This is the third Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar pack for the ISEB Common Entrance English paper, complementing CE.E4 and CE.E10 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)acommodate / accommodate(1)
A) acommodate
B) accommodate
(b)neccessary / necessary(1)
A) neccessary
B) necessary
(c)rhythem / rhythm(1)
A) rhythem
B) rhythm
(Total for Question 1 is 3 marks)
2
Complete each sentence with the correct word from the brackets.
(a)_____ going to need a permission slip for the trip. (Your / You're)(1)
(b)Can you _____ the fire bell from the music room? (here / hear)(1)
(c)The trip will go ahead whatever the _____ forecast says. (weather / whether)(1)
(d)The county final is more important _____ the friendly match. (than / then)(1)
(Total for Question 2 is 4 marks)
3
Each word below is misspelled. Write the correct spelling.
(a)existance(1)
(b)independant(1)
(c)knowlege(1)
(d)posession(1)
(e)wierd(1)
(Total for Question 3 is 5 marks)
4
Rewrite each phrase using an apostrophe to show the missing letters.
(a)she would(1)
(b)did not(1)
(c)he is(1)
(Total for Question 4 is 3 marks)
5
Add the missing commas to this sentence: After the assembly we collected our books pencil cases and PE kits.
(Total for Question 5 is 2 marks)
6
Add an apostrophe in the correct place in each sentence.
(a)The mens changing room was locked.(1)
(b)The three teams scores were displayed on the board.(1)
(c)Zainabs painting won first prize at the art show.(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 *ancient* bridge *creaked* *dangerously* as the *convoy* crossed.'
(a)ancient(1)
(b)creaked(1)
(c)dangerously(1)
(d)convoy(1)
(Total for Question 7 is 4 marks)
8
Circle the correct word in each sentence.
(a)Everyone came to the picnic, (except / accept) Kwame, who was at a match.(1)
A) except
B) accept
(b)The head asked us to (except / accept) responsibility for the mess in the common room.(1)
A) except
B) accept
(c)The library stayed remarkably (quiet / quite) during the mock exams.(1)
A) quiet
B) quite
(d)For pudding, we chose the chocolate (desert / dessert) from the menu.(1)
A) desert
B) dessert
(Total for Question 8 is 4 marks)
9
Add the missing punctuation to this sentence: mind the step called mr patel as the pupils filed onto the coach
(Total for Question 9 is 3 marks)
10
Identify whether each sentence is simple, compound or complex.
(a)The choir sang beautifully.(1)
(b)We tidied the classroom and we watered the plants.(1)
(c)Since the museum had closed early, we went straight to the cafe.(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 lights went out, the whole hall fell silent.(2)
(b)She wanted to play the lead role, she hadn't learned her lines in time.(2)
(Total for Question 11 is 4 marks)
12
Add the suffix '-ing' to each word, spelling the new word correctly.
(a)swim + ing(1)
(b)write + ing(1)
(c)travel + ing(1)
(d)argue + ing(1)
(Total for Question 12 is 4 marks)
13
Add the missing capital letters and punctuation to this passage: last friday our year group visited edinburgh castle we saw the crown jewels the great hall and the one oclock gun my friend oliver said it was the most exciting trip hed been on
(Total for Question 13 is 6 marks)
14
Complete each sentence using a colon correctly.
(a)The team had a clear target beat their rivals in the final.(2)
(b)There was a simple reason for the delay the earlier train had broken down.(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 neighbour Mrs Okafor volunteers at the animal shelter every weekend.' Extra information to insert: who used to be a vet
(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)The audience (was / were) clapping loudly by the end.(1)
A) was
B) were
(b)Nobody (know / knows) the answer to that question.(1)
A) know
B) knows
(c)The jury (has / have) reached its verdict.(1)
A) has
B) have
(Total for Question 16 is 3 marks)
17
Rewrite each sentence in Standard English.
(a)We done our homework before tea.(1)
(b)I might of forgotten my kit.(1)
(c)Kwame and him are in my class.(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 haven't got no spare pens.(1)
(b)Next year, I finished my exams.(1)
(c)The teachers office was locked.(1)
(d)Their late for the bus again.(1)
(Total for Question 18 is 4 marks)
19
Read this sentence from a student's account of a football match: 'As the final whistle blew, the crowd fell silent ... then erupted.' Explain why the writer has chosen to use an ellipsis rather than a comma before 'then erupted'.
(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 wednesday me and my friend aditi ran the cake stall for the summer fair. we sold nearly every cake before lunchtime and the queue were still going out the door! by the end of the afternoon we had counted the money and relised we had raised over a hundred pounds for are school library.'
(Total for Question 20 is 8 marks)
Mark scheme · CE.E14 Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar Set 3
Question 1
(a) B1 accommodate circled
(a) Answer: accommodate
(b) B1 necessary circled
(b) Answer: necessary
(c) B1 rhythm circled
(c) Answer: rhythm
Question 2
(a) B1 You're
(a) Answer: You're
(b) B1 hear
(b) Answer: hear
(c) B1 weather
(c) Answer: weather
(d) B1 than
(d) Answer: than
Question 3
(a) B1 existence, exact spelling required
(a) Answer: existence
(b) B1 independent, exact spelling required
(b) Answer: independent
(c) B1 knowledge, exact spelling required
(c) Answer: knowledge
(d) B1 possession, exact spelling required
(d) Answer: possession
(e) B1 weird, exact spelling required
(e) Answer: weird
Question 4
(a) B1 she'd, apostrophe replacing woul in would
(a) Answer: she'd
(b) B1 didn't, apostrophe replacing the o in not
(b) Answer: didn't
(c) B1 he's, apostrophe replacing the i in is
(c) Answer: he's
Question 5
B1 comma after the fronted phrase: 'After the assembly,'
B1 commas correctly separating the list items books, pencil cases (comma before 'and' optional)
Answer: After the assembly, we collected our books, pencil cases and PE kits.
