This exercise will test your understanding of all kinds of different punctuation marks, particularly commas,

colons, semi-colons and apostrophes.

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.

2 The children's books were all left in the following places: Mrs. Smith's room, Mr. Powell's office and the caretaker's cupboard.
a)

b) The children's books were all left in the following places; Mrs. Smith's room, Mr. Powell's office and the caretaker's cupboard.

c) The childrens books were all left in the following places: Mrs. Smiths room, Mr. Powells office and the caretakers cupboard.

d) The children's books were all left in the following places, Mrs. Smith's room, Mr. Powell's office and the caretaker's cupboard.

3
a) She always enjoyed sweets, chocolate, marshmallows and toffee apples.

b) She always enjoyed: sweets, chocolate, marshmallows and toffee apples.

c) She always enjoyed sweets chocolate marshmallows and toffee apples.

d) She always enjoyed sweet's, chocolate, marshmallow's and toffee apple's.

4
a) Sarah's uncle's car was found without its wheels in that old derelict warehouse.

b) Sarah's uncle's car was found without its wheels in that old, derelict warehouse.

c) Sarahs uncles car was found without its wheels in that old, derelict warehouse.

d) Sarah's uncle's car was found without it's wheels in that old, derelict warehouse.
5
a) I can't see Tim's car, there must have been an accident.

b) I cant see Tim's car; there must have been an accident.

c) I can't see Tim's car there must have been an accident.

d) I can't see Tim's car; there must have been an accident.

6
a) Paul's neighbors were terrible; so his brother's friends went round to have a word.

b) Paul's neighbors were terrible: so his brother's friends went round to have a word.

c) Paul's neighbors were terrible, so his brother's friends went round to have a word.

d) Paul's neighbors were terrible so his brother's friends went round to have a word.

7
a) Tims gran, a formidable woman, always bought him chocolate, cakes, sweets and a nice fresh apple.

b) Tim's gran a formidable woman always bought him chocolate, cakes, sweets and a nice fresh apple.

c) Tim's gran, a formidable woman, always bought him chocolate cakes sweets and a nice fresh apple.

d) Tim's gran, a formidable woman, always bought him chocolate, cakes, sweets and a nice fresh apple.

8
a) After stealing Tims car, the thief lost his way and ended up in the chief constable's garage.

b) After stealing Tim's car the thief lost his way and ended up in the chief constable's garage.

c) After stealing Tim's car, the thief lost his way and ended up in the chief constable's garage.

d) After stealing Tim's car, the thief lost his' way and ended up in the chief constable's garage.
9
a) We decided to visit: Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italy's mountains.

b) We decided to visit Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italys mountains.

c) We decided to visit Spain, Greece, Portugal and Italy's mountains.

d) We decided to visit Spain Greece Portugal and Italy's mountains.

10
a) That tall man, Paul's grandad, is this month's winner.

b) That tall man Paul's grandad is this month's winner.

c) That tall man, Paul's grandad, is this months winner.

d) That tall man, Pauls grandad, is this month's winner.

In the following exercise you will be asked to add commas to a given

2 The recipe needed jam flour sugar fruit eggs ketchup and baking powder.

3 .
"Look at this" he whispered.

4 Paulina his wife of many years had decided to go and live in Greece.

5 As the sun began to sink over the sea Karen got ready to go out.

6 She was intelligent not especially practical.

7 The thief was wearing impractical high heels so she could not run fast.
8 We go to Blackpool for the cuisine not the weather.

9 "I advise you" said the teacher "not to cross me again today."

10 Steven his head still spinning walked out of the office for the last time.

In this exercise, you will be given a number of sentences, only one of which is correctly punctuated with
commas. Select the correct sentence.

1 a) My favorite countries are, Spain, Greece, India, and Hungary.

b) My favorite countries are Spain, Greece, India and Hungary.

c) My favorite countries are, Spain Greece India and Hungary.

2 a) I really don't like blancmange, so I never eat the stuff.

b) I really don't like blancmange so, I never eat the stuff.

c) I really don't like blancmange so I never eat the stuff.

3 a) Once, the storm was over we were able to set sail for the lost island.

b) Once the storm was over, we were able to set sail for the lost island.

c) Once the storm was over we were able to set sail for the lost island.

4 a) Jill, a talented woman in the world of business decided to run for president.

b) Jill, a talented woman in the world of business, decided to run for president.

c) Jill a talented woman in the world of business, decided to run for president.
5 a) We used to live in an, old, dilapidated, ramshackle house.

b) We used to live in an old, dilapidated, ramshackle house.

c) We used to live in an old, dilapidated, ramshackle, house.

6 a) I love eating cake and biscuits, not vegetables.

b) I love eating, cake and biscuits, not vegetables.

c) I love eating, cake and biscuits not vegetables.

7 a) Paul said he had seen Jim and John at the party last night.

b) Paul said he had seen Jim, and John at the party last night.

c) Paul said he had seen, Jim and John at the party last night.

