Insert the missing comma: 'Before the bell rang the pupils lined up quietly outside.'
(Total for Question 1 is 1 mark)
2
Which sentence punctuates the list correctly?
A) For the bake sale, Chloe made flapjacks brownies and a lemon drizzle cake.
B) For the bake sale, Chloe made flapjacks, brownies and a lemon drizzle cake.
C) For the bake sale Chloe made flapjacks, brownies, and a lemon drizzle cake.
D) For the bake sale, Chloe made flapjacks brownies, and a lemon drizzle cake.
(Total for Question 2 is 1 mark)
3
Insert the missing comma: 'Could you pass the scissors Mr Osei?'
(Total for Question 3 is 1 mark)
4
Which sentence correctly punctuates the extra information about Elowen's house? (Note: Elowen has only one house, so the extra detail is not needed to identify it.)
A) Elowen's house which has a bright red door is at the end of the lane.
B) Elowen's house, which has a bright red door, is at the end of the lane.
C) Elowen's house, which has a bright red door is at the end of the lane.
D) Elowen's house which has a bright red door, is at the end of the lane.
(Total for Question 4 is 1 mark)
5
This sentence contains a comma splice. Rewrite it correctly, using a semicolon instead of the comma: 'Hamza practised his times tables every evening, his marks improved quickly.'
(Total for Question 5 is 1 mark)
6
Insert the missing apostrophe: 'Im not sure where I left my PE kit.'
(Total for Question 6 is 1 mark)
7
Insert the missing apostrophe: 'Devans lunchbox was still on the kitchen table.'
(Total for Question 7 is 1 mark)
8
Insert the missing apostrophe: 'The twins bedroom was painted a pale blue.' (Note: two twins share the one bedroom.)
(Total for Question 8 is 1 mark)
9
Which sentence uses 'its' or 'it's' correctly?
A) The team celebrated it's victory with a pizza party.
B) Its a shame the match was rained off.
C) The library extended it's opening hours for exam season.
D) The cat curled up in its favourite spot by the radiator.
(Total for Question 9 is 1 mark)
10
Which sentence uses the possessive apostrophe correctly?
A) The mens changing room was being refurbished.
B) The men's changing room was being refurbished.
C) The men' changing room was being refurbished.
D) The mens' changing room was being refurbished.
(Total for Question 10 is 1 mark)
11
Ibrahim and Saoirse share one football that they bought together. Which sentence shows this joint ownership correctly?
A) Ibrahim's and Saoirse's football was left out in the rain.
B) Ibrahim and Saoirse's football was left out in the rain.
C) Ibrahims and Saoirses football was left out in the rain.
D) Ibrahim and Saoirse's footballs were left out in the rain.
(Total for Question 11 is 1 mark)
12
Which sentence punctuates the direct speech correctly?
A) Mr Farid said line up by the door.
B) Mr Farid said, "Line up by the door."
C) Mr Farid said, "line up by the door."
D) Mr Farid said "Line up by the door".
(Total for Question 12 is 1 mark)
13
Punctuate this sentence correctly, adding speech marks and a comma: 'Niamh shouted duck under the branch'
(Total for Question 13 is 1 mark)
14
Punctuate this sentence correctly, adding speech marks: 'Ffion asked is the museum open on bank holidays'
(Total for Question 14 is 1 mark)
15
Which sentence correctly punctuates the split speech?
A) We should, said Mrs Adeoye, leave before the rain gets heavier.
B) "We should," said Mrs Adeoye, "leave before the rain gets heavier."
C) "We should" said Mrs Adeoye, "leave before the rain gets heavier".
D) "We should," said Mrs Adeoye "leave before the rain gets heavier."
(Total for Question 15 is 1 mark)
16
This sentence has two punctuation errors in the speech. Identify and correct them: Rajesh whispered "the torch battery is dying"
(Total for Question 16 is 1 mark)
17
Insert the missing colon: 'Poppy needed three things for art class a sketchbook, a pencil and an eraser.'
(Total for Question 17 is 1 mark)
18
Which sentence uses the semicolon correctly?
A) The kettle boiled quickly; Deepak made a pot of tea.
B) The kettle boiled quickly, Deepak made a pot of tea;
C) The kettle boiled quickly; and Deepak made a pot of tea.
D) The kettle; boiled quickly Deepak made a pot of tea.
(Total for Question 18 is 1 mark)
19
Insert the missing colon: 'Callum finally understood why the plan had failed no one had checked the tide times.'
(Total for Question 19 is 1 mark)
20
Which sentence correctly punctuates a list whose items already contain commas?
