Timer will start right after you click Start Quiz.
Select only one option for each question.
Do not refresh/close the window while attempting.
When the time is over, your quiz will be auto-submitted.
English Language — Punctuation — Questions with Answers
Open after you finish the quiz — all 10 questions,
with answers and explanations.
Q1.
Select the correctly punctuated sentence, assuming the books belong to one student.
The students books were on the table.
The student's books were on the table.
The students' books were on the table.
The student's' books were on the table.
Show answer
Answer: B. The student's books were on the table.
An apostrophe followed by 's' ('s) is used to indicate singular possession.
Q2.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
What time is it.
What time is it?
What time is it!
What time is it;
Show answer
Answer: B. What time is it?
A question mark is used at the end of a direct question.
Q3.
Choose the sentence with the correct punctuation.
The weather was terrible, we decided to stay indoors.
The weather was terrible; we decided to stay indoors.
The weather was terrible: we decided to stay indoors.
The weather was terrible we decided to stay indoors.
Show answer
Answer: B. The weather was terrible; we decided to stay indoors.
A semicolon is used to connect two closely related independent clauses that are not joined by a coordinating conjunction.
Q4.
Select the sentence that uses punctuation correctly.
You will need three items: a pen, a notebook, and a ruler.
You will need three items; a pen, a notebook, and a ruler.
You will need three items, a pen, a notebook, and a ruler.
You will need three items a pen, a notebook, and a ruler.
Show answer
Answer: A. You will need three items: a pen, a notebook, and a ruler.
A colon is used to introduce a list, an explanation, or a quotation, especially after an independent clause.
Q5.
Identify the sentence with correct punctuation.
He is a well known author.
He is a well-known author.
He is a well, known author.
He is a well-known, author.
Show answer
Answer: B. He is a well-known author.
A hyphen is used to join words that form a compound adjective when it precedes the noun it modifies (e.g., 'well-known author').
Q6.
Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?
She asked, "Are you coming to the party"?
She asked, "Are you coming to the party?"
She asked, "Are you coming to the party."
She asked, "Are you coming to the party"!
Show answer
Answer: B. She asked, "Are you coming to the party?"
Quotation marks are used to enclose direct speech. The punctuation mark belonging to the quoted sentence (like a question mark or exclamation mark) should be placed inside the closing quotation mark.
Q7.
Choose the sentence with the correct punctuation.
After a long day at work I just wanted to relax.
After a long day at work, I just wanted to relax.
After a long day, at work I just wanted to relax.
After a long day at work; I just wanted to relax.
Show answer
Answer: B. After a long day at work, I just wanted to relax.
A comma is used to separate an introductory phrase or dependent clause from the main clause.
Q8.
Which sentence uses punctuation most effectively to set off an emphatic interruption?
The answer, if you really want to know, is no.
The answer (if you really want to know) is no.
The answer—if you really want to know—is no.
The answer; if you really want to know; is no.
Show answer
Answer: C. The answer—if you really want to know—is no.
Em dashes are used in pairs to set off an emphatic or abrupt interruption or parenthetical information, providing a stronger break than commas and more emphasis than parentheses.
Q9.
Choose the sentence with the correct punctuation for a complex list.
The conference speakers included Dr. Sharma, a renowned physicist; Professor Lee, an expert in AI; and Ms. Khan, a leading economist.
The conference speakers included Dr. Sharma, a renowned physicist, Professor Lee, an expert in AI, and Ms. Khan, a leading economist.
The conference speakers included Dr. Sharma; a renowned physicist, Professor Lee; an expert in AI, and Ms. Khan; a leading economist.
The conference speakers included Dr. Sharma, a renowned physicist: Professor Lee, an expert in AI: and Ms. Khan, a leading economist.
Show answer
Answer: A. The conference speakers included Dr. Sharma, a renowned physicist; Professor Lee, an expert in AI; and Ms. Khan, a leading economist.
Semicolons are used to separate items in a list when one or more of the items themselves contain commas (e.g., 'Dr. Sharma, a renowned physicist').
Q10.
Select the sentence that correctly uses apostrophes for possession.
The children's toys were scattered everywhere.
The childrens' toys were scattered everywhere.
The childrens toys were scattered everywhere.
The childs' toys were scattered everywhere.
Show answer
Answer: A. The children's toys were scattered everywhere.
For irregular plural nouns (like 'children'), possession is shown by adding an apostrophe and 's' ('s).