Question 6
(a) B1 men's (irregular plural not ending in s, so apostrophe plus s)
(a) Answer: The men's changing room was locked.
(b) B1 teams' (plural noun already ending in s)
(b) Answer: The three teams' scores were displayed on the board.
(c) B1 Zainab's (singular name takes 's)
(c) Answer: Zainab's painting won first prize at the art show.
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 except circled
(a) Answer: except
(b) B1 accept circled
(b) Answer: accept
(c) B1 quiet circled
(c) Answer: quiet
(d) B1 dessert circled
(d) Answer: dessert
Question 9
B1 opening speech mark and capital letter starting the spoken words: 'Mind
B1 exclamation mark and closing speech mark correctly placed before the reporting clause, with a comma after the reporting verb
B1 capital letters for the name Mr Patel and a full stop at the end of the whole sentence
Answer: 'Mind the step!' called Mr Patel, as the pupils filed onto the coach.
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 ('out; the whole hall') 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 lights went out; the whole hall fell silent.
(b) B1 valid correction, e.g. adding a conjunction ('role, but she hadn't') 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: She wanted to play the lead role, but she hadn't learned her lines in time.
Question 12
(a) B1 swimming, final consonant doubled
(a) Answer: swimming
(b) B1 writing, silent e dropped
(b) Answer: writing
(c) B1 travelling, final l doubled (British spelling)
(c) Answer: travelling
(d) B1 arguing, silent e dropped
(d) Answer: arguing
Question 13
B1 capital letters for 'Last Friday' and a comma after the fronted time phrase
B1 capital letters for the proper noun Edinburgh Castle
B1 full stop after Edinburgh Castle and capital letter starting We
B1 commas correctly separating the three list items: the Crown Jewels, the Great Hall and the One O'Clock Gun
B1 capital letters and apostrophe in the proper noun One O'Clock Gun
B1 full stop after Gun, capital letter starting My, capital letter for the name Oliver, and apostrophe inserted in he'd
Answer: Last Friday, our year group visited Edinburgh Castle. We saw the Crown Jewels, the Great Hall and the One O'Clock Gun. My friend Oliver said it was the most exciting trip he'd been on.
Question 14
(a) B1 colon inserted correctly after 'target' to introduce the explanation
(a) B1 wording after the colon correctly completes the explanation: 'beat their rivals in the final'
(a) Answer: The team had a clear target: beat their rivals in the final.
(b) B1 colon inserted correctly after 'delay' to introduce the explanation
(b) B1 no capital letter needed after the colon, since the second part is not a new proper sentence topic
(b) Answer: There was a simple reason for the delay: the earlier train had broken down.
Question 15
(a) B1 a comma correctly placed both before and after the inserted clause
(a) Answer: My neighbour Mrs Okafor, who used to be a vet, volunteers at the animal shelter every weekend.
(b) B1 an opening and a closing bracket correctly placed around the inserted clause
(b) Answer: My neighbour Mrs Okafor (who used to be a vet) volunteers at the animal shelter every weekend.
(c) B1 a dash correctly placed both before and after the inserted clause
(c) Answer: My neighbour Mrs Okafor - who used to be a vet - volunteers at the animal shelter every weekend.
Question 16
(a) B1 was circled
(a) Answer: was
(b) B1 knows circled
(b) Answer: knows
(c) B1 has circled
(c) Answer: has
Question 17
(a) B1 did, correcting the non-standard past participle used as a simple past tense
(a) Answer: We did our homework before tea.
(b) B1 might have, correcting the non-standard 'might of'
(b) Answer: I might have forgotten my kit.
(c) B1 Kwame and he, correct subject pronoun
(c) Answer: Kwame and he are in my class.
Question 18
(a) B1 double negative identified; corrected to 'I haven't got any spare pens.'
(a) Answer: I haven't got any spare pens.
(b) B1 incorrect tense identified; corrected to 'Next year, I will finish my exams.'
(b) Answer: Next year, I will finish my exams.
(c) B1 missing possessive apostrophe identified; corrected to 'The teacher's office was locked.'
(c) Answer: The teacher's office was locked.
(d) B1 incorrect homophone identified; corrected to 'They're late for the bus again.'
(d) Answer: They're late for the bus again.
Question 19
B1 identifies that the ellipsis creates a longer pause than a comma, showing a gap or moment of suspense between the silence and the crowd's reaction
B1 developed comment linking this to effect on the reader, e.g. the pause builds tension and makes the sudden eruption feel more dramatic and unexpected, giving more impact than the brief pause of a comma
Answer: The ellipsis creates a longer, more suspenseful pause than a comma would, showing a brief gap between the silence and the crowd's reaction and making the sudden eruption feel more dramatic and unexpected for the reader.
Question 20
B1 capital letter for the day: Wednesday
B1 capital letter for the name: Aditi
B1 pronoun order and case corrected: 'my friend Aditi and I' in place of 'me and my friend aditi'
B1 capital letter starting the new sentence: We in place of we
B1 subject-verb agreement corrected: was in place of were ('the queue was still going out the door')
B1 capital letter starting the new sentence: By in place of by
B1 spelling correction: realised in place of relised
B1 homophone corrected: our in place of are ('our school library')
Answer: On Wednesday, my friend Aditi and I ran the cake stall for the summer fair. We sold nearly every cake before lunchtime and the queue was still going out the door! By the end of the afternoon, we had counted the money and realised we had raised over a hundred pounds for our school library.