A) The choir toured Leeds, West Yorkshire, Hull, East Yorkshire and Selby, North Yorkshire.
B) The choir toured Leeds, West Yorkshire; Hull, East Yorkshire; and Selby, North Yorkshire.
C) The choir toured Leeds; West Yorkshire, Hull; East Yorkshire and Selby, North Yorkshire.
D) The choir toured Leeds, West Yorkshire: Hull, East Yorkshire: and Selby, North Yorkshire.
(Total for Question 20 is 1 mark)
21
Which sentence correctly uses brackets to add extra, non-essential information?
A) The recipe (which Grandma wrote in 1985 needs) three eggs.
B) The recipe, which Grandma wrote in 1985, (needs three eggs).
C) The recipe (which Grandma wrote in 1985) needs three eggs.
D) The (recipe which Grandma wrote in 1985) needs three eggs.
(Total for Question 21 is 1 mark)
22
Add a pair of brackets around the extra information in this sentence: 'The trip cost £45 per pupil which included lunch and entry to the museum.'
(Total for Question 22 is 1 mark)
23
In the sentence 'Tomasz picked up his umbrella (a bright yellow one) before leaving the house', which best describes the bracketed words?
A) Essential - the sentence would not make sense without them.
B) Extra detail - the sentence still makes complete sense if they are removed.
C) The main clause of the sentence.
D) A separate sentence joined by a semicolon.
(Total for Question 23 is 1 mark)
24
This sentence is missing its closing bracket. Rewrite it correctly: 'Bethan's science project (which took three weekends to build won first prize at the school fair.'
(Total for Question 24 is 1 mark)
25
In the sentence 'The narrow footpath wound along the cliff edge', what word class is 'narrow'?
A) noun
B) verb
C) adjective
D) adverb
(Total for Question 25 is 1 mark)
26
In the sentence 'Ngozi carefully balanced the test tube on its stand', what word class is 'carefully'?
A) adjective
B) adverb
C) preposition
D) conjunction
(Total for Question 26 is 1 mark)
27
In the sentence 'The kayak drifted past the old jetty', what word class is 'past'?
A) adverb
B) verb
C) preposition
D) noun
(Total for Question 27 is 1 mark)
28
In the sentence 'Rhian revised every evening so that she would feel prepared', what word class is 'so that'?
A) preposition
B) conjunction
C) adverb
D) pronoun
(Total for Question 28 is 1 mark)
29
In the sentence 'Which is your coat?', what word class is 'Which'?
A) determiner
B) pronoun
C) adjective
D) conjunction
(Total for Question 29 is 1 mark)
30
Which tense is used in this sentence? 'Idris trains at the swimming pool every Tuesday.'
A) present simple
B) present continuous
C) past simple
D) present perfect
(Total for Question 30 is 1 mark)
31
Which sentence correctly rewrites 'Sian writes a letter to her pen pal' in the past tense?
A) Sian writed a letter to her pen pal.
B) Sian wrote a letter to her pen pal.
C) Sian has written a letter to her pen pal.
D) Sian was writing a letter to her pen pal.
(Total for Question 31 is 1 mark)
32
Choose the correct word to complete the sentence: 'By the time the bell rings, Connor ___ his entire lunch.'
A) eats
B) will eat
C) will have eaten
D) has eaten
(Total for Question 32 is 1 mark)
33
Which sentence uses the present perfect tense correctly?
A) Isla has visited Edinburgh Castle three times.
B) Isla visits Edinburgh Castle three times.
C) Isla was visiting Edinburgh Castle three times.
D) Isla had visited Edinburgh Castle three times.
(Total for Question 33 is 1 mark)
34
Which tense is used in this sentence? 'Malachy has been practising the trumpet for two years.'
A) present perfect
B) present perfect continuous
C) past continuous
D) present continuous
(Total for Question 34 is 1 mark)
35
Choose the correct verb to complete the sentence: 'Each of the runners ___ a number pinned to their vest.'
A) have
B) has
C) having
D) have had
(Total for Question 35 is 1 mark)
36
Choose the correct verb to complete the sentence: 'Aaliyah and her brother ___ walking to school together this term.'
A) is
B) are
C) was
D) has been
(Total for Question 36 is 1 mark)
37
Choose the correct verb to complete the sentence: 'The orchestra ___ tuning their instruments before the concert began.'
A) was
B) were
C) is
D) has been
(Total for Question 37 is 1 mark)
38
Choose the correct verb to complete the sentence: 'Neither the coach nor the players ___ satisfied with the result.'
A) was
B) were
C) is
D) has been
(Total for Question 38 is 1 mark)
39
Choose the correct verb to complete the sentence: 'The list of ingredients for the cake ___ pinned to the noticeboard.'
