Free Punctuation MCQs with Answers
308 Punctuation MCQs from English, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.
Punctuation marks show structure, pauses, relationships and emphasis in written sentences. Questions cover commas in lists, clauses and nonessential phrases, semicolons between independent clauses, colons, apostrophes, quotation marks and hyphens, as well as the errors that create fragments, run-on sentences or comma splices.
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308 questions · page 4 of 16
- A. Paul Simon sang, "I am a rock, I am. An island."
- B. Paul Simon sang, "I am a rock; I am an island."
- C. Paul Simon sang I am a rock; I am an island.
- D. Paul Simon sang I am a rock, I am an island.
Explanation: The semicolon separates two independent clauses within the quotation correctly, and quotation marks are properly used.
Correct answer: Paul Simon sang, "I am a rock; I am an island."- A. what I do
- B. I can't seem
- C. the designer's
- D. impossible
Explanation: The punctuation is wrong after "No matter what I do." It should not end with a period, because the thought continues.
Correct answer: what I do- A. an unlikely candidate for governor
- B. nevertheless
- C. candor,
- D. fervency
Explanation: This phrase is a dependent clause and should be followed by a comma before the main clause begins.
Correct answer: an unlikely candidate for governor- A. Yes I will help you.
- B. Yes, I will help you.
- C. Yes I, will help you.
- D. Yes will, I help you
Explanation: A comma is needed after the introductory word "Yes,". The rest of the sentence follows normal word order and does not require additional…
Correct answer: Yes, I will help you.- A. Ever since Joachim quit his last job
- B. pursue
- C. career
- D. quite skilled
Explanation: The error is a missing comma after the introductory clause "Ever since Joachim quit his last job".
Correct answer: Ever since Joachim quit his last job- A. "Above all
- B. the verbs
- C. tomorrow's
- D. test,
Explanation: The error is missing a comma after "Above all", which is an introductory phrase.
Correct answer: "Above all- A. out of
- B. loudly, when.
- C. game-winning
- D. at
Explanation: The comma before "when" is incorrect because "when the home team scored..." is an essential part of the sentence, not an extra interruption.
Correct answer: loudly, when.- A. "A state-of-the-art printer is not that expensive."
- B. "A state of the art printer is not that expensive."
- C. "A state-of the art printer is not that expensive."
- D. "A state-of-the art printer is not that expensive."
Explanation: This option is correct. "State-of-the-art" is correctly hyphenated as an adjective describing the printer.
Correct answer: "A state-of-the-art printer is not that expensive."- A. "A liberally sprinkled dose of humor was very much appreciated."
- B. "A liberally-sprinkled dose of humor was very much appreciated."
- C. "A liberally-sprinkled-dose of humor was very much appreciated."
- D. "A liberally sprinkled dose-of-humor was very much appreciated."
Explanation: No hyphen is needed because liberally is an adverb modifying sprinkled, and adverb-adjective pairs are not hyphenated.
Correct answer: "A liberally sprinkled dose of humor was very much appreciated."- A. Hot, then Sam did
- B. Hot, Sam did
- C. Hot; Sam, therefore, did
- D. Hot; Sam therefore trying to do
Explanation: The original sentence is a comma splice, two independent clauses joined incorrectly with just a comma.
Correct answer: Hot; Sam, therefore, did- A. We're
- B. Were
- C. Were'
- D. Wer'e
Explanation: This is contraction of "we are." It is used to indicate present tense of verb "to be" (are) combined with the pronoun "we."
Correct answer: We're- A. Hey!
- B. Wow!
- C. Bravo!
- D. None
Explanation: "Wow!" is used to show strong surprise or admiration. It is the correct choice for this sentence.
Correct answer: Wow!- A. Ali said "I am going to the market".
- B. Ali said, "I am going to the market."
- C. Ali said "I am going to the market."
- D. Ali said, "I am going to the market".
Explanation: A comma is placed before quotation marks, and the period stays inside the closing quotation mark.
Correct answer: Ali said, "I am going to the market."- A. Pakistan, my homeland is beautiful.
- B. Pakistan my homeland, is beautiful.
- C. Pakistan, my homeland, is beautiful.
- D. Pakistan my homeland is beautiful.
Explanation: The phrase "my homeland" is an appositive and should be enclosed by commas on both sides.
Correct answer: Pakistan, my homeland, is beautiful.- A. Wow that's an amazing idea!
- B. Wow, that's an amazing idea!
- C. Wow! that's an amazing idea!
- D. Wow that's an amazing idea.
Explanation: The interjection "Wow" should be followed by a comma, not an exclamation mark, when the sentence continues.
Correct answer: Wow, that's an amazing idea!- A. The girls' bags were lost.
- B. The girl's were lost bags.
- C. The girls bags were lost.
- D. The girls's bags were lost.
Explanation: Girls' (plural possessive) shows that the bags belong to multiple girls.
Correct answer: The girls' bags were lost.- A. After dinner we watched a movie.
- B. After dinner, we watched a movie.
- C. After, dinner we watched a movie.
- D. After dinner we, watched a movie.
Explanation: A comma separates an introductory phrase (After dinner) from the main clause.
Correct answer: After dinner, we watched a movie.- A. "Are you coming with me"? asked Sara.
- B. "Are you coming with me?", asked Sara.
- C. "Are you coming with me?" asked Sara.
- D. "Are you coming with me", asked Sara?
Explanation: The question mark is placed inside the quotation marks, and no comma follows a direct question.
Correct answer: "Are you coming with me?" asked Sara.- A. It's raining outside.
- B. Its raining outside.
- C. Its' raining outside.
- D. It,s raining outside.
Explanation: It's = it is. The apostrophe indicates contraction.
Correct answer: It's raining outside.- A. I wanted to go; but I was tired.
- B. I wanted to go, but I was tired.
- C. I wanted to go; I was tired.
- D. I wanted to go; and I was tired.
Explanation: A semicolon joins two independent clauses without a conjunction.
Correct answer: I wanted to go; I was tired.