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English Quiz - Punctuation 02 (Questions)

Master punctuation for clarity. Learn how colons and semicolons organise ideas, add emphasis, and improve the precision of GCSE English writing.

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Fascinating Fact:

Colons can introduce a quotation with style. The coach said: “Focus until the final whistle.”

In GCSE English, punctuation guides readers through complex points. You will practise using colons, semicolons, and brackets to connect ideas, present evidence, and add detail without losing clarity.

Key Terms

Colon: A mark used to introduce an explanation, list, or quotation that follows naturally from the previous clause.
Semicolon: A mark that links two closely related independent clauses or separates items in a complex list.
Parenthesis (brackets): Extra information inserted into a sentence using round brackets to add clarification.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What does a colon do in a sentence?

A colon signals that something is coming next, such as a list, explanation, or quotation. The second part completes or clarifies the first part.

When should I use a semicolon instead of a comma?

Use a semicolon to join two independent clauses that are closely related when you are not using a conjunction like and or but.

Are brackets and dashes the same as parenthesis?

Parenthesis is the idea of adding extra information. You can use brackets, commas, or dashes to mark it. Choose the style that fits your tone and formality.

Try These Related Quizzes

1.

Choose the sentence which is punctuated correctly.

Martin stopped to consider the blinking red light on his phone should he check the message or not

[ ]	Martin stopped to consider the blinking red light on his phone; should he check the message or not.
[ ]	Martin stopped to consider the blinking, red light on his phone should he check the message or not?
[ ]	Martin stopped to consider the blinking, red light on his phone: should he check the message, or not?
[ ]	Martin stopped to consider the blinking red light on his phone - should he check the message or not.

2.

Choose the sentence which is punctuated correctly.

Sandras name appeared in bold at the top of the screen

[ ]	Sandra's name appeared in bold at the top of the screen.
[ ]	Sandras name appeared (in bold) at the top of the screen.
[ ]	Sandras name appeared in bold at the top of the screen.
[ ]	Sandras' name appeared in bold, at the top of the screen.

3.

Choose the sentence which is punctuated correctly.

He stared at the phone and its tiny light which winked at him knowingly

[ ]	He stared at the phone and it's tiny light which winked at him knowingly.
[ ]	He stared at the phone and it's tiny light, which winked at him, knowingly.
[ ]	He stared at the phone and its tiny light, which winked at him knowingly.
[ ]	He stared at the phone, and it's tiny light, which winked at him knowingly.

4.

Choose the sentence which is punctuated correctly.

Do it his friends had told him everyone else does

[ ]	Do it! His friends had told him, 'Everyone else does.'
[ ]	Do it, his friends had told him, everyone else does.
[ ]	'Do it.' His friends had told him. 'Everyone else does.'
[ ]	'Do it,' his friends had told him. 'Everyone else does.'

5.

Choose the sentence which is punctuated correctly.

Persuaded by his friends he searched eventually finding the neglected document under the bed

[ ]	Persuaded by his friends, he searched. Eventually finding the neglected document under the bed.
[ ]	Persuaded by his friends, he searched, eventually finding the neglected document under the bed.
[ ]	Persuaded by his friends, he searched; eventually finding the neglected document, under the bed.
[ ]	Persuaded by his friend's, he searched, eventually finding the neglected document under the bed.

6.

Choose the sentence which is punctuated correctly.

His dusty cv lacked three things flair references and most importantly relevant experience

[ ]	His dusty CV lacked three things: flair, references and, most importantly, relevant experience.
[ ]	His dusty cv lacked three things; flair, references and, most importantly, relevant experience.
[ ]	His dusty CV lacked three things; flair, references and, most importantly, relevant experience.
[ ]	His dusty CV lacked three things. Flair, references and, most importantly, relevant experience.

7.

Choose the sentence which is punctuated correctly.

