KNOWLEDGE

Grammar and punctuation

self-test 2

This page contains 11 multiple choice questions for you to test yourself on grammar and punctuation. All the examples are based on mistakes that our students have made.

For each of the following sentences, choose which one you think is technically accurate and stylistically preferable. There may be more than one correct answer at times. The correct answers are at the bottom.

1

  1. A bottlenose dolphin dipped and dived through the water, squealing in excitement.

  2. A bottlenose dolphin dipped and dived through the water; squealing in excitement.

2

  1. It was an island.

  2. It was an Island.

3

  1. Warm waves gently lapping on the sand.

  2. Warm waves were gently lapping on the sand.

  3. Warm waves gently lapped on the sand.

4

  1. When walking through the lush foliage she dragged her hand through the glossy leaves.

  2. When walking through the lush foliage, she dragged her hand through the glossy leaves.

5

  1. Seagulls cawed and squawked high in the trees.

  2. There was a sound of seagulls cawing and squawking high in the trees.

6

  1. Sweet fruits fermented on the weak branches the sour stench pervaded the wild orchard.

  2. Sweet fruits fermented on the weak branches; the sour stench pervaded the wild orchard.

7

  1. Slowly and deliberately, Sarah crouched low to manoeuvre across the slippery rocks.

  2. Slowly and deliberately Sarah crouched low to manoeuvre across the slippery rocks.

8

  1. Seagulls hunted and crabs hid.

  2. Seagulls hunting and crabs hiding.

  3. Seagulls were hunting and crabs were hiding.

9

  1. The sun’s rays were hot and penetrating.

  2. The suns’ rays were hot and penetrating.

10

  1. Collecting pollen on their back legs, yellow-booted bees travelled deep into each tropical flower.

  2. Yellow-booted bees travelled deep into each tropical flower, collecting pollen on their back legs.

  3. Yellow-booted bees, collecting pollen on their back legs, travelled deep into each tropical flower.

11

  1. She stopped abruptly in front of what looked like debris from a plane wreck.

  2. She stopped abruptly infront of what looked like debris from a plane wreck.

Scroll down for the answers

Answers

1 = 1

2 = 1

3 = 2 and 3 are both correct (but 2 is better)

4 = 2

5 = both 1 and 1 are correct (but 1 is better)

6 = 2

7 = 1

8 = 1 and 3 are both correct (but 1 is better)

9 = 1

10 = they’re all correct (3 is best, followed by 2, followed by 1)

11 = 1

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Grammar and punctuation - test yourself 1