Tag: ellipses

Questions Related to ellipses

Choose the option that expresses a change of mood or trailing off of thought:

ellipses punctuation english

  1. I ate too much food, so I couldn't sleep too well.

  2. I ate some chicken, soup ... . I'm too sleepy.

  3. Today has been a relaxed day for Elena; she didn't work as much as she'd like to.

  4. No option

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:
An ellipsis is used to indicate omission or trailing off thought. This function of the punctuation ellipsis is well described in Option B. The remaining options do not describe trailing off of thought.

Choose the option that indicates a change in mood or trailing off of thought:

ellipses punctuation english

  1. I was going to call you back, but... .

  2. Could you repeat what you just said?

  3. We went for a movie ... then we came back home early.

  4. I've worked so hard on this presentation : let's hope it goes well.

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:
An ellipsis is used to indicate omission or trailing off thought. This function of the punctuation ellipsis is well described in Option A. The remaining options do not describe trailing off of thought.
Say whether the statement is True or False:

He thought to himself... but couldn't say a word.
 The position of the ellipsis is correct.
ellipses punctuation english

  1. True

  2. False

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Option A is correct. The ellipsis here signifies the suppressed thought.

Put ellipsis (...) in the correct place in the following sentence:-

Mother : Why are you ?

Son (interrupting) : Bye.

ellipses punctuation english

  1. after 'why'

  2. NO change

  3. after 'Bye'

  4. after 'you'

Show answer
Correct Option: D
Explanation:

An ellipsis is a series of dots, typically three, that usually indicates an intentional omission of a word, sentence, or whole section from a text without altering its original meaning.
In this case, the son interrupts his mother and doesn't let her complete her words which obviously get lost in thin air. So, the ellipsis has to be put after 'you' to signify the unsaid words of the mother. Hence, Option D is correct.

What does an ellipsis indicate?

ellipses punctuation english

  1. repetition

  2. omission

  3. phrase 

  4. clause

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:

An ellipsis is a series of dots that usually indicates an intentional omission of a word, sentence, or whole section from a text without altering its original meaning. Thus, Option B is correct and the others are not.

Put ellipsis (...) in the correct place in the following sentence:-

You can defend the fort but you cannot . I'll take it away from you.

ellipses punctuation english

  1. NO change

  2. after "cannot"

  3. after "you can"

  4. before "cannot"

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:

An ellipsis is a series of dots that usually indicates an intentional omission of a word, sentence, or whole section from a text without altering its original meaning.

In this case, it's clearly visible that after 'cannot' there will be an ellipsis as it's pretty clear that the speaker has something in his mind which he doesn't wish to say because he knows that the one who is listening to him has already understood what he actually wants to say. The speaker wants to say 'You can defend the fort but you cannot (win). I'll take it away from you.' So, Option B is correct and the other options cancel out.

Identify the underlined punctuation:


Ram said to his mother, "I have failed in the exam."
Mother said, "I... I am out of words. I... don't know what to say."

ellipses punctuation english

  1. ellipsis

  2. semi colon

  3. hyphen

  4. colon

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

Option A is correct as ellipsis is three dots like (...)
Option B is incorrect as semi colon is a dot with a comma below it like ( ; )
Option C is incorrect because hyphen is a small dash like ( - )
Option D is incorrect because it looks like one dot on the top of another ( : )

How many dots make an ellipsis?

ellipses punctuation english

  1. two

  2. four

  3. three

  4. five

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:
An ellipsis is made of three dots called ellipsis points. Ellipses are exactly three dots, not two or four or five. Hence, Option C is correct.

State whether the statement is true or false..

I was thinking... well... may be I could join you all tonight. 
The usage of ellipsis is correct.
ellipses punctuation english

  1. True

  2. False

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

There is a pause in the thought process and even after saying 'well', the speaker thinks. That is why the usage of the ellipses is correct.

What do the three dots in the sentence suggest?
She opened the door and saw . . . a cake!

ellipses punctuation english

  1. a trailing thought

  2. an omission

  3. repetition

  4. figure of speech

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:

It obviously suggests a trailing thought. She opened the door with the expectation that someone must be at the door but she sees a cake to her surprise. Thus, Option A is correct and the other options cancel out.