Consolidate Knowledge of Punctuation Worksheet

In this activity, you will revise some important punctuation and grammar points to avoid you making mistakes in your own writing.

Have you ever stopped to think about how important punctuation actually is? It can change the entire meaning of the sentences you write.

Eats, shoots and leaves.

Eats shoots and leaves.

See, the removal of a comma takes us from a potentially violent description to one of a cute cuddly bear? Punctuation matters.

Full stops are used to separate sentences.

Select the option below where the full stop is used correctly.

You must make it very clear which question you are answering in the exam. Give the number of the question you have chosen to answer.

You must make it very clear which question you are answering in the exam give the number. Of the question you have chosen to answer.

Commas are used to mark pauses or smaller breaks than full stops.

Select the phrase below where the comma is used correctly.

I went to bed, because I was tired.

I, went to bed because I was tired.

Commas are also used to mark off parts of a sentence that give extra information.

Which sentence below uses commas correctly?

Richard having run eight miles was, exhausted.

Richard, having run eight miles, was exhausted.

Commas are also used to list items.

Select the correct example of this below.

I packed my pencil case, revision notes, a banana, a packet of mints and a bottle of water for my exams.

I, packed, my pencil case a banana my notes and a bottle of water, for my exams.

Question marks are used at the end of questions but they are not used at the end of questions in indirect (reported) speech.

Which example below is correct?

Kirsty asked if I had seen Phil anywhere?

Kirsty asked if I had seen Phil anywhere.

Colons (:) are used before a list or an example.

Which two examples below use the colon correctly?

The exam was very long: three hours.

The exam: was very hard.

The exam had questions on: characters, themes, language and structure.

Semicolons (;) are used to show that two sentences are closely connected. The parts before and after the semicolon must be complete sentences.

Select the correct use of semicolon below.

I hope I pass the exam; it depends how difficult the questions are.

I hope I pass the exam; if it is easy.

Apostrophes are used to show missing letters. The apostrophe replaces the missing letters.

Match the correct apostrophe with the formal version.

Column A	Column B
You shouldn't have done that.	You will never finish that pizza.
You'll never finish that pizza.	Daniel has finished his drink.
Daniel's finished his drink.	You should not have done that.

Apostrophes are also used to show possession. If the owner is singular you add an apostrophe then an 's'. If the owner is plural you add the apostrophe after the 's'.

Which two examples below are correct?

The dogs' tail

The dog's tail

The dogs' tails

The dog's tails

Below are some words that are often used incorrectly:

Done/Did

Seen/Saw

Select the four correct answers below.

I did it.

I done it.

I have done it.

I seen it.

I saw it.

I have seen it.

ANSWERS

Question 1

Full stops are used to separate sentences.

Select the option below where the full stop is used correctly.

CORRECT ANSWER

You must make it very clear which question you are answering in the exam. Give the number of the question you have chosen to answer.

EDDIE SAYS

The correct answer is: 'You must make it very clear which question you are answering in the exam. Give the number of the question you have chosen to answer.' The lengthy text needs to be split into two sentences, with the full stop placed at the end of any point made.

ANSWERS

Question 2

Commas are used to mark pauses or smaller breaks than full stops.

Select the phrase below where the comma is used correctly.

CORRECT ANSWER

I went to bed, because I was tired.

EDDIE SAYS

The correct sentence is: 'I went to bed, because I was tired.' Read the sentence aloud and see where you naturally pause, this a good method to work out where to place commas!

ANSWERS

Question 3

Commas are also used to mark off parts of a sentence that give extra information.

Which sentence below uses commas correctly?

CORRECT ANSWER

Richard, having run eight miles, was exhausted.

EDDIE SAYS

The correct answer is: 'Richard, having run eight miles, was exhausted.' This is good, keep it up!

ANSWERS

Question 4

Commas are also used to list items.

Select the correct example of this below.

CORRECT ANSWER

I packed my pencil case, revision notes, a banana, a packet of mints and a bottle of water for my exams.

EDDIE SAYS

The correct answer is: 'I packed my pencil case, revision notes, a banana, a packet of mints and a bottle of water for my exams.'

ANSWERS

Question 5

Question marks are used at the end of questions but they are not used at the end of questions in indirect (reported) speech.

Which example below is correct?

CORRECT ANSWER

Kirsty asked if I had seen Phil anywhere.

EDDIE SAYS

The correct answer is: 'Kirsty asked if I had seen Phil anywhere.' As the sentence is an example of indirect speech (Kirsty is not the one speaking she is being referenced) it does not require a question mark.

ANSWERS

Question 6

Colons (:) are used before a list or an example.

Which two examples below use the colon correctly?

CORRECT ANSWER

The exam was very long: three hours.
The exam had questions on: characters, themes, language and structure.

EDDIE SAYS

The two correct sentences are: 1. 'The exam was very long: three hours.' which uses a comma for an explanation. 2. 'The exam had questions on: characters, themes, language and structure.' which uses a comma in order to introduce a list.

ANSWERS

Question 7

Semicolons (;) are used to show that two sentences are closely connected. The parts before and after the semicolon must be complete sentences.

Select the correct use of semicolon below.

CORRECT ANSWER

I hope I pass the exam; it depends how difficult the questions are.

EDDIE SAYS

The correct example is: 'I hope I pass the exam; it depends how difficult the questions are.' as both parts before and after the semicolon are full sentences. Great work if you spotted the correctly punctuated sentence!

ANSWERS

Question 8

Apostrophes are used to show missing letters. The apostrophe replaces the missing letters.

Match the correct apostrophe with the formal version.

CORRECT ANSWER

Column A	Column B
You shouldn't have done that.	You should not have done that.
You'll never finish that pizza.	You will never finish that pizza.
Daniel's finished his drink.	Daniel has finished his drink.

EDDIE SAYS

The correct contractions are: 'Should not' can be changed to 'shouldn't'. 'You will' can be changed to 'you'll'. 'Daniel has' can be changed to 'Daniel's'.

ANSWERS

Question 9

Apostrophes are also used to show possession. If the owner is singular you add an apostrophe then an 's'. If the owner is plural you add the apostrophe after the 's'.

Which two examples below are correct?

CORRECT ANSWER

The dog's tail
The dogs' tails

EDDIE SAYS

The correct answers are: 'The dog's tail' = the tail belonging to the dog. 'The dogs' tails' = the tails belonging to the dogs.

ANSWERS

Question 10

Below are some words that are often used incorrectly:

Done/Did

Seen/Saw

Select the four correct answers below.

CORRECT ANSWER

I did it.
I have done it.
I saw it.
I have seen it.

EDDIE SAYS

The correct answers are: 'I did it', 'I have done it', 'I saw it' and 'I have seen it'. Read the other sentences aloud? They don't sound quite right. Great focus, that’s another activity completed!