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11+ · English - Punctuation and Sentence Accuracy

EP.E6 Punctuation Error-Spot

GL ASSESSMENT / CSSE 11+ Entrance English (GL Assessment / CSSE style) · Calculators not allowed · about 60 minutes

Total Marks

Name: _______________________________ Date: ____ / ____ / ______

Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

The Night Ferry

Source written for Revision Library (original, copyright-free). This extract has been deliberately punctuated with errors in sentences [1] to [5], for editing practice in this worksheet; those five lines are not a model of correct usage. Sentences [6] to [10] are correctly punctuated and are used later in the worksheet as reference examples.

[1] Its a cold October evening and the ferry is late again.

[2] The harbour master checked his watch, then he shouted across the quay.

[3] "Wheres the ferry gone" asked Priya, staring into the fog.

[4] Layla packed her bag's: a torch, a flask of tea, and an old brass compass.

[5] The three sailor's coats were soaked through by the time they reached the pier.

[6] At last a light flickered somewhere out on the water, small and steady.

[7] The ferry was not fast, but it was reliable; nobody on the quay doubted it would arrive.

[8] Passengers needed three things: a ticket, a torch and a little patience.

[9] "Climb aboard," called the ferryman, "before the tide turns."

[10] By the time the ferry reached the harbour, the fog had lifted and the stars had returned.

Look at sentence [1] of 'The Night Ferry': "Its a cold October evening and the ferry is late again." Identify the punctuation error and write out the sentence correctly.

(Total for Question 1 is 2 marks)

Look at sentence [2] of 'The Night Ferry': "The harbour master checked his watch, then he shouted across the quay." Identify the punctuation error and write out the sentence correctly.

(Total for Question 2 is 2 marks)

Look at sentence [3] of 'The Night Ferry': "Wheres the ferry gone" asked Priya, staring into the fog. This sentence has two punctuation errors.

(Total for Question 3 is 3 marks)

Look at sentence [4] of 'The Night Ferry': "Layla packed her bag's: a torch, a flask of tea, and an old brass compass." Identify the punctuation error and write out the sentence correctly.

(Total for Question 4 is 2 marks)

Look at sentence [5] of 'The Night Ferry': "The three sailor's coats were soaked through by the time they reached the pier." Identify the punctuation error and write out the sentence correctly.

(Total for Question 5 is 2 marks)

Which sentence uses the colon correctly to introduce a list?

A) Mr Okafor needed several tools: a hammer, nails and glue.
B) Mr Okafor needed: several tools, a hammer, nails and glue.
C) Mr Okafor needed several tools, a hammer: nails and glue.
D) Mr Okafor needed several tools a hammer, nails: and glue.

(Total for Question 6 is 2 marks)

Correct the punctuation of this sentence, which contains a comma splice: "The rain had stopped, the pavements were still wet."

(Total for Question 7 is 2 marks)

Correct all the punctuation and capitalisation errors in this line of dialogue: "we should hurry" said ade "before the gates close"

(Total for Question 8 is 3 marks)

Correct the punctuation error in this sentence: "The dog wagged it's tail happily."

(Total for Question 9 is 2 marks)

Insert the missing pair of commas in this sentence: "Freya my best friend is moving to Cardiff next month."

(Total for Question 10 is 2 marks)

Correct the punctuation error in this sentence: "Ben asked whether the museum was open on Sundays?"

(Total for Question 11 is 2 marks)

Which sentence is correctly punctuated?

A) The museum had one rule: no photography.
B) The museum had one rule; no photography.
C) The museum had one rule, no photography.
D) The museum had one rule no photography.

(Total for Question 12 is 2 marks)

This sentence contains two apostrophe errors: "The ladie's changing room was locked, but the mens changing room was open."

(Total for Question 13 is 3 marks)

Correct the punctuation error in this sentence: "The old lighthouse (built in 1887 was declared unsafe last year."

(Total for Question 14 is 2 marks)

Correct the apostrophe error in this sentence, given that Tom and Priya jointly own one boat: "Toms and Priyas boat drifted from the mooring."

(Total for Question 15 is 2 marks)

Correct the punctuation error in this sentence and explain why: "The forecast promised sunshine, however the clouds refused to clear."

