English ACT Test Practice: Punctuation

Front

What is punctuation?

Back

Punctuation refers to the marks used in writing that help clarify meaning and separate linguistic units. Common punctuation marks include periods, commas, question marks, and apostrophes.

Front

What is the purpose of a period?

Back

A period is used to indicate the end of a declarative sentence.

Front

What is the function of a question mark?

Back

A question mark is used at the end of a sentence to indicate that it is a question.

Front

What is an apostrophe used for?

Back

An apostrophe is used to indicate possession (e.g., 'Tommy's book') or to form contractions (e.g., 'can't' for 'cannot').

Front

How do you correctly use a semicolon?

Back

A semicolon is used to connect two independent clauses that are closely related in thought, or to separate items in a complex list.

Front

What is the difference between 'its' and 'it's'?

Back

'Its' is a possessive pronoun meaning 'belonging to it,' while 'it's' is a contraction for 'it is' or 'it has.'

Front

When should you use a comma?

Back

Commas are used to separate items in a list, after introductory phrases, before conjunctions in compound sentences, and to set off non-essential information.

Front

What is the correct way to punctuate a list?

Back

Use a colon before the list and commas to separate the items, with an 'and' before the last item.

Front

What is a run-on sentence?

Back

A run-on sentence occurs when two or more independent clauses are joined without appropriate punctuation or conjunction.

Front

What is the correct punctuation for direct quotations?

Back

Direct quotations should be enclosed in quotation marks, and punctuation should be placed inside the quotation marks.