A) is
B) are
C) were
D) have been
(Total for Question 39 is 1 mark)
40
Which words form the subordinate clause in this sentence? 'Because the tide was rising fast, the fishermen packed up early.'
A) Because the tide was rising fast
B) the fishermen
C) packed up early
D) the fishermen packed up early
(Total for Question 40 is 1 mark)
41
Which words form the subordinate clause in this sentence? 'The photograph that won the competition was taken in the Lake District.'
A) The photograph
B) that won the competition
C) was taken
D) in the Lake District
(Total for Question 41 is 1 mark)
42
Which words form the main clause in this sentence? 'Even though the ferry was delayed, the passengers stayed remarkably calm.'
A) Even though the ferry was delayed
B) the passengers stayed remarkably calm
C) remarkably calm
D) Even though the ferry
(Total for Question 42 is 1 mark)
43
Which words form the subordinate clause in this sentence? 'The bridge, which had stood for over a century, was finally closed for repairs.'
A) The bridge
B) which had stood for over a century
C) was finally closed
D) for repairs
(Total for Question 43 is 1 mark)
44
What type of sentence is this? 'Meera packed her bag, and she checked the timetable twice.'
A) Simple sentence
B) Compound sentence
C) Complex sentence
D) Compound-complex sentence
(Total for Question 44 is 1 mark)
45
What type of sentence is this? 'Since the museum was closed for renovation, Ade and Wiktoria visited the art gallery instead.'
A) Simple sentence
B) Compound sentence
C) Complex sentence
D) Minor sentence
(Total for Question 45 is 1 mark)
46
What type of sentence is this? 'Although the wind picked up, Kofi launched his kite, and it soared above the beach within seconds.'
A) Simple sentence
B) Compound sentence
C) Complex sentence
D) Compound-complex sentence
(Total for Question 46 is 1 mark)
47
What type of sentence is this? 'What a relief it was to finally see the finish line!'
A) Statement
B) Question
C) Command
D) Exclamation
(Total for Question 47 is 1 mark)
Mark scheme · EP.E47 Punctuation and Grammar Focus
Question 1
B1 places a comma immediately after 'rang', marking the end of the fronted adverbial clause (cao)
Answer: Before the bell rang, the pupils lined up quietly outside.
Question 2
B1 B - places a comma after the fronted phrase and separates each list item with a comma
Answer: B) For the bake sale, Chloe made flapjacks, brownies and a lemon drizzle cake.
Question 3
B1 places a comma before the name of the person directly addressed (cao)
Answer: Could you pass the scissors, Mr Osei?
Question 4
B1 B - marks the non-defining clause 'which has a bright red door' with a comma on both sides
Answer: B) Elowen's house, which has a bright red door, is at the end of the lane.
Question 5
B1 replaces the comma with a semicolon, correctly joining the two related complete clauses; accept rewriting as two separate sentences with a full stop instead (oe)
Answer: Hamza practised his times tables every evening; his marks improved quickly.
Question 6
B1 places the apostrophe in 'I'm', the contraction of 'I am' (cao)
Answer: I'm not sure where I left my PE kit.
Question 7
B1 places the apostrophe before the s, showing one person (Devan) owns the lunchbox (cao)
Answer: Devan's lunchbox was still on the kitchen table.
Question 8
B1 places the apostrophe after the plural s, showing both twins own the bedroom (cao)
Answer: The twins' bedroom was painted a pale blue.
Question 9
B1 D - uses 'its' without an apostrophe correctly to show possession
Answer: D) The cat curled up in its favourite spot by the radiator.
Question 10
B1 B - places apostrophe plus s after the irregular plural 'men'
Answer: B) The men's changing room was being refurbished.
Question 11
B1 B - places the possessive apostrophe + s only on the second name, showing joint ownership of the one football
Answer: B) Ibrahim and Saoirse's football was left out in the rain.
Question 12
B1 B - uses a comma before the speech marks, a capital letter to start the quotation, and the full stop inside the closing speech mark
Answer: B) Mr Farid said, "Line up by the door."
Question 13
B1 adds a comma after 'shouted' and encloses the spoken words in speech marks, with the exclamation mark placed inside the closing speech mark (cao)
Answer: Niamh shouted, "Duck under the branch!"
Question 14
B1 adds a comma after 'asked' and encloses the spoken words in speech marks, with the question mark placed inside the closing speech mark (cao)
Answer: Ffion asked, "Is the museum open on bank holidays?"
Question 15
B1 B - closes the speech marks before the reporting clause 'said Mrs Adeoye' and reopens them after it, with a comma on both sides of the reporting clause
Answer: B) "We should," said Mrs Adeoye, "leave before the rain gets heavier."