(Total for Question 16 is 3 marks)

Read the paragraph below, about the village fete. It contains exactly five punctuation errors, one in each numbered sentence. Identify and correct each one.

(a) The fete was held on Saturday morning, everyone from the village came.
(b) Mrs Kowalski's stall sold jam's, chutney and homemade bread.
(c) "Would you like a slice of cake" asked Ade, holding out a plate.
(d) The rain that everyone had feared, never arrived.
(e) By six oclock the last stall had packed away.

(a)Sentence (a)(1)

(b)Sentence (b)(1)

(c)Sentence (c)(1)

(d)Sentence (d)(1)

(e)Sentence (e)(1)

(Total for Question 17 is 5 marks)

Look again at sentence [7] of 'The Night Ferry': "The ferry was not fast, but it was reliable; nobody on the quay doubted it would arrive." Explain why the semicolon, rather than a comma, is the correct choice before 'nobody'.

(Total for Question 18 is 2 marks)

This sentence contains a comma splice: "The tide was rising, we needed to leave now." Rewrite it correctly in three different ways, using a different method of correction each time.

(i)Correct the sentence using a full stop to make two separate sentences.(1)

(ii)Correct the sentence using a semicolon.(1)

(iii)Correct the sentence using a coordinating conjunction after the comma.(1)

(Total for Question 19 is 3 marks)

Correct all the punctuation and capitalisation errors in this line of interrupted speech: you should not go there alone said freya its not safe after dark

(Total for Question 20 is 3 marks)

Read the paragraph below, continuing the story of the night ferry after it reaches Whitby. It contains exactly seven punctuation errors, one in each numbered sentence. Identify and correct each one.

(a) Callum grabbed his coat, then he ran down to the harbour.
(b) The three passenger's tickets had been checked twice before boarding.
(c) "Is this the last ferry of the night" asked Aaliyah, gripping the rail.
(d) Whitby which was still shrouded in mist finally came into view.
(e) The captain announced one thing; everyone must stay seated.
(f) All four deckhands coats were dripping with sea spray.
(g) Its strange, Callum thought, how quickly the fog can clear.

(a)Sentence (a)(1)

(b)Sentence (b)(1)

(c)Sentence (c)(1)

(d)Sentence (d)(1)

(e)Sentence (e)(1)

(f)Sentence (f)(1)

(g)Sentence (g)(1)

(Total for Question 21 is 7 marks)

Look again at sentence [8] of 'The Night Ferry': "Passengers needed three things: a ticket, a torch and a little patience." A different writer suggested changing the colon to a semicolon: "Passengers needed three things; a ticket, a torch and a little patience." Explain two reasons why the original colon is the better choice.

(a)Give your first reason.(2)

(b)Give your second reason.(2)

(Total for Question 22 is 4 marks)

Mark scheme · EP.E6 Punctuation Error-Spot

Question 1

B1 identifies that 'Its' should be the contraction 'It's' (missing apostrophe showing the omitted letter of 'is')
B1 writes the full corrected sentence: 'It's a cold October evening and the ferry is late again.' (cao)
Answer: It's a cold October evening and the ferry is late again.

Question 2

B1 identifies the comma splice: two independent clauses ('The harbour master checked his watch' and 'he shouted across the quay') are wrongly joined by a comma alone
B1 gives a valid correction (oe), for example: 'The harbour master checked his watch; then he shouted across the quay.' or 'The harbour master checked his watch, and then he shouted across the quay.' or as two sentences with a full stop
Answer: The harbour master checked his watch; then he shouted across the quay. (or: ...watch, and then he shouted...; or as two separate sentences)

Question 3

B1 identifies and corrects the missing apostrophe: 'Wheres' should be 'Where's' (cao)
B1 identifies and corrects the missing question mark, which is needed before the closing speech mark because the quoted words form a question: 'gone?"' (cao)
B1 writes out the whole sentence correctly punctuated: '"Where's the ferry gone?" asked Priya, staring into the fog.' (cao)
Answer: "Where's the ferry gone?" asked Priya, staring into the fog.

Question 4

B1 identifies that 'bag's' is wrong: this is a simple plural (more than one bag), not a possessive, so no apostrophe is needed
B1 writes the full corrected sentence: 'Layla packed her bags: a torch, a flask of tea, and an old brass compass.' (cao)
Answer: Layla packed her bags: a torch, a flask of tea, and an old brass compass.