8 a) I am going clubbing in Ibiza, and my wife is going on a cruise to Crete, Mallorca and Menorca.

b) I am going clubbing in Ibiza, and my wife is going on a cruise to Crete Mallorca and Menorca.

c) I am going clubbing in Ibiza and my wife is going on a cruise to Crete, Mallorca and Menorca.

9 a) Given the terrible weather conditions it is surprising that the holiday was so enjoyable.

b) Given the terrible weather conditions, it is surprising, that the holiday was so enjoyable.

c) Given the terrible weather conditions, it is surprising that the holiday was so enjoyable.
10 a) India, a truly beautiful interesting and exotic country, is now a popular holiday destination.

b) India, a truly beautiful, interesting and exotic country, is now a popular holiday destination.

c) India a truly beautiful, interesting and exotic country is now a popular holiday destination.

In this exercise you will be presented with a sentence punctuated in different ways. You will
have to decide which of the alternatives is punctuated correctly. This exercise tests your
understanding of colons, semi-colons and commas.
1
a) Steve always went to watch football: he loved the atmosphere at the games.

b) Steve always went to watch football, he loved the atmosphere at the games.

c) Steve always went to watch football; he loved the atmosphere at the games.

2
a) I love eating; eggs, bacon, cheese and toast.

b) I love eating eggs bacon cheese and toast.

c) I love eating eggs, bacon, cheese and toast.

3
a) These are my favourite countries; Spain Hungary India and Greece.

b) These are my favourite countries: Spain, Hungary, India and Greece.

c) These are my favourite countries: Spain Hungary India and Greece.

4
a) As the sun was rising. Steve was getting into bed.

b) As the sun was rising, Steve was getting into bed.

c) As the sun was rising; Steve was getting into bed.

b) I love writing English; was always my favourite subject.

c) I love writing, English was always my favourite subject.

6
a) My old boss used to say: 'Chin up lad.'

b) My old boss used to say; 'Chin up lad.'

c) My old boss used to say, 'Chin up lad.'

7
a) Paul hates anything technical so, he never turns his computer on.

b) Paul hates anything technical, so he never turns his computer on.

c) Paul hates anything technical; so he never turns his computer on.

8
a) Jill Paul's wife was kind, generous, clever and a fantastic cook.

b) Jill, Paul's wife, was kind generous clever and a fantastic cook.

c) Jill, Paul's wife, was kind, generous, clever and a fantastic cook.

9
a) I love travelling: Spain, India, Thailand and Hungary are my favourite countries.

b) I love travelling Spain, India, Thailand and Hungary are my favourite countries.

c) I love travelling; Spain, India, Thailand and Hungary are my favourite countries.

10
 a) "I love it here," he said. "It's so peaceful."

b) "I love it here," he said, It's so peaceful."

c) "I love it here" he said "It's so peaceful."

In each question, only one of the sentences has all the apostrophes correctly placed. Click
next to the correct sentence.
1
a) Bristol's harbour is one of the countrys most beautiful.

b) Bristols harbour is one of the country's most beautiful.

c) Bristol's harbour is one of the country's most beautiful.

d) Bristols' harbour is one of the countrys' most beautiful.

2
a) The two boy's bags were lying at the river's edge.

b) The two boys bag's were lying at the rivers' edge.

c) The two boys' bags were lying at the river's edge.

d) The two boys' bags' were lying at the rivers edge.

3
a) My parent's flat is in one of the city's finest areas.

b) My parents' flat is in one of the citys finest areas'.

c) My parents' flat is in one of the citys' finest areas.

d) My parents' flat is in one of the city's finest areas.

4
a) The world's experts were quick to praise the two girls' courage.

b) The world's experts were quick to praise the two girl's courage.
 c) The worlds expert's were quick to praise the two girls' courage.

d) The worlds' experts were quick to praise the two girls' courage.

5
a) Steve's mothers house is right next to his only sister's flat.

b) Steves mother's house is right next to his only sister's flat.

c) Steve's mothers' house is right next to his only sisters' flat.

d) Steve's mother's house is right next to his only sister's flat.

6
a) The two buildings doors' and windows' were damaged in the blast.

b) The two buildings door's and window's were damaged in the blast.

c) The two buildings' doors and windows were damaged in the blast.

d) The two building's doors and windows were damaged in the blast.

7
a) The cat's illness was making its paws sore.

b) The cat's illness was making it's paws sore.

c) The cats' illness was making its paws sore.

d) The cats' illness' was making its paws sore.

8
a) The teams manager's attitude was affecting all the player's performance.

b) The team's manager's attitude was affecting all the players' performance.

c) The teams manager's attitude was affecting all the players' performance.

d) The team's manager's attitude was affecting all the player's performance.
9
a) It's owners made Ted the cat's life very comfortable.

b) It's owners' made Ted the cats life very comfortable.

c) Its owners made Ted the cats' life very comfortable.

d) Its owners made Ted the cat's life very comfortable.

10
a) The Roman's bridges and roads were vital for moving the troops' supplies.

b) The Romans' bridges and roads were vital for moving the troops' supplies.

c) The Romans' bridges and roads were vital for moving the troop's supplies.

d) The Romans bridge's and road's were vital for moving the troops supplies.