Punctuation – Exercises

Punctuation divides one sentence from another sentence or one part of a sentence from another by means of points, stops or marks.

Punctuation Exercises

Q. Punctuate the following sentences using comma, semi colon and the colon:

1. The Gita says life is action.
2. Man is mortal God is eternal.
3. To err is human to forgive divine.
4. Bacon says reading maketh a full man.
5. Pope says little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
6. A thing of beauty is a joy for ever Its loveliness increases.
7. Shakespeare’s four great tragedies are King Lear Hamlet Othello and Macbeth.
8. The two great books of Nehru are The Discovery of India and My Autobiography.
9. He wants money to spend on books to read horses to ride and a palatial house to live in.
10. The rain fell in torrents the sky was dark the roads were deep in mud the way was long the weary travellers plodded on in silence.

Answer

1. The Gita says: Life is action.
2. Man is mortal; God is eternal.
3. To err is human: To forgive is divine.
4. Bacon says: Reading maketh a full man.
5. Pope says: Little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
6. A thing of beauty is a joy forever; its loveliness increases.
7. Shakespeare’s four great tragedies are: King Lear, Hamlet, Othello and Macbeth.
8. The two great books of Nehru are: The Discovery of India and My Autobiography.
9. He wants money to spend; on books to read, horses to ride, and a palatial house to live in.
10. The rain fell in torrents; the sky was dark, the roads were deep in mud, the way was long, the weary travellers plodded on in silence.

Q. Punctuate the following sentences using Full Stops and Commas, wherever necessary:

1. I do not at all blame you.
2. I came I saw, I conquered.
3. Madan and not you is to blame.
4. If you have courage say it on her face.
5. A dog barking at nothing is a nuisance.
6. Tibet the roof of the world is an old land.
7. Health is after all the most important thing.
8. Sir I would rather be right than be President.
9. Friends Romans countrymen lend me your ears.
10. Then at last the eyes of Kumla were pulled out.

Answer

1. I do not, at all, blame you.
2. I came, I saw, I conquered.
3. Madan, and not you, is to blame.
4. If you have courage, say it on her face.
5. A dog, barking at nothing, is a nuisance.
6. Tibet, the roof of the world, is an old land.
7. Health is after all, the most important thing.
8. Sir, I would rather be right, than be President.
9. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.
10. Then at last, the eyes of Kumla were pulled out.

Q. Punctuate the following:

1. Spring while we are writing is here the winds blow gently the birds the flowers and the buds all proclaim the coming of spring
2. he said why do you come and disturb me what a nuisance you are why cant you play somewhere else can,t you see that i want to work go away at once and do not come here again.

Answer

• Spring, while we are writing, is here. The winds blow gently. The birds, the flowers and the buds all proclaim the coming of spring.
• He said, “Why do you come and disturb me? What a nuisance you are! Why can’t you play somewhere else? Can’t you see that I want to work? Go away at once and do not come here again.”