This is the second Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar pack for the ISEB Common Entrance English paper, complementing CE.E4 with entirely new practice. Short spelling and punctuation questions come first, building to grammar, sentence construction and Standard English, and finishing with two questions on the effect of punctuation choices and a longer editing task. Write your answers clearly, using full sentences where asked.
1
For each pair, circle the word that is spelled correctly.
(a)beleive / believe(1)
A) beleive
B) believe
(b)tommorow / tomorrow(1)
A) tommorow
B) tomorrow
(c)adress / address(1)
A) adress
B) address
(Total for Question 1 is 3 marks)
2
Complete each sentence with the correct word from the brackets.
(a)The dog wagged _____ tail happily. (its / it's)(1)
(b)_____ getting late, so we should head home now. (Its / It's)(1)
(c)I hope I don't _____ my match ticket before Saturday. (lose / loose)(1)
(d)My top button feels a bit _____ today. (lose / loose)(1)
(Total for Question 2 is 4 marks)
3
Each word below is misspelled. Write the correct spelling.
(a)beggining(1)
(b)enviroment(1)
(c)recomend(1)
(d)buisness(1)
(e)acheive(1)
(Total for Question 3 is 5 marks)
4
Rewrite each phrase using an apostrophe to show the missing letters.
(a)will not(1)
(b)I would(1)
(c)could have(1)
(Total for Question 4 is 3 marks)
5
Add the missing commas to this sentence: Before the concert we packed music stands programmes water bottles and spare reeds.
(Total for Question 5 is 2 marks)
6
Add an apostrophe in the correct place in each sentence.
(a)The childrens book corner needed tidying.(1)
(b)The two classes timetable clashed with assembly.(1)
(c)Alexs presentation impressed the judges.(1)
(Total for Question 6 is 3 marks)
7
In this sentence, identify the word class (noun, verb, adjective or adverb) of each word shown in asterisks: 'The *nervous* violinist *tuned* her instrument *carefully* before the *performance*.'
(a)nervous(1)
(b)tuned(1)
(c)carefully(1)
(d)performance(1)
(Total for Question 7 is 4 marks)
8
Circle the correct word in each sentence.
(a)The head teacher gave us some useful (advice / advise) about revision techniques.(1)
A) advice
B) advise
(b)My tutor will (advice / advise) me on which books to buy.(1)
A) advice
B) advise
(c)The colours of the poster really (complement / compliment) each other.(1)
A) complement
B) compliment
(d)The head (principal / principle) announced the exam timetable this morning.(1)
A) principal
B) principle
(Total for Question 8 is 4 marks)
9
Add the missing punctuation to this sentence: watch out called ravi as the ball flew towards the greenhouse
(Total for Question 9 is 3 marks)
10
Identify whether each sentence is simple, compound or complex.
(a)The bell rang loudly.(1)
(b)She finished her homework and she tidied her room.(1)
(c)Because the storm was approaching, the match was postponed.(1)
(Total for Question 10 is 3 marks)
11
Each sentence below contains a comma splice (two main clauses wrongly joined by a comma). Correct the punctuation and, in one sentence, explain why your correction is needed.
(a)The bus was late, we missed the start of the film.(2)
(b)He loves cricket, he plays every weekend.(2)
(Total for Question 11 is 4 marks)
12
Add the suffix shown to each word, spelling the new word correctly.
(a)happy + ness(1)
(b)true + ly(1)
(c)angry + ly(1)
(d)hope + ful(1)
(Total for Question 12 is 4 marks)
13
Add the missing capital letters and punctuation to this passage: next monday our year group is visiting the london eye we will see the thames the houses of parliament and big ben my friend priya cant wait to go
(Total for Question 13 is 6 marks)
14
Complete each sentence using a colon correctly.
(a)She had one ambition become the county chess champion.(2)
(b)Pack the essentials plimsolls a towel and swimming goggles.(2)
(Total for Question 14 is 4 marks)
15
The extra information below needs to be added into the sentence as parenthesis. Rewrite the sentence three times, using (a) a pair of commas, (b) a pair of brackets, and (c) a pair of dashes. Base sentence: 'My teacher Mr Osei is running the London Marathon this year.' Extra information to insert: who used to be a professional athlete
(a)Using a pair of commas.(1)
(b)Using a pair of brackets.(1)
(c)Using a pair of dashes.(1)
(Total for Question 15 is 3 marks)
16
Circle the correct verb in each sentence.
