Punctuation

Where should the comma go? 'After dinner we went to the park.'

• AAfter, dinner we went to the park.
• BAfter dinner, we went to the park.✓
• CAfter dinner we, went to the park.
• DAfter dinner we went, to the park.

Answer: A comma follows an introductory phrase at the start of a sentence to separate it from the main clause.

Which sentence uses an apostrophe correctly?

• AThe dog's toys are in the basket.✓
• BThe dogs' toys are in the basket.
• CThe dog's are playing.
• DThe dogs toys are in the baskets'.

Answer: 'The dog's toys' is correct. The apostrophe shows that the toys belong to one dog. 'Dogs' toys' would be for multiple dogs.

Add a semicolon correctly: 'It was a sunny day the children played outside.'

• AIt was a sunny day; the children played outside.✓
• BIt was a sunny day; the children, played outside.
• CIt was a sunny day the; children played outside.
• DIt was; a sunny day the children played outside.

Answer: A semicolon joins two related independent clauses. Both parts can stand alone as complete sentences.

Which sentence uses commas correctly in a list?

• AI bought apples, oranges, and, bananas.
• BI bought apples oranges and bananas.
• CI bought apples, oranges, and bananas.✓
• DI bought, apples, oranges, and bananas.

Answer: When listing items, place commas between each item, including one before 'and' (the Oxford comma).

Which contraction is written correctly?

• Acant
• Bca'nt
• Ccan't✓
• Dca-nt

Answer: 'Can't' is the correct contraction of 'cannot'. The apostrophe replaces the letters 'no'.

Use a colon correctly: 'I need three things milk, bread and eggs.'

• AI need three things: milk, bread and eggs.✓
• BI need three things milk: bread and eggs.
• CI need three: things milk, bread and eggs.
• DI need: three things milk, bread and eggs.

Answer: A colon introduces a list or explanation. It comes after an independent clause that introduces what follows.

Which sentence uses apostrophes correctly?

• AIt's book belongs to the school's library.
• BIts book belongs to the school's library.✓
• CIts book belongs to the schools library.
• DIt's book belongs to the schools' library.

Answer: 'Its' is possessive (no apostrophe). 'School's' is correct for a singular possessive. 'It's' means 'it is'.

How should this be punctuated? 'Have you finished your homework asked Mum'

• A'Have you finished your homework' asked Mum.
• B'Have you finished your homework?' asked Mum.✓
• CHave you finished your homework? asked Mum.
• D'Have you finished your homework asked Mum'.

Answer: Direct speech uses speech marks. The question mark goes inside the speech marks before the closing quote.

Which sentence uses brackets correctly?

• AThe recipe (which is very easy) takes 30 minutes.✓
• BThe recipe (which is very easy takes 30 minutes.
• CThe recipe which is very easy) (takes 30 minutes.
• DThe recipe (which is very easy takes) 30 minutes.

Answer: Brackets should enclose the additional information completely, with matching opening and closing brackets.

Use a hyphen correctly: 'My sister is twenty one years old.'

• AMy sister is twenty-one years old.✓
• BMy sister is twenty- one years old.
• CMy sister is twenty -one years old.
• DMy sister is twenty one-years old.

Answer: Compound numbers from twenty-one to ninety-nine are hyphenated. The hyphen joins the two parts of the number.

Which sentence correctly uses a comma to separate a clause?

• ABecause it was cold, we wore coats.✓
• BWe wore coats, because it was cold.
• CBecause it was, cold we wore coats.
• DWe, wore coats because it was cold.

Answer: When a subordinate clause starts a sentence, use a comma to separate it from the main clause.

Identify the error with apostrophes: 'The girls' books are on the shelf.'

• AIt should be 'girls'
• BIt should be 'girl's'
• CIt should be 'girls''
• DThis is correct✓

Answer: 'The girls' books' is correct. Multiple girls own the books, so the apostrophe comes after the plural noun.