Experience had been easy to invent martin had added farming animal husbandry and lion taming

[ ]	Experience had been easy to invent, Martin had added farming, animal husbandry and lion taming.
[ ]	Experience had been easy to invent. martin had added farming, animal husbandry, and lion taming
[ ]	Experience had been easy to invent: Martin had added farming animal husbandry and lion taming.
[ ]	Experience had been easy to invent; Martin had added farming, animal husbandry and lion taming.

8.

Choose the sentence which is punctuated correctly.

Armed with his newly polished cv martin had applied haphazardly for fifty two jobs listed online

[ ]	Armed with his newly polished c.v. Martin had applied haphazardly for fifty two jobs listed on-line.
[ ]	Armed with his newly, polished CV Martin had applied haphazardly for fifty-two jobs listed online.
[ ]	Armed with his newly polished CV, Martin had applied haphazardly for fifty-two jobs listed online.
[ ]	Armed with his newly polished CV; Martin had applied haphazardly for fifty two jobs listed online.

9.

Choose the sentence which is punctuated correctly.

Hed been shocked to be asked to interview for the zoo keepers position but had decided to attend

[ ]	Hed been shocked, to be asked to interview, for the zoo keeper's position but had decided to attend.
[ ]	He'd been shocked to be asked to interview for the zoo keeper's position, but had decided to attend.
[ ]	He'd been shocked to be asked to interview, for the zoo keepers position, but had decided to attend.
[ ]	Hed been shocked to be asked to interview for the zoo-keeper's position, but had decided to attend.

10.

Choose the sentence which is punctuated correctly.

Now sandra the manager was ringing after a brilliant interview what if she knew about the lies

[ ]	Now Sandra the manager was ringing after a brilliant interview; what if she knew about the lies?
[ ]	Now Sandra, the manager, was ringing after a brilliant interview. What if she knew about the lies?
[ ]	Now Sandra (the manager) was ringing after a brilliant interview. What if she knew about the lies.
[ ]	Now Sandra (the manager) was ringing, after a brilliant interview; what if she knew about the lies.

You can find more about this topic by visiting BBC Bitesize - Punctuation

English Quiz - Punctuation 02 (Answers)

1.

Choose the sentence which is punctuated correctly.

Martin stopped to consider the blinking red light on his phone should he check the message or not

[ ]	Martin stopped to consider the blinking red light on his phone; should he check the message or not.
[ ]	Martin stopped to consider the blinking, red light on his phone should he check the message or not?
[x]	Martin stopped to consider the blinking, red light on his phone: should he check the message, or not?
[ ]	Martin stopped to consider the blinking red light on his phone - should he check the message or not.

A colon can be followed by an explanation or illustration of the previous clause. For example: 'Martin stopped to consider the blinking, red light on his phone' is a complete sentence on its own. The colon indicates that the following sentence will explain what Martin is considering

2.

Choose the sentence which is punctuated correctly.

Sandras name appeared in bold at the top of the screen

[x]	Sandra's name appeared in bold at the top of the screen.
[ ]	Sandras name appeared (in bold) at the top of the screen.
[ ]	Sandras name appeared in bold at the top of the screen.
[ ]	Sandras' name appeared in bold, at the top of the screen.

Mistakes with apostrophes are still very commonly made at GCSE. Always remember to use an apostrophe followed by 's' when a proper noun is possessive (this is correct even when the proper noun ends in an 's': i.e. Mrs. Evans's cat, or Bridget Jones's Diary)

3.

Choose the sentence which is punctuated correctly.

He stared at the phone and its tiny light which winked at him knowingly

[ ]	He stared at the phone and it's tiny light which winked at him knowingly.
[ ]	He stared at the phone and it's tiny light, which winked at him, knowingly.
[x]	He stared at the phone and its tiny light, which winked at him knowingly.
[ ]	He stared at the phone, and it's tiny light, which winked at him knowingly.