(a)Each of the players (was / were) given a new kit.(1)
A) was
B) were
(b)The orchestra (plays / play) every Friday evening.(1)
A) plays
B) play
(c)Everybody (has / have) remembered their PE kit today.(1)
A) has
B) have
(Total for Question 16 is 3 marks)
17
Rewrite each sentence in Standard English.
(a)They was arguing about the score.(1)
(b)I could of finished earlier.(1)
(c)Him and me went to the shop.(1)
(Total for Question 17 is 3 marks)
18
Each sentence contains one error. Name the type of error and correct the sentence.
(a)I ain't got no homework tonight.(1)
(b)Tomorrow, I visited my grandmother.(1)
(c)Don't loose your ticket for the trip.(1)
(d)Your going to be late for registration.(1)
(Total for Question 18 is 4 marks)
19
Read this sentence from a student's account of a gymnastics competition: 'The gymnast landed the vault perfectly; the crowd erupted.' Explain why the writer has chosen to use a semicolon rather than a full stop between the two statements.
(Total for Question 19 is 2 marks)
20
The paragraph below contains eight errors of spelling, punctuation and grammar. Find and correct all eight errors: 'On monday, me and my friend olamide stayed late for netball practice. she dont like running laps, so we we're both moaning the whole time! after training we relised we had left are kit bags in the changing room.'
(Total for Question 20 is 8 marks)
Mark scheme · CE.E10 Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar Set 2
Question 1
(a) B1 believe circled
(a) Answer: believe
(b) B1 tomorrow circled
(b) Answer: tomorrow
(c) B1 address circled
(c) Answer: address
Question 2
(a) B1 its
(a) Answer: its
(b) B1 It's
(b) Answer: It's
(c) B1 lose
(c) Answer: lose
(d) B1 loose
(d) Answer: loose
Question 3
(a) B1 beginning, exact spelling required
(a) Answer: beginning
(b) B1 environment, exact spelling required
(b) Answer: environment
(c) B1 recommend, exact spelling required
(c) Answer: recommend
(d) B1 business, exact spelling required
(d) Answer: business
(e) B1 achieve, exact spelling required
(e) Answer: achieve
Question 4
(a) B1 won't, apostrophe replacing the missing letters
(a) Answer: won't
(b) B1 I'd, apostrophe replacing woul in would
(b) Answer: I'd
(c) B1 could've, apostrophe replacing ha in have
(c) Answer: could've
Question 5
B1 comma after the fronted phrase: 'Before the concert,'
B1 commas correctly separating the list items music stands, programmes, water bottles (comma before 'and' optional)
Answer: Before the concert, we packed music stands, programmes, water bottles and spare reeds.
Question 6
(a) B1 children's (irregular plural not ending in s, so apostrophe plus s)
(a) Answer: The children's book corner needed tidying.
(b) B1 classes' (plural noun already ending in s)
(b) Answer: The two classes' timetable clashed with assembly.
(c) B1 Alex's (singular name ending in s takes 's)
(c) Answer: Alex's presentation impressed the judges.
Question 7
(a) B1 adjective
(a) Answer: adjective
(b) B1 verb
(b) Answer: verb
(c) B1 adverb
(c) Answer: adverb
(d) B1 noun
(d) Answer: noun
Question 8
(a) B1 advice circled
(a) Answer: advice
(b) B1 advise circled
(b) Answer: advise
(c) B1 complement circled
(c) Answer: complement
(d) B1 principal circled
(d) Answer: principal
Question 9
B1 opening speech mark and capital letter starting the spoken words: 'Watch
B1 exclamation mark and closing speech mark correctly placed before the reporting clause, with a comma after the reporting verb
B1 capital letter for the name Ravi and a full stop at the end of the whole sentence
Answer: 'Watch out!' called Ravi, as the ball flew towards the greenhouse.
Question 10
(a) B1 simple
(a) Answer: simple
(b) B1 compound
(b) Answer: compound
(c) B1 complex
(c) Answer: complex
Question 11
(a) B1 valid correction, e.g. semicolon ('late; we missed') or a full stop and capital letter or a conjunction such as so
(a) B1 reason given: a comma alone cannot join two complete main clauses / sentences (independent clauses need a semicolon, full stop or conjunction)
(a) Answer: The bus was late; we missed the start of the film.
