Punctuation guides the reader through a sentence. A full stop ends a complete sentence. A capital letter starts a sentence and begins proper nouns (names, places). A comma separates items in a list or adds a pause. An apostrophe shows possession ("Mia's bag") or marks a missing letter in a contraction ("don't" = "do not").
Example
"Mia's dog, Biscuit, doesn't like the rain." — capital M starts the sentence, the apostrophe in "Mia's" shows possession, the commas set off "Biscuit", and the apostrophe in "doesn't" replaces the missing "o" in "does not".
Key terms
Full stop:
The punctuation mark that ends a sentence.
Comma:
A punctuation mark used to separate items or add a pause.
Apostrophe:
A mark used to show possession or a missing letter in a contraction.
Questions
1. A sentence should end with a:
Comma
Full stop
Apostrophe
Nothing
2. A sentence should start with a:
Lowercase letter
Capital letter
Number
Comma
3. A comma can be used to:
End a sentence
Separate items in a list
Replace a full stop always
Start a sentence
4. An apostrophe can show:
A question
Possession
The end of a sentence
A new paragraph
5. Names of people and places should start with a:
Full stop
Capital letter
Comma
Apostrophe
6. Which sentence is correctly punctuated?
the dog ran
The dog ran.
The dog ran
the Dog ran.
7. "Dont" is missing which punctuation mark?
Full stop
Comma
Apostrophe
Capital letter
8. In "I bought apples, bananas and milk", the commas are used to:
End the sentence
Separate items in a list
Show possession
Start a question
9. "Mias bag" is missing an apostrophe to show:
A question
Possession (Mia's bag)
A full stop
A list
10. Which is the correct contraction for "do not"?
don't
do'nt
dont'
do n't
11. Which sentence uses commas correctly?
I like dogs cats and birds.
I like, dogs, cats, and birds.
I like dogs, cats and birds.
I, like dogs cats and birds.
12. Proper nouns are always:
Lowercase
Capitalised
In quotation marks
Plural
13. An apostrophe in a contraction replaces:
A missing word
A missing letter or letters
A capital letter
A comma
14. Which sentence correctly shows possession?
The dogs bone.
The dog's bone.
The dogs' bone (one dog).
The dog,s bone.
15. "Its raining outside" is missing an apostrophe because it should be:
It's raining outside (it is)
Its' raining outside
I'ts raining outside
It is already correct
16. In "The teachers' staffroom" (more than one teacher), the apostrophe placement shows:
One teacher owns the staffroom
Multiple teachers own the staffroom
A contraction
A question
17. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
"Wait!" she shouted, "dont go!"
"Wait!" she shouted, "don't go!"
wait she shouted dont go
"Wait!" she shouted "Don't go!
18. A comma splice happens when:
Two full sentences are joined only by a comma instead of a full stop or conjunction
A comma is used correctly in a list
An apostrophe is missing
A sentence has no capital letter
19. Which is correct: "The girls' books" vs "The girl's books" — the difference is:
No difference at all
One girl owns the books vs multiple girls own the books
Spelling error either way
They mean the same amount of books
20. In formal writing, capital letters should NOT be used for:
The start of a sentence
Proper nouns
Ordinary common nouns used mid-sentence
The word "I"
21. Which sentence has correct punctuation throughout?
my sisters dog, rex, doesnt bark
My sister's dog, Rex, doesn't bark.
My sisters dog Rex doesnt bark
my Sister's dog Rex doesn't Bark
Answer key (parent copy)
1. Full stop
2. Capital letter
3. Separate items in a list
4. Possession
5. Capital letter
6. The dog ran.
7. Apostrophe
8. Separate items in a list
9. Possession (Mia's bag)
10. don't
11. I like dogs, cats and birds.
12. Capitalised
13. A missing letter or letters
14. The dog's bone.
15. It's raining outside (it is)
16. Multiple teachers own the staffroom
17. "Wait!" she shouted, "don't go!"
18. Two full sentences are joined only by a comma instead of a full stop or conjunction
19. One girl owns the books vs multiple girls own the books