'Its' is possessive (belonging to 'it') and does not use an apostrophe. 'It's' means 'it is'. Be careful not to confuse these two words

4.

Choose the sentence which is punctuated correctly.

Do it his friends had told him everyone else does

[ ]	Do it! His friends had told him, 'Everyone else does.'
[ ]	Do it, his friends had told him, everyone else does.
[ ]	'Do it.' His friends had told him. 'Everyone else does.'
[x]	'Do it,' his friends had told him. 'Everyone else does.'

5.

Choose the sentence which is punctuated correctly.

Persuaded by his friends he searched eventually finding the neglected document under the bed

[ ]	Persuaded by his friends, he searched. Eventually finding the neglected document under the bed.
[x]	Persuaded by his friends, he searched, eventually finding the neglected document under the bed.
[ ]	Persuaded by his friends, he searched; eventually finding the neglected document, under the bed.
[ ]	Persuaded by his friend's, he searched, eventually finding the neglected document under the bed.

6.

Choose the sentence which is punctuated correctly.

His dusty cv lacked three things flair references and most importantly relevant experience

[x]	His dusty CV lacked three things: flair, references and, most importantly, relevant experience.
[ ]	His dusty cv lacked three things; flair, references and, most importantly, relevant experience.
[ ]	His dusty CV lacked three things; flair, references and, most importantly, relevant experience.
[ ]	His dusty CV lacked three things. Flair, references and, most importantly, relevant experience.

As long as it is preceded by a complete sentence, a colon should be used to introduce a list. 'C.V.' is also correct, but is used infrequently

7.

Choose the sentence which is punctuated correctly.

Experience had been easy to invent martin had added farming animal husbandry and lion taming

[ ]	Experience had been easy to invent, Martin had added farming, animal husbandry and lion taming.
[ ]	Experience had been easy to invent. martin had added farming, animal husbandry, and lion taming
[ ]	Experience had been easy to invent: Martin had added farming animal husbandry and lion taming.
[x]	Experience had been easy to invent; Martin had added farming, animal husbandry and lion taming.

Two related sentences can be joined by using a semicolon rather than a conjunction/connective

8.

Choose the sentence which is punctuated correctly.

Armed with his newly polished cv martin had applied haphazardly for fifty two jobs listed online

[ ]	Armed with his newly polished c.v. Martin had applied haphazardly for fifty two jobs listed on-line.
[ ]	Armed with his newly, polished CV Martin had applied haphazardly for fifty-two jobs listed online.
[x]	Armed with his newly polished CV, Martin had applied haphazardly for fifty-two jobs listed online.
[ ]	Armed with his newly polished CV; Martin had applied haphazardly for fifty two jobs listed online.

Numbers such as fifty-two should be hyphenated. 'Online', however, has become a single, unhyphenated, word

9.

Choose the sentence which is punctuated correctly.

Hed been shocked to be asked to interview for the zoo keepers position but had decided to attend

[ ]	Hed been shocked, to be asked to interview, for the zoo keeper's position but had decided to attend.
[x]	He'd been shocked to be asked to interview for the zoo keeper's position, but had decided to attend.
[ ]	He'd been shocked to be asked to interview, for the zoo keepers position, but had decided to attend.
[ ]	Hed been shocked to be asked to interview for the zoo-keeper's position, but had decided to attend.

10.

Choose the sentence which is punctuated correctly.

Now sandra the manager was ringing after a brilliant interview what if she knew about the lies

[ ]	Now Sandra the manager was ringing after a brilliant interview; what if she knew about the lies?
[x]	Now Sandra, the manager, was ringing after a brilliant interview. What if she knew about the lies?
[ ]	Now Sandra (the manager) was ringing after a brilliant interview. What if she knew about the lies.
[ ]	Now Sandra (the manager) was ringing, after a brilliant interview; what if she knew about the lies.

Try to avoid brackets in your writing. Use a pair of parenthetical commas instead