(b) B1 valid correction, e.g. adding a conjunction ('cricket, so he plays') or a semicolon
(b) B1 reason given: the comma alone cannot join two independent clauses; a conjunction, semicolon or full stop is needed to link or separate them correctly
(b) Answer: He loves cricket, so he plays every weekend.
Question 12
(a) B1 happiness, y changed to i
(a) Answer: happiness
(b) B1 truly, silent e dropped
(b) Answer: truly
(c) B1 angrily, y changed to i
(c) Answer: angrily
(d) B1 hopeful, silent e dropped
(d) Answer: hopeful
Question 13
B1 capital letters for 'Next Monday' and a comma after the fronted time phrase
B1 capital letters for the proper noun London Eye
B1 full stop after London Eye and capital letter starting We
B1 commas correctly separating the three list items: the Thames, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
B1 capital letters for the proper nouns Thames, Houses of Parliament and Big Ben
B1 full stop after Big Ben, capital letter starting My, capital letter for the name Priya, and apostrophe inserted in can't
Answer: Next Monday, our year group is visiting the London Eye. We will see the Thames, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. My friend Priya can't wait to go.
Question 14
(a) B1 colon inserted correctly after 'ambition' to introduce the explanation
(a) B1 wording after the colon correctly completes the explanation: 'to become the county chess champion'
(a) Answer: She had one ambition: to become the county chess champion.
(b) B1 colon placed correctly after 'essentials' to introduce the list
(b) B1 commas correctly placed between the list items: plimsolls, a towel and swimming goggles
(b) Answer: Pack the essentials: plimsolls, a towel and swimming goggles.
Question 15
(a) B1 a comma correctly placed both before and after the inserted clause
(a) Answer: My teacher Mr Osei, who used to be a professional athlete, is running the London Marathon this year.
(b) B1 an opening and a closing bracket correctly placed around the inserted clause
(b) Answer: My teacher Mr Osei (who used to be a professional athlete) is running the London Marathon this year.
(c) B1 a dash correctly placed both before and after the inserted clause
(c) Answer: My teacher Mr Osei - who used to be a professional athlete - is running the London Marathon this year.
Question 16
(a) B1 was circled
(a) Answer: was
(b) B1 plays circled
(b) Answer: plays
(c) B1 has circled
(c) Answer: has
Question 17
(a) B1 were, correct subject-verb agreement with they
(a) Answer: They were arguing about the score.
(b) B1 could have, correcting the non-standard 'could of'
(b) Answer: I could have finished earlier.
(c) B1 He and I, correct subject pronouns
(c) Answer: He and I went to the shop.
Question 18
(a) B1 double negative and non-standard 'ain't' identified; corrected to 'I haven't got any homework tonight.'
(a) Answer: I haven't got any homework tonight.
(b) B1 incorrect tense identified; corrected to 'Tomorrow, I will visit my grandmother.'
(b) Answer: Tomorrow, I will visit my grandmother.
(c) B1 incorrect homophone identified; corrected to 'Don't lose your ticket for the trip.'
(c) Answer: Don't lose your ticket for the trip.
(d) B1 incorrect homophone identified; corrected to 'You're going to be late for registration.'
(d) Answer: You're going to be late for registration.
Question 19
B1 identifies that the semicolon shows the two statements are closely linked, with the crowd's reaction following immediately from the landing, rather than being fully separate ideas
B1 developed comment linking this to effect on the reader, e.g. the tighter link creates a faster, more dramatic pace and emphasises how instantly the crowd reacted, giving more impact than the fuller pause of a full stop
Answer: The semicolon links the two statements more tightly than a full stop would, showing that the crowd's reaction followed immediately from the landing and creating a faster, more dramatic pace for the reader.
Question 20
B1 capital letter for the day: Monday
B1 capital letter for the name: Olamide
B1 pronoun order and case corrected: 'my friend Olamide and I' in place of 'me and my friend olamide'
B1 sentence-start capital and correct verb form corrected: 'She doesn't' in place of 'she dont'
B1 homophone corrected: were in place of we're ('we were both moaning')
B1 capital letter starting the new sentence: After in place of after
B1 spelling correction: realised in place of relised
B1 homophone corrected: our in place of are ('our kit bags')
Answer: On Monday, my friend Olamide and I stayed late for netball practice. She doesn't like running laps, so we were both moaning the whole time! After training, we realised we had left our kit bags in the changing room.