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Understanding Punctuation Practice

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Understanding Punctuation Practice

Read each question carefully. Choose the best answer where options are given. For writing tasks, use correct capital letters and punctuation.

Recognise punctuation

Choose, identify and explain how punctuation works.

1.Which punctuation mark belongs at the end of this question? Where do the penguins sleep

Full stop (.)
Question mark (?)
Exclamation mark (!)

2.Select the sentence with correctly punctuated direct speech.

“Look at the kiwi!” called Zoe.
“Look at the kiwi”! called Zoe.
“Look at the kiwi! called Zoe.”

3.Which option uses commas correctly to separate items in a list?

Rawiri spotted a tiger, a meerkat, a tortoise and a parrot.
Rawiri spotted, a tiger a meerkat, a tortoise and a parrot.
Rawiri spotted a tiger a meerkat a tortoise, and a parrot.

4.Tick all the reasons a writer might use an exclamation mark.

To show a strong feeling
To show surprise
To end every sentence
To show excitement

5.Match each punctuation mark to its most likely use.

Question mark (?)
Comma (,)
Exclamation mark (!)
Speech marks (“ ”)

Shows a strong feeling
Ends a direct question
Show the exact words spoken
Separates items in a list

Edit and add punctuation

Use full stops, commas, question marks, exclamation marks and speech marks where needed.

6.Rewrite this zoo visit paragraph with capital letters and punctuation added: on saturday talia visited the reptile house she saw a gecko a python and a tiny turtle the keeper asked would you like to watch the python being fed talia said yes please what an amazing day

7.Correct the punctuation and capital letters: The keeper said. “please stay behind the line”

8.Rewrite this sentence with correct punctuation: did you see the lemur the otter or the seal

9.Write one sentence showing Zoe speaking. Use speech marks and put a full stop inside the closing speech marks.

10.Write a sentence about a zoo visit that includes at least three items separated correctly in a list.

Punctuation challenge

Combine several punctuation skills in a short piece of writing.

11.Write a short story of 3–4 sentences set at a zoo. Include a question, an exclamation, direct speech with speech marks, and a list punctuated with commas.