PassNova has 12 free 11+ English practice questions on Punctuation, each with a clear explanation. Practise them in the browser with instant feedback — 100% free, no sign-up, on any device. Updated for 2026.
Punctuation: example questions & answers
12 worked examples with answers and explanations below. Practise them in the browser with instant feedback on every answer.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
- AThe cats' bowl was empty.
- BThe cats bowl was empty.
- CThe cat's' bowl was empty.
- DThe cat's bowl was empty.✓
Answer: One cat owns the bowl, so the apostrophe goes before the s.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
- AThe girl's changing room was locked.
- BThe girls changing room was locked.
- CThe girls' changing room was locked.✓
- DThe girls's changing room was locked.
Answer: The room belongs to several girls. For a plural already ending in s, the apostrophe goes after it.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
- A“Are you coming”? asked Priya.
- B“Are you coming?” Asked Priya.
- C“Are you coming?” asked Priya.✓
- D“Are you coming” asked Priya.
Answer: The question mark belongs inside the speech marks, and 'asked' continues the same sentence so it stays lower case.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
- AWe packed apples, pears, plums and grapes.✓
- BWe packed apples pears, plums and grapes.
- CWe packed, apples, pears, plums and grapes.
- DWe packed apples, pears, plums, and, grapes.
Answer: Commas separate items in a list, and the last two are joined by 'and'.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
- AIt's going to rain later.✓
- BIts going to rain later.
- CIts' going to rain later.
- DIt is' going to rain later.
Answer: 'It's' is short for 'it is'. The apostrophe stands in for the missing letter.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
- AMy brother who lives in Leeds, is visiting us.
- BMy brother, who lives in Leeds, is visiting.✓
- CMy brother, who lives in Leeds is visiting.
- DMy brother who lives in Leeds is visiting,
Answer: The extra information sits between a matching pair of commas — you need both or neither.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
- AStop!✓
- BStop.!
- CStop!.
- DStop?!
Answer: A single exclamation mark is enough; stacking punctuation is not standard.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
- AShe bought bread, milk and eggs; then she went home.✓
- BShe bought bread, milk and eggs, then she went home.
- CShe bought bread, milk and eggs: then she went home.
- DShe bought bread, milk and eggs then she went home.
Answer: A semicolon joins two complete sentences that are closely linked. A comma alone would be a comma splice.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
- AThe dog's were barking loudly.
- BThe dogs were barking loudly.✓
- CThe dogs' were barking loudly.
- DThe dogs's were barking loudly.
Answer: 'Dogs' is simply a plural here — nothing belongs to them, so there is no apostrophe.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
- AAnna said “I will be late.”
- BAnna said, “I will be late.”✓
- CAnna said, “I will be late”.
- DAnna said: “i will be late.”
Answer: A comma introduces the speech, the words spoken start with a capital, and the full stop sits inside the speech marks.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
- AWhere are my shoes.
- BWhere are my shoes?✓
- CWhere are my shoes!
- DWhere are my shoes,
Answer: A direct question ends with a question mark.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
- AThe recipe needs the following: flour, butter and sugar.✓
- BThe recipe needs the following; flour, butter and sugar.
- CThe recipe needs the following, flour, butter and sugar.
- DThe recipe needs the following - flour, butter and sugar,
Answer: A colon introduces a list that follows an introduction.