Free Punctuation MCQs with Answers

• A. "The class will begin, next Tuesday 6th September; at 6 p.m."
• B. "The class will begin next Tuesday 6th September at 6 p.m.!"
• C. "The class will begin next Tuesday, 6th September. at 6 p.m."
• D. "The class will begin next Tuesday, 6th September, at 6 p.m."

Explanation: This option correctly uses commas to separate "next Tuesday," "6th September," and "at 6 p.m." It ends with a period, which is appropriate…

• A. "Mother said "leave the dishes on the table until we have finished eating."
• B. "Mother said Leave the dishes on the table until we have finished eating."
• C. "Mother said, 'Leave the dishes on the table until we have finished eating.'"
• D. "Mother said, Leave the dishes on the table until we have finished eating."

Explanation: This option correctly uses commas to introduce the direct speech and uses double quotation marks to indicate the exact words spoken.

• A. "The train stopped at Karachi, Hyderabad, Bahawalpur, Multan and Lahore before it reached Rawalpindi."
• B. "The train stopped at Karachi, Hyderabad, bahawalpur Multan and Lahore before it reached Rawalpindi."
• C. "The train stopped at Karachi Hyderabad Bahawalpur, Multan and Lahore before it reached Rawalpindi."
• D. "The train stopped Karachi, Hyderabad, Bahawalpur multan and Lahore before it reached rawalpindi."

Explanation: This option correctly capitalizes proper nouns (city names) and uses commas to separate the cities in the list.

• A. "Drinks on the menu included the following, hot chocolate, iced tea and lemonade."
• B. "Drinks on the menu included the Following hot chocolate, iced tea, and lemonade."
• C. "Drinks on the menu included the following. hot chocolate, iced tea and lemonade."
• D. "Drinks on the menu included the following Hot chocolate, iced tea and lemonade."

Explanation: This option correctly uses a period after "following" to introduce the list. However, it does not capitalize "Hot chocolate" properly.

• A. "Our head teacher is called mrs Amjad."
• B. "Our head teacher is called Mrs. Amjad."
• C. "Our head teacher is called Mrs Amjad"
• D. "Our head teacher is called Mrs. Amjad!"

Explanation: This option correctly capitalizes "Mrs." and "Amjad." It also ends with a period, which is suitable for a statement about someone's title…

• A. what I do
• B. I can't seem
• C. the designer's
• D. impossible

Explanation: This option ends with a period, making it a complete statement but lacks punctuation before "what," which should have a comma after "do."…

• A. "Our liberal minded clergyman managed to unite the entire congregation."
• B. "Our liberal-minded clergyman managed to unite the entire congregation."
• C. "Our liberal-minded-clergyman managed to unite the entire congregation."
• D. "Our-liberal-minded clergyman managed to unite the entire congregation."

Explanation: This option is correct. "Liberal-minded" is correctly hyphenated as a compound adjective modifying "clergyman." This is correct.

• A. Jan asked; "What did Joe mean when he said, 'I will see you later.' "
• B. Jan asked, "What did Joe mean when he said, 'I will see you later?' "
• C. Jan asked, "What did Joe mean when he said, 'I will see you later'?"
• D. Jan asked, "What did Joe mean when he said, 'I will see you later' ''?

Explanation: This option is correct. It correctly uses a comma after "asked" to introduce the direct quotation, and the punctuation inside the…

• A. "When I noticed that our dog cut it's paw, I called the veterinarian right away."
• B. "When I noticed that our dog cut it's paw. I called the veterinarian right away."
• C. "When I noticed that our dog cut its paw, I called the veterinarian right away."
• D. "When I noticed that our dog cut its paw; I called the veterinarian right away."

Explanation: This option is correct. It uses the correct possessive form "its" for the dog's paw, and it correctly separates the clauses with a comma…

• A. "Just to be sure, I called three more doctors' offices."
• B. "Just to be sure, I called three more doctors offices."
• C. "Just to be sure, I called three more doctor's offices."
• D. "Just to be sure, I called three more doctor offices'."

Explanation: This option is correct. It uses the plural possessive "doctors'" to indicate that the offices belong to multiple doctors.

• A. "Your right to be concerned," said one veterinarian. "I would like to take a look at your dog."
• B. "Your right to be concerned," said one veterinarian, "I would like to take a look at your dog."
• C. "You're right to be concerned." said one veterinarian. "I would like to take a look at your dog."
• D. "You're right to be concerned," said one veterinarian. "I would like to take a look at your dog."

Explanation: Similar to option A, this option incorrectly uses "Your" instead of "You're." The punctuation is correct with a comma after "concerned,"…

• A. The friendly looking vet examined our dogs paw.
• B. The friendly-looking vet examined our dogs paw.
• C. The friendly-looking vet examined our dog's paw.
• D. The friendly looking vet examined our dog's paw.

Explanation: This option corrects both the hyphenation of "friendly-looking" and the possessive form of "dog's paw".

• A. We had pet insurance but still owed $40 in fees.
• B. We had pet insurance: but still owed $40 in fees.
• C. We had pet insurance but, still owed $40 in fees.
• D. We had pet-insurance but still owed $40 in fees.

Explanation: This option correctly uses a coordinating conjunction ("but") to join two independent clauses without any unnecessary punctuation.

• A. These apostrophe's main purpose is to show possession.
• B. These apostrophes' main purpose is to show possession.
• C. These apostrophes main purpose is to show possession.
• D. These apostrophe's main purpose are to show possession.

Explanation: This option correctly forms the plural of "apostrophes" with an apostrophe followed by an "s" ('s).

• A. I want that very elegant looking watch.
• B. I want that very elegant-looking watch.
• C. I want that very-elegant-looking watch.
• D. I want that very-elegant looking watch.

Explanation: This option correctly uses hyphens to create a compound adjective "elegant-looking" before the noun "watch." This implies that the watch…

• A. Our two year old is starting to talk.
• B. Our two-year-old is starting to talk.
• C. Our two year-old is starting to talk.
• D. Our two-year old is starting to talk.

Explanation: This option correctly hyphenates "two-year-old" when used as a compound adjective before the noun "is starting to talk." This is the most…

• A. Our son will be two years old next week.
• B. Our son will be two-years-old next week.
• C. Our son will be two-years old next week.
• D. Our son will be two years-old next week.

Explanation: This option correctly states the age of the son without using hyphens. It is standard to write "two years old" without hyphens when the…

• A. When Wendy re-covered, she called her ex-husband.
• B. When Wendy recovered, she called her ex husband.
• C. When Wendy recovered, she called her ex-husband.
• D. When Wendy re-covered, she called her ex husband.

Explanation: This option correctly uses "recovered" as a single word without any hyphenation and correctly hyphenates "ex-husband." This is correct.

• A. The artist used oil-based paints in a Modernist style.
• B. The artist used oil-based paints in a Modernist-style.
• C. The artist used oil based paints in a Modernist-style.
• D. The artist used oil based paints in a Modernist style.

Explanation: This option correctly uses a hyphen between "oil" and "based" to form the compound adjective "oil-based." It also correctly uses…

• A. Howie and that crazy friend of his- are coming.
• B. Howie- and that crazy friend of his- is coming.
• C. Howie and that crazy friend of his are coming.
• D. Howie and that crazy friend of his-is coming.

Explanation: This option correctly uses an em dash (-) to set off the phrase "that crazy friend of his" as an interrupting or clarifying element.