Tag: punctuation

Questions Related to punctuation

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.
But when I _____ up the phone, there was no one there.

apostrophe mark punctuation english

  1. pick

  2. am picking

  3. picked

  4. was picking

Show answer
Correct Option: C

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.
A: Did you meet _____ at the party?
B: Yes, I met _____ who knows you!

apostrophe mark punctuation english

  1. someone / anyone

  2. anything / nobody

  3. anybody / somebody

  4. everybody / nothing

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Out of the four options, option C is correct. 'Anybody' is used to describe anyone. Other options are not fit per rules. Thus, C is the correct answer. 

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.
The ____ names are David and Samuel.

apostrophe mark punctuation english

  1. man's

  2. men's

  3. men

  4. their

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The men's names are David and Samuel .

Men is a noun which doesn't state any ownership hence it is not the correct option .
Men's is the correct option as the apostrophe is stating ownership . Men being a irregular plural noun form in order to have a plural possessive noun  we have added apostrophe s . That results in men's  which is the correct option.
Man's isn't the right option as it states possession of a singular noun but in the given sentence there are two nouns.
Their is a pronoun hence it cannot state any possession. So, it is not the correct option. 

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.
A: Did you buy _____ at the shops?
B: No, _____ . I didn't have any money.

apostrophe mark punctuation english

  1. something / anything

  2. everything / something

  3. anything / nothing

  4. no one / anybody

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The first sentence shows a genitive case is when we add apostrophe S (’s) to show possession, that something belongs to another or a type of relationship between things. In the second sentence, it is inferred that the person involved doesn't have any money. Therefore using logic we understand it's not possible for him to buy anything. Thus 'nothing' is the correct option that is the option C. Option B is ruled out as it is not possible for someone to buy something without possessing any money. Option A is ruled out as anything means at least one or more but the person  B  it is referred that he doesn't have any money. Similarly, Option D is discarded because it refers to one or more persons.

Fill in the blank with the most appropriate word.
I _____ to the news on the radio when the phone _____ .

apostrophe mark punctuation english

  1. listened / was ringing

  2. am listening / was ringing

  3. was listening / rang

  4. listen / is ringing

Show answer
Correct Option: C

Select the correctly punctuated sentence.

apostrophe mark punctuation english

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

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

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

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

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The Genitive case is a grammatical case for nouns and pronouns. It is used to show possession, but it can also show source of thing or characteristic of something. Unlike Possessive case, which is only related to ownership.

  Genitive case involves adding an apostrophe followed by "s" to the end of noun.

Correct answer: option (C)
Reason:
  • Apostrophe is in correct place. (Tim= Noun in genitive case ; car= Possession of noun 'Tim')
  • Punctuation (comma) is in correct place.
  • Apostrophe is in correct place. (chief constable= Noun in genitive case ; garage= Possession of noun 'chief constable')

Option (A) (B) (D) are incorrect.
Reason:
For option (A) - Apostrophe is absent before s in "Tims" and hence shows no possession. Thus invalid.
For option (B) - Punctuation (comma) is absent.
For option (D) - Apostrophe is in wrong place (his').

Select the correctly punctuated sentence.

apostrophe mark punctuation english

  1. That tall man, Paul's grandad, is this month's winner.

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

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

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

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The Genitive case is a grammatical case for nouns and pronouns. It is used to show possession, but it can also show source of thing or characteristic of something. Unlike Possessive case, which is only related to ownership.

  Genitive case involves adding an apostrophe followed by "s" to the end of noun.

Correct answer: option (A)
Reason:
  • Apostrophe is in correct place. (Paul's grandad= grandad of Paul ; month's winner= winner of the month)
  • Punctuation (comma) is in correct place.

Option (B) (C) (D) are incorrect.
Reason:
For option (B) - Punctuation (comma) is absent at required position. (Between words: man and Paul's ; Between words: grandad and is)
For option (C) - Apostrophe is absent before s in 'months'
For option (D) - Apostrophe is absent before s in 'Pauls'

Final answer; That tall man, Paul's grandad, is this month's winner.

Among the following sentences, only one has all the apostrophes correctly placed. Identify that correct sentence.

apostrophe mark punctuation english

  1. It's owners made Ted, the cat's life very comfortable.

  2. It's owners' made Ted, the cats life very comfortable.

  3. Its owners made Ted, the cat's life very comfortable.

  4. Its owners made Ted, the cats' life very comfortable.

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:
There is a difference between 'it's' and 'its'. 'Its' is the possessive form of it - meaning 'belonging to it' whereas, 'it's' is a shortened form of 'it is' or 'it has'.  Here we are talking about the cat's life as a possession, thus the usage of 'it's' will be incorrect. 
The second half of the sentence talks about only one cat, Ted. So, the usage of an apostrophe with the word cat is required.
Hence, Option C is the correct answer.
The other given Options do not fit the requirement of the sentence.

Identify the sentence that has been punctuated correctly. 

apostrophe mark punctuation english

  1. Bristol's harbour is one of the countrys most beautiful.

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

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

  4. Bristols' harbour is one of the countrys' most beautiful.

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:
According to general rule, the possessive of a singular noun (here, 'country' and 'Bristol') is formed by adding an apostrophe (') and s. Only an apostrophe is used for nouns that are singular but have a final word in plural and end with an s. 
Thus, by applying the rules of using apostrophe and eliminating the incorrect options, the correct answer must be Option C.


An incorrectly punctuated sentence is provided. Choose which of these options can correct it:
The building had lost all its window's and door's.

apostrophe mark punctuation english

  1. 'Its' is a possessive form and needs an apostrophe.

  2. The 'doors and windows' are plural and need the apostrophe after the final 's'.

  3. The 'doors and windows' do not need an apostrophe.

  4. There should be an apostrophe followed by 's' after 'building'. 

  5. All the above

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:

Apostrophe is used to indicate belonging. Here, apostrophe is used with 'door' and 'window' but there is nothing mentioned which belongs to the doors and windows. Therefore, the correct option is: C) The 'doors' and 'windows' do not need an apostrophe.