Question 16
B1 adds the missing comma before the opening speech mark and capitalises 'the' to 'The' to start the quotation (cao, both corrections required)
Answer: Rajesh whispered, "The torch battery is dying."
Question 17
B1 places the colon after 'class', introducing the list after a complete clause (cao)
Answer: Poppy needed three things for art class: a sketchbook, a pencil and an eraser.
Question 18
B1 A - joins two complete, closely related clauses with a semicolon alone
Answer: A) The kettle boiled quickly; Deepak made a pot of tea.
Question 19
B1 places the colon after 'failed', introducing the explanation that follows a complete clause (cao)
Answer: Callum finally understood why the plan had failed: no one had checked the tide times.
Question 20
B1 B - semicolons separate the three main list items, each of which already contains a comma, avoiding confusion
Answer: B) The choir toured Leeds, West Yorkshire; Hull, East Yorkshire; and Selby, North Yorkshire.
Question 21
B1 C - brackets open right after 'recipe' and close right before 'needs', leaving the main clause intact
Answer: C) The recipe (which Grandma wrote in 1985) needs three eggs.
Question 22
B1 places brackets around the non-essential clause 'which included lunch and entry to the museum' (cao)
Answer: The trip cost £45 per pupil (which included lunch and entry to the museum).
Question 23
B1 B - the bracketed words are extra, non-essential detail
Answer: B) Extra detail - the sentence still makes complete sense if they are removed.
Question 24
B1 closes the bracket after 'build', immediately before the main clause resumes with 'won' (cao)
Answer: Bethan's science project (which took three weekends to build) won first prize at the school fair.
Question 25
B1 C - adjective - it describes the noun 'footpath'
Answer: C) adjective
Question 26
B1 B - adverb - it describes how the action 'balanced' was done
Answer: B) adverb
Question 27
B1 C - preposition - it shows the relationship in place between 'drifted' and 'the old jetty'
Answer: C) preposition
Question 28
B1 B - conjunction (subordinating) - it joins the two clauses and shows purpose
Answer: B) conjunction
Question 29
B1 B - pronoun - it stands alone as the subject of the sentence, not describing a following noun
Answer: B) pronoun
Question 30
B1 A - present simple - describes a regular, habitual action
Answer: A) present simple
Question 31
B1 B - wrote - the correct irregular simple past form of 'write'
Answer: B) Sian wrote a letter to her pen pal.
Question 32
B1 C - will have eaten - future perfect tense, for an action completed before a stated future point in time
Answer: C) will have eaten
Question 33
B1 A - has visited - links a completed action to the present moment
Answer: A) Isla has visited Edinburgh Castle three times.
Question 34
B1 B - present perfect continuous - 'has been' plus the '-ing' form describes an action that started in the past and is still continuing
Answer: B) present perfect continuous
Question 35
B1 B - has - agrees with the singular indefinite pronoun 'Each'
Answer: B) has
Question 36
B1 B - are - agrees with the plural compound subject joined by 'and'
Answer: B) are
Question 37
B1 B - were - agrees with the collective noun 'orchestra' treated as individual members, matching the plural pronoun 'their'
Answer: B) were
Question 38
B1 B - were - with 'neither...nor', the verb agrees with the nearer subject, the plural 'players'
Answer: B) were
Question 39
B1 A - is - agrees with the singular true subject 'list', not the plural noun inside the prepositional phrase
Answer: A) is
Question 40
B1 A - Because the tide was rising fast - cannot stand alone as a complete sentence and depends on the main clause
Answer: A) Because the tide was rising fast
Question 41
B1 B - that won the competition - a relative clause giving essential information about which photograph is meant, and cannot stand alone
Answer: B) that won the competition
Question 42
B1 B - the passengers stayed remarkably calm - can stand alone as a complete sentence
Answer: B) the passengers stayed remarkably calm
Question 43
B1 B - which had stood for over a century - extra information about 'the bridge', marked off by commas, that cannot stand alone
Answer: B) which had stood for over a century
Question 44
B1 B - Compound sentence - two main clauses are joined by the coordinating conjunction 'and'
Answer: B) Compound sentence
Question 45
B1 C - Complex sentence - one main clause plus a subordinate clause, with no coordinating conjunction joining two main clauses
Answer: C) Complex sentence
Question 46
B1 D - Compound-complex sentence - two main clauses joined by 'and', plus a subordinate clause
Answer: D) Compound-complex sentence
Question 47
B1 D - Exclamation - it begins with 'What' to express strong feeling and ends with an exclamation mark