Free Punctuation MCQs with Answers

• 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: friendly-looking is one word which should be separated with a dash to be pronounced correctly and dog's (singular) should be used here.

• 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: no colon or comma needed because it is a single clause of a sentence.

• A. runs
• B. through
• C. valley
• D. follows it

Explanation: 'Valley' because the error is in the punctuation between the two independent clauses. They are incorrectly joined with just a comma.

• A. doctor's
• B. orders
• C. one
• D. asked

Explanation: The word "one" itself is correct, but the punctuation following it is incorrect.

• A. Having
• B. lunch
• C. went
• D. back to work

Explanation: The semicolon (;) after "lunch" is incorrect. After a participle phrase like "Having had lunch", we should use a comma (,) to connect it…

• A. it's
• B. joke
• C. as they went
• D. into

Explanation: The period after "joke." is incorrect because a dialogue tag follows; it should be a comma: You think it's a practical joke," she asked.

• A. Howre
• B. H're
• C. Ho're
• D. How're

Explanation: The contraction "how're" combines "how" and "are" with an apostrophe to show the missing letter.

• A. Mary
• B. children
• C. part time
• D. in the library

Explanation: When "part time" is used as an adjective to describe "job," it should be hyphenated as "part-time."

• A. The package
• B. lying
• C. door- a cube
• D. with tape

Explanation: The dash (-) is used incorrectly. It should be either a colon (:) or a proper dash (-) without a space before "a cube".

• A. following
• B. breakfast
• C. dinner
• D. Wi-Fi

Explanation: The word "following" is correctly used to introduce a list. However, it should be followed by a colon rather than a comma.

• A. I'm afraid the meat isnt suitable for vegetarians.
• B. I'am afraid the meat isn't suitable for vegetarians.
• C. I'm afraid the meat is'nt suitable for vegetarians.
• D. I'm afraid the meat isn't suitable for vegetarians.

Explanation: This sentence is grammatically correct and uses the appropriate contractions: "I'm" for "I am" and "isn't" for "is not."

• A. The headline read; 'Local Women Save Geese'.
• B. The headline read, 'Local Women Save Geese'.
• C. The headline read: 'Local Women Save Geese'.
• D. The headline read: "Local Women Save Geese'

Explanation: A colon (:) is the correct punctuation after "The headline read". Single quotation marks ' ' are correctly used around the headline.

• A. 'Yes.' he said 'and I always keep my promises.'
• B. 'Yes,' he said. 'And I always keep my promises.'
• C. 'Yes.' he said! 'and I always keep my promises.'
• D. 'Yes.' he said. 'And I always keep my promises.'

Explanation: This sentence properly uses a comma after 'Yes,' a period after 'he said,' and capitalizes 'And' to start the new sentence.

• 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: "Friendly-looking" is correctly hyphenated, and "dog's paw" uses the correct possessive form.

• A. That
• B. there
• C. Eileen;
• D. to study

Explanation: The semicolon (;) after Eileen is wrong. A comma (,) should be used instead because the second clause (so we should return it...) is not…

• A. Spain is a beautiful country; the beache's are warm, sandy, and spotlessly clean.
• B. Spain is a beautiful country: the beaches are warm, sandy, and spotlessly clean.
• C. Spain is a beautiful country, the beaches are warm, sandy, and spotlessly clean.
• D. Spain is a beautiful country; the beaches are warm, sandy, and spotlessly clean.

Explanation: A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses. Other options have errors like spelling mistakes, misuse of colon, and comma splices.

• A. of
• B. is based
• C. techniques;
• D. and

Explanation: The semicolon should be replaced with a colon to introduce the list properly.

• A. "Wherever we go, People recognize us."
• B. "Wherever we go. People recognize us."
• C. "Wherever we go; people recognize us."
• D. "Wherever we go people recognize us."

Explanation: This option correctly uses a comma after "go" to separate the introductory clause from the main clause.

• A. "My favorite musician, who is also my cousin, plays a mean fuzz bass."
• B. "My favorite musician who is also my cousin plays a mean fuzz bass."
• C. "My favorite musician who is also my cousin, plays a mean fuzz bass."
• D. "My favorite musician, who is also my cousin plays a mean fuzz bass."

Explanation: The clause "who is also my cousin" is non essential (extra information about the musician).

• A. "You are my friend; however, I cannot afford to lend you any more money."
• B. "You are my friend; however; I cannot afford to lend you any more money."
• C. "You are my friend, however I cannot afford; to lend you any more money."
• D. "You are, my friend, however. I cannot afford to lend you any more money."

Explanation: This option correctly uses semicolon to separate two closely related independent clauses and uses comma after however.