Question 5

B1 identifies that 'sailor's' is wrong: since there are three sailors, the apostrophe for this regular plural possessive must go after the 's' ('sailors''), not before it
B1 writes the full corrected sentence: 'The three sailors' coats were soaked through by the time they reached the pier.' (cao)
Answer: The three sailors' coats were soaked through by the time they reached the pier.

Question 6

B1 selects option A (cao)
B1 explains that the colon correctly follows a complete independent clause ('Mr Okafor needed several tools') before introducing the list that explains it (oe)
Answer: A) Mr Okafor needed several tools: a hammer, nails and glue.

Question 7

B1 identifies that a comma alone cannot join the two independent clauses
B1 gives a valid correction (oe), for example: 'The rain had stopped; the pavements were still wet.' or 'The rain had stopped, but the pavements were still wet.' or as two separate sentences
Answer: The rain had stopped; the pavements were still wet. (or: ...stopped, but the pavements were still wet.)

Question 8

B1 corrects the opening of the speech, including the capital 'W' on 'We' and a comma (not nothing) before the closing speech mark: '"We should hurry,"'
B1 corrects the reporting clause, including the capital 'A' on the proper noun 'Ade' and a comma after 'Ade' before the quotation resumes: 'said Ade,'
B1 corrects the closing of the speech, including a full stop inside the final closing speech mark: 'before the gates close."'
Answer: "We should hurry," said Ade, "before the gates close."

Question 9

B1 identifies that 'it's' is wrong here: this is the possessive pronoun (the tail belongs to the dog), which never takes an apostrophe
B1 writes the full corrected sentence: 'The dog wagged its tail happily.' (cao)
Answer: The dog wagged its tail happily.

Question 10

B1 identifies that the additional information 'my best friend' needs to be marked off from the rest of the sentence
B1 writes the full corrected sentence with a comma both before and after the added information: 'Freya, my best friend, is moving to Cardiff next month.' (cao)
Answer: Freya, my best friend, is moving to Cardiff next month.

Question 11

B1 identifies that this is a reported (indirect) question, not a direct question, so it should not end with a question mark
B1 writes the full corrected sentence ending with a full stop: 'Ben asked whether the museum was open on Sundays.' (cao)
Answer: Ben asked whether the museum was open on Sundays.

Question 12

B1 selects option A (cao)
B1 explains that 'no photography' is not an independent clause, so a semicolon (B) is wrong; a colon is needed because the second part explains or expands on 'one rule' (oe)
Answer: A) The museum had one rule: no photography.

Question 13

B1 corrects 'ladie's' to 'ladies'' (the regular plural possessive apostrophe goes after the final 's')
B1 corrects 'mens' to 'men's' (an irregular plural such as 'men' takes an apostrophe plus 's', as if it were singular)
B1 explains the difference: regular plurals ending in 's' add the apostrophe after the 's' (ladies'), whereas irregular plurals that do not end in 's' add an apostrophe and 's' (men's) (oe)
Answer: The ladies' changing room was locked, but the men's changing room was open.

Question 14

B1 identifies that the opening bracket after 'lighthouse' has no matching closing bracket
B1 writes the full corrected sentence with the closing bracket inserted after '1887': 'The old lighthouse (built in 1887) was declared unsafe last year.' (cao)
Answer: The old lighthouse (built in 1887) was declared unsafe last year.

Question 15

B1 identifies that both names need an apostrophe, but because the boat is jointly owned, only the second name takes the possessive apostrophe plus 's'
B1 writes the full corrected sentence: 'Tom and Priya's boat drifted from the mooring.' (cao)
Answer: Tom and Priya's boat drifted from the mooring.

Question 16

B1 identifies that a comma alone cannot join two independent clauses linked by 'however'
B1 gives the correction: a semicolon (or full stop) before 'however', with a comma after it: 'The forecast promised sunshine; however, the clouds refused to clear.' (cao)
B1 explains that 'however' is a conjunctive adverb, not a coordinating conjunction like 'but', so it cannot join two clauses with only a comma before it (oe)
Answer: The forecast promised sunshine; however, the clouds refused to clear.

