) My uncle was a tall, fair, and handsome person.
View Answer
Explanation: The sentence ‘Where is that noise coming from’ should terminate with a question mark. In the sentence ‘My uncle was a tall, fair, and handsome person’, the comma following the word ‘fair’ must be removed. In the remaining option, a question mark should be included after the word ‘’homework’.
12. Which of the following sentences is wrong in terms of its punctuation?
a) The Independence Day will be celebrated next month.
b) The President of India took his oath yesterday.
c) “My son, O my son” the father cried.
d) She said, “This movie is excellent”.
View Answer
Explanation: An exclamation mark must be used as it is an exclamatory sentence. “My son, O my son!” is the correct form of the quotation.
13. Select the option which punctuates the below sentence correctly.
cameron’s movies are avatar titanic and the terminator.
a) Cameron’s movies are: Avatar, Titanic and The Terminator.
b) Cameron’s movies are Avatar, Titanic, and The terminator.
c) Cameron’s movies are; Avatar Titanic and The terminator.
d) Cameron’s movies are, Avatar, Titanic and The Terminator.
View Answer
Explanation: The sentence introduces a list of Cameron’s movies. Therefore, a colon should be used here. Also, the names of the movies should begin with a capital letter.
14. To indicate a pause greater than that shown by a comma, which of the following punctuation is employed?
a) colon
b) semicolon
c) apostrophe
d) dash
View Answer
Explanation: The sentence, ‘He was a kind man; and we all respected him’ uses a semicolon to indicate a greater pause instead of a comma.
15. Choose the option which punctuates the below sentence in the correct manner.
Go back Leo shouted.
a) “Go back” Leo shouted.
b) ‘Go back!’, Leo shouted.
c) Go back! Leo shouted.
d) “Go back!”, Leo shouted.
View Answer
Explanation: There should be an exclamation mark following the phrase ‘Go back’. Also, the phrase should be enclosed in double inverted commas as those are the exact words of the speaker.
More English Grammar Exercises on Punctuation:
- Punctuation Exercises (Set 2)
- Punctuation Exercises (Set 3)
- Punctuation Exercises (Set 4)
- Punctuation Exercises (Set 5)
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