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Punctuation 01
Wondering if it might be possible to travel by sea, she turned to the Internet for inspiration.

Punctuation 01

Punctuation includes full stops, commas and exclamation marks! Punctuation is an art, rather than a science. Sometimes there is more than one way to punctuate a sentence correctly. At other times, however, certain choices are wrong. One of these is the comma splice, which is when a comma has been used to join two sentences - your teachers have probably mentioned it a few times! Commas are the focus of this punctuation quiz, but a few other rules are tested here as well.

Try this English quiz to see how well you can punctuate.

1.
Punctuate the following sentence correctly.

Ever open to adventure frieda began planning a summer trip to buenos aires santiago and lima

Ever open to adventure, frieda began planning a summer holiday to buenos aires, santiago and lima.
Ever open to adventure Frieda began planning a summer holiday to Buenos Aires, Santiago and Lima.
Ever open to adventure, Frieda began planning a summer holiday to Buenos Aires, Santiago and Lima.
Ever open to adventure, Frieda began planning a summer holiday to Buenos Aires, Santiago and Lima
It is amazing how many people still forget capital letters - even at GCSE!
2.
Punctuate the following sentence correctly.

Although she'd been to south america before she hadn't visited these cities and was very excited
Although she'd been to South America before, she hadn't visited these cities and was very excited.
Although she'd been to South America, before she hadn't visited these cities and was very excited
Although she'd been to South America before she hadn't visited these cities and was very excited.
Although she'd been to South America before, she hadn't visited these cities, and was very excited.
'Although she'd been to South America before' is a subordinate clause and should be followed by a comma when used at the beginning of the sentence
3.
Punctuate the following sentence correctly.

Frieda was quite afraid of flying despite her love of adventure
Frieda, was quite afraid of flying, despite her love of adventure.
Frieda was quite afraid of flying, despite her love of adventure.
Frieda was, quite afraid of flying, despite her love of adventure.
Frieda, was quite afraid, of flying despite her love, of adventure
'Despite her love of adventure' is another example of a subordinate clause
4.
Punctuate the following sentence correctly.

Wondering if it might be possible to travel by sea she turned to the internet for inspiration
Wondering if it might be possible to travel by sea, she turned to the Internet for inspiration.
Wondering if it might be possible to travel by sea she turned to the Internet for inspiration.
Wondering if it might be possible to travel by sea, she turned to the internet for inspiration
Wondering, if it might be possible to travel by sea she turned to the Internet for inspiration.
5.
Punctuate the following sentence correctly.

The prices she found there however were utterly shocking the cheapest return ticket was £3999
The prices she found there, however, were utterly shocking, the cheapest return ticket was £3999

The prices she found there, however, were utterly shocking, the cheapest return ticket was £3999.

The prices she found there however, were utterly shocking, the cheapest return ticket was £3999.
The prices she found there, however, were utterly shocking: the cheapest return ticket was £3999.
'However' must be set apart with a pair of parenthetical commas, while the colon is necessary to avoid a comma splice. It would also be correct to punctuate it as: 'The prices she found there, however, were utterly shocking. The cheapest return ticket was £3999.'
6.
Punctuate the following sentence correctly.

Since travelling by sea would be out of the question frieda quickly resigned herself to flying
Since travelling by sea would be out of the question Frieda quickly resigned herself to flying.
Since, travelling by sea would be out of the question, Frieda quickly resigned herself to flying.
Since travelling by sea would be out of the question, Frieda quickly resigned herself to flying.
Since travelling by sea, would be out of the question, Frieda quickly resigned herself to flying
7.
Punctuate the following sentence correctly.

Having made her arrangements frieda eagerly awaited her departure date
Having made her arrangements, Frieda eagerly awaited her departure date.
Having, made her arrangements, Frieda eagerly awaited her departure date.
Having made her arrangements, Frieda, eagerly awaited her departure date.
Having made her arrangements, Frieda eagerly awaited her departure date
8.
Punctuate the following sentence correctly.

As the 5th of august drew near she felt she could hardly contain her excitement
As the 5th of August drew near she felt she could hardly contain her excitement
As the 5th of August, drew near she felt she could hardly contain her excitement.
As the 5th of August drew near, she felt she could hardly contain her excitement.
As the 5th, of August, drew near she felt she could hardly contain her excitement.
Dates do not need commas, unless used with the day (Tuesday, the 5th of August) - even then, the comma is often omitted
9.
Punctuate the following sentence correctly.

Her bags packed and her passport waiting next to her new camera frieda spent a sleepless night
Her bags packed, and her passport waiting, next to her new camera, Frieda spent a sleepless night.
Her bags packed and her passport waiting, next to her new camera Frieda spent a sleepless night.
Her bags packed and her passport waiting next to her new camera, Frieda spent a sleepless night.
Her bags packed and her passport waiting next to her new camera, Frieda, spent a sleepless night.
10.
Punctuate the following sentence correctly.

At last the day dawned hot and bright
At last, the day dawned, hot, and bright.
At last the day, dawned hot and bright.
At last, the day dawned hot and bright
At last, the day dawned hot and bright.
You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Punctuation

Author:  Sheri Smith

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