This is a test of your knowledge of some basic punctuation. By now you should be familiar with the contents of this test, although some things may not be as clear as they could be!

Despite being considered a 'boring' aspect of English, it is very important: the ability to express yourself clearly and accurately will impress the examiner, for example. Therefore, a little practice is worthwhile.

If you don't understand something, ask your teacher to explain - that's what s/he is there to do!!

Each of the questions is multiple choice, so just click the box next to the answer you think is correct and good luck!

Click the button at the bottom for your final score.

1.

Which of the following is correct?
the BBC is currently filming a new version of the Charles Dickens novel David Copperfield
The BBC is currently filming a new version of the Charles Dickens novel David Copperfield.
The BBC is currently filming a new version of the charles dickens novel David Copperfield.

2.

Why is the sentence below incorrect?

The novelist james joyce was born in dublin.
The novelist James Joyce was born in London.
'James' and 'Joyce' are proper nouns and so each should start with a capital letter.
'James' and 'Joyce' and 'Dublin' are proper nouns and so each should start with a capital letter.

3.

Which of the following is correct?
It's her surname, "said my mother," faintly.
It's her surname, "said my mother, faintly."
"It's her surname," said my mother, faintly.

4.

Which of these is correct?
"Glad to see you, sir," said Mr. Peggotty. "You'll find us rough, sir, but you'll find us ready."
"Glad to see you, sir, said Mr. Peggotty. You'll find us rough, sir, but you'll find us ready."
"Glad to see you, sir," said Mr. Peggotty. You'll find us rough, sir, but you'll find us ready.

5.

Which of the following is correct?
"Miss Trotwood," said the visitor. "you have heard of her, I dare say?"
"Miss Trotwood", said the visitor. "You have heard of her, I dare say"?
"Miss Trotwood," said the visitor. "You have heard of her, I dare say?"

6.

Which of these is correct?
"Take off your cap, child," said Miss Betsey, "and let me see your face."
"Take off your cap, child," said Miss Betsey, "And let me see your face."
"Take off your cap, child," said Miss Betsey ",and let me see your face."

7.

Why is the sentence below incorrect?

"I am all in a tremble," Faltered my mother. "I don't know what's the matter. I shall die, I am sure!"
There should be a full stop after 'tremble' instead of a comma.
The word 'Faltered' follows a comma and so should have a lower case 'f '.
She won't die: people don't generally die from trembling.

8.

Which of the following is correct?
From the moment of this girl's birth, child, I intend to be her friend.
From the moment of this girls' birth, child, I intend to be her friend.
From the moment of this girls birth, child, I intend to be her friend.

9.

Do you know which of these is correct?
The carrier's horses were the laziest horses in the world.
The carriers horses were the laziest horses in the world.
The carriers horse's were the laziest horses in the world.

10.

Why is the sentence below incorrect?

At school students opinions are always listened to carefully.
'Opinions' is plural so the apostrophe (') should come after the 's' (opinions').
'Students' is plural (more than one) and so the apostrophe (') comes after the 's' (students').
The opinions belong to the students so the apostrophe (') comes before the 's' (student's).

If you didn't understand any part of this activity, you might find it useful to look at some punctuation and writing advice.