Punctuation Worksheet

Read the following definitions before punctuating the sentences.

Full Stop

Marks the end of a complete sentence or statement, e.g. Ben really likes chocolate cake. Question Mark

Used at the end of a direct question, e.g. What is your favourite colour?

Exclamation Mark

Indicates surprise, emphasis, strong emotion and sometimes disbelief, e.g. That's terrible!

Comma

Separates units of meaning in a sentence, e.g. I love playing basketball, tennis, and badminton.

Semi-colon

Separates two main clauses that are closely related to each other, but could stand on their own as
sentences, e.g. Heather likes oranges; James likes pears.

Colon

Comes after a complete sentence to introduce a list, quote or definition, e.g. You should bring three
things: flour, sugar and water.

Dash

Separates elements within a sentence and indicates emphasis, interruption, or an abrupt change of
thought. Can act as brackets or be used in place of the word 'to', e.g. Could you please try - try your very
hardest - to ignore him.

Ellipsis

Indicates that one or more words are missing, e.g. Indicates...

Brackets/Parentheses

Enclose additional related information, e.g. I left you some cake (it's in the fridge.) Apostrophe

Indicates possession, or that letters have been left out, e.g. That's Jerry's book.

Quotation/Inverted Commas

Indicates quotes, direct speech and slang or foreign phrases, e.g.

"I'm sorry, I simply don't remember," she said.

A) Insert semicolons, colons, or commas as required.

1. Many reasons exist for poor written communication lack of planning, poor grammar misuse of

punctuation marks and insufficient vocabulary.

2. The crime scene investigators collected an odd assortment of evidence bird feathers gold coins

two soda cans rope and nail clippers.

3. Tension rose rapidly during yesterday’s meeting nevertheless, most of the council members

remained calm.

4. Her chorus teacher had an eclectic taste in music salsa classical country rock pop and blues.

5. The text message caught Alan by surprise fans who remain on the field will be arrested.

6. The driver knew what he had to do when he saw the paramedics remain calm.

7. JFK said “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” 8.

When buying a laptop, consider these three factors cost, processor speed and internal memory.

9. Take with you only the most essential items leave behind all bulky and heavy items.

10. These seat covers are the most durable kind they are reinforced with double stitching and covered

with a heavy plastic coating.

11. Ordered inventory includes the following coats scarves and boots.

12. Two things annoy the substitute teacher the most talking during class and not listening to

instructions.

13. Kevin always studies before taking a math test actually Mabel also reviews the study guide to

make sure she’s prepared.

14. When the lost purse was returned to them they decided to reward the person who found it.

15. All written assignments must be grammatically correct for example subjects must agree with

their verbs in number.

16. The car trunk was large enough for everything rackets golf clubs fishing supplies suitcases

coolers and life preservers.

B) Each of the following sentences needs either a comma or a semicolon. Put in the necessary
punctuation.
1. I thought registration day would be tiring but I didn't know I'd have to stand in so many lines.
2. The dog growling and snarling snapped at me I was so frightened that I ran.

3. Professors are supposed to be absent-minded and I've seen plenty of evidence to support that

claim since I've been in college.

4. The suspect said that he had never met the victim however, the detective knew that he was lying.

5. I have read Soul on Ice but I have not read The Invisible Man.

6. The quarterback made a brilliant pass and the end crossed the goal line for the winning
touchdown.

7. Ron and Mike were both in English class this morning they gave an interesting presentation on

their research.

8. Riding a bicycle is excellent exercise I ride mine every day.

9. I am not interested in a trip to Asia this year however, I would like to go to Europe.

10. Not all highly educated people enjoy traveling but many world travelers are particularly well

educated.

11. Jack worked overtime to pay off his education debts at least that was his explanation for his long

hours.

12. Katherine has given up smoking about five times but she cannot seem to break the habit.

13. His work may be almost totally forgotten but he would certainly be surprised to see how much

current scholarship simply echoes his ideas.

14. Our dog seems to have a built-in alarm clock he wakes us up at exactly the same time every

morning.

15. The passengers on the plane were initially alarmed by the loss of altitude but the pilot and the

crew kept them calm.

16. I realized at once that something was wrong I was not, however, the only person who was

concerned.

17. I had to complete the assignment by Friday otherwise, I would have failed the course.

18. Ralph decided to be a chemist but he changed his mind after taking Chem. 121.

19. I finished reading The Nation and then I went to bed.

20. We always go to the mountains in the fall they are at their prettiest at that time of year.
21. Tim went to the candy store quite often the clerk even knew his name.

22. Criticism of capitalist expansionism does not surface in most discussions of the worldwide

ecological crisis indeed, proposed solutions rarely deviate from a basic message of further

technological "progress."

23. The president has pledged to cut taxes repeatedly and the public has responded enthusiastically.

24. The office was closed consequently I could not pay my bill.

25. The air was beautifully clear it was a lovely day. C) Punctuate the following sentences:

1. where have you been all day.

2. ill need two things a tent and a sleeping bag

3. i dont believe it

4. youre my friend my very best friend

5. how awful

6. please could you fetch me three apples two pears a peach and a carton of orange juice

7. if you dont stop that immediately im going to

8. dont do that actually never mind

9. move along theres nothing to see the police officer said

10. thomas has five hundred pounds £500

11. come back thats benjamins bike she yelled

12. shenika cant stand fruit cake benny will eat it

D) Complete this passage by adding commas where appropriate:

Tommy woke up early on the morning of the school trip packed his bag twice as quickly as usual
and ate breakfast really fast. He ran all the way to school almost bumping into his best friend as
he reached the school gates. He had never been to the zoo before and Mr Thompson had
promised that there would be hippos tigers snakes and more! Tommy’s biggest wish was to see
a lion though. He knew lions had huge teeth big claws and a loud roar but he wanted to see it
for himself.

E) Complete this passage by adding apostrophes where appropriate:

The tigers roar was so loud it could be heard all through the jungle. "Do you think its coming
this way?" Timmy whispered to his sister.
"I dont think so," she said uncertainly. Timmys heart was pounding in his chest as they crept
carefully through the bushes. Then, out of nowhere, two tigers appeared! The tigers teeth
looked sharp, their claws deadly.

Run! shouted Timmy.