OSSLT Applying Punctuation Rules 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly?
- The dog wagged it's tail.
- The dogs' bowl was empty. (Correct answer)
- Its a cold morning.
- The tree lost it's leaves.
Correct answer: The dogs' bowl was empty.
'Dogs'' shows plural possessive — the bowl belongs to multiple dogs.
Question 2: Where should the comma be placed in this sentence: 'After finishing her homework Maya went outside'?
- After finishing, her homework Maya went outside.
- After finishing her homework, Maya went outside. (Correct answer)
- After finishing her homework Maya, went outside.
- No comma is needed.
Correct answer: After finishing her homework, Maya went outside.
A comma follows an introductory adverbial phrase before the main clause begins.
Question 3: Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?
- I love hiking; and camping.
- She was tired; but she finished.
- The test was hard; however, everyone passed. (Correct answer)
- We went to the store; to buy milk.
Correct answer: The test was hard; however, everyone passed.
A semicolon before a conjunctive adverb like 'however' (followed by a comma) correctly joins two independent clauses.
Question 4: Which option correctly punctuates this list: 'We need eggs milk bread and butter'?
- We need eggs, milk, bread, and butter. (Correct answer)
- We need eggs milk, bread, and butter.
- We need, eggs, milk, bread, and butter.
- We need eggs, milk, bread and, butter.
Correct answer: We need eggs, milk, bread, and butter.
Commas separate items in a series, including before the final 'and' (Oxford comma style).
Question 5: Which sentence correctly uses quotation marks?
- She said, "I'll be there soon." (Correct answer)
- She said "I'll be there soon".
- She said, 'I'll be there soon.'
- She said I'll be there soon.
Correct answer: She said, "I'll be there soon."
A comma after the dialogue tag and a period inside the closing quotation mark is standard punctuation.
Question 6: Which sentence correctly uses a colon?
- She loves: dogs, cats, and birds.
- She has one goal: to graduate. (Correct answer)
- She: wants to travel abroad.
- To succeed: work hard every day.
Correct answer: She has one goal: to graduate.
A colon after a complete independent clause introduces a list, explanation, or elaboration.
Question 7: Which word should be followed by a comma in this sentence: 'Yes I think that is a great idea'?
- think
- great
- Yes (Correct answer)
- idea
Correct answer: Yes
Introductory words like 'Yes,' 'No,' and 'Well' are followed by a comma.
OSSLT Applying Punctuation Rules 2
Which sentence uses the apostrophe correctly?