Question 17

(a) B1 identifies the comma splice and gives a valid correction (oe), for example: 'The fete was held on Saturday morning; everyone from the village came.'
(a) Answer: The fete was held on Saturday morning; everyone from the village came.
(b) B1 identifies that 'jam's' is an unnecessary apostrophe on a simple plural and corrects it to 'jams' (cao)
(b) Answer: Mrs Kowalski's stall sold jams, chutney and homemade bread.
(c) B1 identifies the missing question mark before the closing speech mark and inserts it: 'cake?"' (cao)
(c) Answer: "Would you like a slice of cake?" asked Ade, holding out a plate.
(d) B1 identifies the unnecessary comma before 'never arrived' and removes it (cao)
(d) Answer: The rain that everyone had feared never arrived.
(e) B1 identifies the missing apostrophe in 'oclock' and corrects it to 'o'clock' (cao)
(e) Answer: By six o'clock the last stall had packed away.

Question 18

B1 identifies that 'nobody on the quay doubted it would arrive' is a complete, independent clause that could stand alone as its own sentence
B1 explains that a semicolon (not a comma) is needed to join two independent clauses that are closely related in meaning, since a comma alone would create a comma splice (oe)
Answer: A semicolon is correct because both halves of the sentence are complete clauses that could stand alone; joining them with a comma alone would be a comma splice.

Question 19

(i) B1 'The tide was rising. We needed to leave now.' (cao)
(i) Answer: The tide was rising. We needed to leave now.
(ii) B1 'The tide was rising; we needed to leave now.' (cao)
(ii) Answer: The tide was rising; we needed to leave now.
(iii) B1 accept any sensible conjunction that keeps the original meaning, for example: 'The tide was rising, so we needed to leave now.' (oe)
(iii) Answer: The tide was rising, so we needed to leave now.

Question 20

B1 opens the speech with a capital letter and closes the first part with a comma inside the speech marks: '"You should not go there alone,"'
B1 corrects the reporting clause, including the capital 'F' on the proper noun 'Freya' and commas around it: 'said Freya,'
B1 corrects the final part of the speech, including the apostrophe in 'it's' (it is) and the closing full stop inside the speech mark: '"it's not safe after dark."'
Answer: "You should not go there alone," said Freya, "it's not safe after dark."

Question 21

(a) B1 identifies the comma splice and gives a valid correction (oe), for example: 'Callum grabbed his coat; then he ran down to the harbour.'
(a) Answer: Callum grabbed his coat; then he ran down to the harbour.
(b) B1 identifies that 'passenger's' should be the plural possessive 'passengers'' since there are three passengers (cao)
(b) Answer: The three passengers' tickets had been checked twice before boarding.
(c) B1 identifies the missing question mark before the closing speech mark and inserts it: 'night?"' (cao)
(c) Answer: "Is this the last ferry of the night?" asked Aaliyah, gripping the rail.
(d) B1 identifies the missing pair of commas around the non-defining clause 'which was still shrouded in mist' and inserts both (cao)
(d) Answer: Whitby, which was still shrouded in mist, finally came into view.
(e) B1 identifies that a colon, not a semicolon, is needed because the second clause explains the 'one thing' just announced, and corrects it (cao)
(e) Answer: The captain announced one thing: everyone must stay seated.
(f) B1 identifies the missing apostrophe on the plural possessive 'deckhands' and inserts it: deckhands'
(f) Answer: All four deckhands' coats were dripping with sea spray.
(g) B1 identifies that 'Its' should be the contraction 'It's' (it is) and corrects it (cao)
(g) Answer: It's strange, Callum thought, how quickly the fog can clear.

Question 22

(a) B1 identifies that 'a ticket, a torch and a little patience' is a list, not an independent clause, so it cannot stand alone as its own sentence
(a) B1 explains that a semicolon should only join two independent clauses, so it is the wrong mark here (oe)
(a) Answer: The list 'a ticket, a torch and a little patience' cannot stand alone as a sentence, so a semicolon (which joins two independent clauses) is the wrong choice.
(b) B1 identifies that the colon's job is to introduce an explanation, example or list that follows on from the first clause
(b) B1 explains that 'three things' in the first clause creates an expectation that the colon then fulfils by naming the three things (oe)
(b) Answer: The colon correctly signals that a list explaining 'three things' is about to follow, doing a job a semicolon is not used for.

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