Punctuation MCQs 2026

The abbreviation "Dr" or "etc." may take a

1. A comma ✓
2. B full stop ✓
3. C colon ✓
4. D question mark ✓

Which sentence needs a question mark?

1. A Where are you going ✓
2. B I am going home ✓
3. C Please sit down ✓
4. D What a lovely day ✓

Direct speech is usually separated from the reporting clause by a

1. A semicolon ✓
2. B comma ✓
3. C hyphen ✓
4. D colon ✓

A comma is needed after an introductory word or phrase, as in

1. A However, the plan failed. ✓
2. B However the plan, failed. ✓
3. C However the plan failed, ✓
4. D However, the, plan failed. ✓

The possessive pronoun that needs NO apostrophe is

1. A it's ✓
2. B who's ✓
3. C its ✓
4. D they're ✓

In "Its raining outside", the correct form is

1. A its' ✓
2. B its ✓
3. C it is only ✓
4. D it's ✓

Choose the correct contraction of "do not".

1. A dont ✓
2. B do'nt ✓
3. C don't ✓
4. D donot ✓

The mark indicating a pause stronger than a comma but weaker than a full stop is the

1. A semicolon ✓
2. B hyphen ✓
3. C apostrophe ✓
4. D exclamation mark ✓

Which is the correctly hyphenated compound adjective?

1. A a well known author ✓
2. B a wellknown author ✓
3. C a well, known author ✓
4. D a well-known author ✓

A hyphen is mainly used to

1. A end a sentence ✓
2. B join words in a compound ✓
3. C show possession ✓
4. D quote speech ✓

The pronoun referring to oneself, "I", is always written

1. A lowercase ✓
2. B in capital ✓
3. C with an apostrophe ✓
4. D with a hyphen ✓

The first word of a sentence should be

1. A in italics ✓
2. B underlined ✓
3. C lowercase ✓
4. D capitalized ✓

A proper noun should always begin with a

1. A capital letter ✓
2. B small letter ✓
3. C hyphen ✓
4. D comma ✓

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

1. A She said I am tired. ✓
2. B She said, I am tired. ✓
3. C She said, "I am tired." ✓
4. D She said "I am tired. ✓

Quotation marks are used to enclose

1. A a list ✓
2. B possession ✓
3. C a person's exact words ✓
4. D a heading only ✓

A colon is commonly used to

1. A show possession ✓
2. B introduce a list or explanation ✓
3. C end a sentence ✓
4. D form a contraction ✓

A semicolon is best used to

1. A end a question ✓
2. B show possession ✓
3. C introduce a list ✓
4. D join two closely related independent clauses ✓

Which sentence uses commas correctly?

1. A I bought apples, oranges, and bananas. ✓
2. B I bought, apples oranges and bananas. ✓
3. C I bought apples oranges, and, bananas. ✓
4. D I, bought apples oranges and bananas. ✓

A comma is correctly used to

1. A separate items in a list ✓
2. B end a sentence ✓
3. C show possession ✓
4. D join two sentences without a conjunction ✓

Choose the correct contraction of "they are".

1. A their ✓
2. B there ✓
3. C they're ✓
4. D theyre ✓

The correct possessive of the plural noun "boys" is

1. A boy's ✓
2. B boys' ✓
3. C boys ✓
4. D boys's ✓

The correct possessive form of the singular noun "dog" is

1. A dogs ✓
2. B dogs' ✓
3. C dog ✓
4. D dog's ✓

An apostrophe is used to show possession and to form

1. A plurals ✓
2. B questions ✓
3. C headings ✓
4. D contractions ✓

Which mark shows strong emotion or emphasis?

1. A comma ✓
2. B exclamation mark ✓
3. C colon ✓
4. D semicolon ✓

The mark used at the end of a direct question is the

1. A full stop ✓
2. B comma ✓
3. C question mark ✓
4. D exclamation mark ✓

The punctuation mark used to end a declarative sentence is the

1. A full stop (period) ✓
2. B comma ✓
3. C colon ✓
4. D semicolon ✓

Which shows correct use of a semicolon?

1. A I was tired; because I worked late. ✓
2. B I was tired; I had worked all night. ✓
3. C I was tired; and slept. ✓
4. D I was; tired. ✓

An exclamation mark is most suitable after

1. A a mild statement ✓
2. B a question ✓
3. C a list ✓
4. D "What a wonderful surprise" ✓

The plural of a noun does NOT normally take

1. A an -s ✓
2. B an -es ✓
3. C an apostrophe ✓
4. D a capital ✓

A dash can be used to

1. A mark a sudden break or added emphasis ✓
2. B show possession ✓
3. C end a question ✓
4. D form a plural ✓

Choose the sentence with correct apostrophe use.

1. A The childrens' toys are here. ✓
2. B The childrens toys are here. ✓
3. C The children toys' are here. ✓
4. D The children's toys are here. ✓

The main purpose of punctuation is to

1. A make the meaning of writing clear ✓
2. B increase word count ✓
3. C decorate the page ✓
4. D replace grammar ✓

A comma is required before a coordinating conjunction that joins two

1. A words ✓
2. B independent clauses ✓
3. C adjectives ✓
4. D prepositions ✓

The correct end punctuation for "What a beautiful garden" (an exclamation) is a(n)

1. A full stop ✓
2. B comma ✓
3. C question mark ✓
4. D exclamation mark ✓

Which sentence correctly uses quotation marks for a poem title?

1. A I read the poem "The Road Not Taken". ✓
2. B I read the poem The Road Not Taken. ✓
3. C I read the poem 'The Road Not Taken. ✓
4. D I read the poem The Road Not Taken". ✓

A comma before "and" in a list (as in "red, white, and blue") is called the

1. A full stop ✓
2. B semicolon ✓
3. C Oxford (serial) comma ✓
4. D colon ✓

Names of days and months should be

1. A lowercase ✓
2. B hyphenated ✓
3. C in quotation marks ✓
4. D capitalized ✓

"Whos there?" should correctly be written

1. A Who's there? ✓
2. B Whos' there? ✓
3. C Whose there? ✓
4. D Whos there? ✓

Titles of people such as "Mr", "Mrs" and "Ms" begin with a

1. A comma ✓
2. B small letter ✓
3. C capital letter ✓
4. D hyphen ✓

Complete correctly: "I called him, ___ he did not answer."

1. A so; ✓
2. B but ✓
3. C a colon ✓
4. D a semicolon then but ✓

A list introduced within a sentence is best preceded by a

1. A comma ✓
2. B full stop ✓
3. C colon ✓
4. D question mark ✓

The apostrophe in "don't" shows

1. A omitted letters ✓
2. B possession ✓
3. C a plural ✓
4. D a question ✓

Which sentence is correctly capitalized?

1. A we visited lahore in june. ✓
2. B We visited Lahore in June. ✓
3. C we Visited Lahore in june. ✓
4. D We visited lahore in June. ✓

In a letter, the greeting "Dear Sir" is often followed by a

1. A question mark ✓
2. B hyphen ✓
3. C comma or colon ✓
4. D semicolon ✓

Parentheses (round brackets) are used to enclose

1. A direct speech ✓
2. B a list heading ✓
3. C the main idea ✓
4. D extra or non-essential information ✓