Commas
“Which of the following requires a comma?
a) Before ‘and’ in a series
b) After ‘and’ in a series
c) Before ‘the’ in a series”
a) Before ‘and’ in a series
Feedback:
In a list, commas are used to separate items, and a comma should be placed before the conjunction (and, or, but) in a series.
“When should a semicolon be used?”
Answer:
A semicolon is used to join two independent clauses that are closely related in meaning, or to separate items in a list that already contains commas.
Feedback:
A semicolon helps clarify the relationship between two ideas, without the need for a conjunction.
“When should a full stop be used in a sentence?”
Answer:
A full stop (period) should be used at the end of a declarative sentence to show that the thought is complete.
Feedback:
A full stop marks the end of a complete thought or statement. It tells the reader that the sentence has finished.
“What is a sentence fragment?”
Answer:
A sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence that does not express a complete thought. It may be missing a subject or a verb.
Feedback:
Sentence fragments fail to provide enough information to form a complete thought.
“What is a run-on sentence?”
Answer:
A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined without proper punctuation or conjunctions.
Feedback:
Run-on sentences often lack commas, semicolons, or conjunctions to separate ideas properly.
“Which sentence is correctly punctuated?
a) I ate pizza, and salad.
b) I ate pizza and, salad.
c) I ate pizza and salad.”
Answer:
c) I ate pizza and salad.
Feedback:
No comma is needed between the two items when using “and” to connect them. A comma is not necessary in a simple compound list.
Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?
a) I want to go swimming; however, it’s raining.
b) I want to go swimming, however; it’s raining.
c) I want to go swimming however; it’s raining.”
Answer:
a) I want to go swimming; however, it’s raining.
Feedback:
The semicolon is correctly used to join two independent clauses. The conjunction ‘however’ starts a new clause and needs to be separated by a comma.
“Which of the following is correct?
a) I love reading books.
b) I love reading books
c) I love reading books!”
Answer:
a) I love reading books.
Feedback:
The correct sentence ends with a full stop. A full stop is used at the end of a statement, unlike the exclamation mark.
“Which of the following is a sentence fragment?
a) She went to the store.
b) Because she went to the store.
c) She went to the store, and bought some milk.”
Answer:
b) Because she went to the store.
Feedback:
This is a fragment because it begins with a subordinate conjunction ‘because’ and doesn’t express a complete thought.
“Which sentence is a run-on?
a) I like to read books, I love movies.
b) I like to read books, and I love movies.
c) I like to read books; I love movies.”
Answer:
a) I like to read books, I love movies.
Feedback:
This is a run-on because there is no conjunction or semicolon separating the two independent clauses.
Where should the comma go in this sentence?
‘After school I went to the library.’
“Where should the comma go in this sentence?
‘After school I went to the library.’
Answer:
The comma should be placed after ‘school’: ‘After school, I went to the library.’
“Can a semicolon be used between two sentences with no conjunction? Give an example.”
Answer:
Yes, a semicolon can be used to link two independent clauses without a conjunction. Example: ‘I have a big test tomorrow; I need to study tonight.’
Feedback:
Semicolons connect closely related independent clauses, even without a conjunction.
“Is the following sentence correctly punctuated?
‘She went to the store it was raining outside.’
Answer:
No, the sentence is not correctly punctuated. It needs a full stop after ‘store’ or a semicolon to separate the two independent clauses.
Feedback:
When two independent clauses are joined without proper punctuation, a full stop or semicolon is necessary.
“How can you correct the fragment ‘Running late for the meeting’?”
Answer:
You can complete the thought: ‘I am running late for the meeting.’
Feedback:
Adding a subject and a verb fixes the fragment and makes it a complete sentence.
“How can you fix this run-on sentence?
‘She studied for hours she passed the test.’
Answer:
You can fix it by adding a period, semicolon, or conjunction:
‘She studied for hours. She passed the test.’
or ‘She studied for hours, and she passed the test.’
Feedback:
Proper punctuation or a conjunction fixes a run-on sentence by separating the independent clauses.
Is this sentence correct?
‘She was tired, but she still went to the party.’
Answer:
Yes, the sentence is correct.
Feedback:
The comma correctly separates the two independent clauses in this compound sentence, as it comes before the conjunction “but.”
“Is this sentence correct?
‘I have a meeting at 3 PM; I’ll be late if I don’t leave now.’
Answer:
Yes, this sentence is correct.
Feedback:
The semicolon properly separates two related independent clauses.
“Is this sentence correct?
‘I have a big test tomorrow.’
Answer:
Yes, this sentence is correct.
Feedback:
A full stop is appropriately used at the end of this declarative sentence, showing a complete thought.
“Is this a sentence fragment?
‘After the storm passed, the sun came out.’
Answer:
No, this is a complete sentence.
Feedback:
This sentence contains both a subject and a verb and expresses a complete thought.
“Is the following sentence a run-on?
‘I am going to the park I want to play soccer.’
Answer:
Yes, it is a run-on sentence.
Feedback:
A semicolon or conjunction is needed to separate the two independent clauses properly.
“Why is this sentence incorrect?
‘I like bananas, apples, and oranges.’
Answer:
The sentence is correct.
Feedback:
The sentence is correctly punctuated with commas separating items in the series. The Oxford comma (before ‘and’) is optional but often used for clarity.
“Can a semicolon replace a full stop in a sentence?”
Answer:
Yes, a semicolon can replace a full stop between two closely related independent clauses.
Feedback:
A semicolon shows a closer relationship between ideas than a full stop would.
“What is the difference between a full stop and a question mark?”
Answer:
A full stop is used at the end of a statement, while a question mark is used at the end of a direct question.
Feedback:
The full stop marks the end of a statement or command, and the question mark shows that a question is being asked.
“What is the key difference between a complete sentence and a sentence fragment?”
Answer:
A complete sentence contains both a subject and a predicate and expresses a complete thought, while a fragment lacks one or both of these elements.
Feedback:
A complete sentence forms a full idea, while a fragment leaves something missing.
“What is one common way to correct a run-on sentence?”
Answer:
You can separate the independent clauses with a semicolon, a period, or a coordinating conjunction.
Feedback:
Use punctuation (semicolon or period) or conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) to fix run-ons.