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C H A P T E R
1
Punctuation
Power-Up
T
O DAY ’ S DATA - D R I V E N I N F O R M AT I O N A G E
demands stronger reading and writing skills.
Being able to think clearly and to create interesting content is important. Having a good
grasp of the rules of punctuation is equally essential. You don’t have to love punctuation; you
just have to respect it a little. The best way to master punctuation and sentence mechanics is to learn the
basic rules and use those rules during daily writing practice. You might also consider taking passages from
books and copying them into your notebooks to reinforce the patterns of proper punctuation and sentence structure.
Mastering the intricacies of the English language is a gradual process that will become easier and
more rewarding as your proficiency increases, and as you grow more confident in your abilities. Because
becoming an active reader and writer is crucial to achieving success in language arts, it is suggested that
you make reading and writing important parts of your daily activities by reading a wide variety of media
and by taking advantage of some of the supplementary material listed in the Chapter 3 resource list.
The following is a quick reference guide. We suggest you read the entire guide before moving on to
other sections.
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Period (.)
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Periods signal that a sentence has come to a
complete stop. → Sentences that do not require a
question mark or exclamation point should end
with a period.
A period is used to indicate a decimal. → a GPA
of 3.9
A period separates dollars and cents. → The
price of the loaf of bread is $2.89.
A period follows an initial in a name. → Is
Robert W. Smith here today?
A period indicates that a word is being used in
abbreviated form. → Diva Apparel & Accessory
Co., Inc.
Use a period to end a command. → Take this
book to Mrs. Grundy’s office.
Use a period to separate letters in abbreviations.
→ C.E. [common era]
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Quotation Marks (“ ”)
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Question Mark (?)
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Always place a question mark at the end of a direct question. → What kind of maintenance
schedule should I follow?
When a question includes a direct quote, the
question mark of the overall sentence is placed
outside (after) the end quotation mark. → Did
Mr. Keats say, “The reading assignment is due on
the last Friday of November”?
If a direct quotation is itself a question, the
question mark is placed inside (before) the end
quotation mark. → Mark asked, “Does anyone
want more soda?”
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Exclamation Point (!)
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Place an exclamation point after an interjection.
→ Wow!
Exclamation marks are placed inside quotation
marks only when they are part of the direct
quote. → Melissa screamed “Help!” when her bicycle’s rain-soaked brakes unexpectedly failed.
Place an exclamation point after a word, phrase,
or sentence that requires extra emphasis or one
that conveys an especially strong emotion. →
That car is speeding out of control!
4
When using a direct quote from an outside
source, place double quotation marks around
the speaker’s words, and use a comma or colon
directly before the quote. → The local news anchor reported: “Retailers are responding to lackluster consumer spending by slashing prices on
apparel, electronics, and household goods.”
The titles of chapters, articles, poems, songs,
and short stories require quotation marks. →
“The Road Not Taken”
The rules of American standard English dictate
that periods and commas are always placed inside (before) end quotation marks, whereas
sentence structure determines placement of
other punctuation, such as question marks and
colons. → “I like to listen to hip-hop classics by
Tupac Shakur, Ice Cube, and Eminem,” said Lisa.
When punctuating dialogue—conversations
between two or more speakers—enclose each
speaker’s words in quotation marks.
Use single quotation marks when enclosing
quoted material inside a direct quotation. →
When John and I discussed the writings of Henry
David Thoreau, he remarked, “I especially appreciate Thoreau’s sentiment: ‘The bluebird carries
the sky on his back.’ ”
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Semicolon (;)
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Apostrophe (’)
Use a semicolon to separate individual items or
word groups in a series containing commas. →
Field trips are planned for Monday, May 5; Tuesday, May 6; and Wednesday, May 7.
Use a semicolon before adverbial connectives
such as however, nevertheless, and therefore joining together two independent clauses. → Cheryl
tried out for cheerleading with her arm in a cast;
nevertheless, her routine dazzled the judges.
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Colon (:)
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Use an apostrophe when letters have been
deleted. → It’s [It is] time for a change.
An apostrophe is used with an s at the end of a
word in order to indicate ownership. → On the
day she was absent, Ms. Carlson’s homeroom class
was very unruly.
Only an apostrophe is added to a plural word
ending with an s to indicate ownership. → The
books’ pages were scattered across the floor.
Comma (,)
Use a colon directly in front of a listing of a series of items. → While I was at the supermarket,
I picked up the following: cheese, rolls, pie, and
bottled water.
A colon separates hours and minutes. → Let’s
meet for lunch at 1:30 P.M.
A colon can be substituted for a comma before
a direct quote. → Ms. Jones said: “Students who
are missing more than five homework assignments will have points taken off their final
grades.”
To separate biblical chapter and verse, a colon is
used after the chapter, with the verse appearing
directly after the colon. → Isaiah 61:3
A colon is placed at the end of the salutation
line in a formal letter. → Dear Mr. Smythe:
A colon separates the city and publisher in a
bibliographical citation or note. → New York:
Alfred A. Knopf
Use a colon between titles and subtitles.
The best way to learn to use commas properly is to
study and imitate proper comma usage in model sentences. Reinforce your comma punctuation skills by
reading the specific rule for each situation and then
practicing what you’ve learned by copying each
model sentence five times in the spaces provided.
Rule: Place a comma before a coordinating
conjunction (and, or, but, nor, so, for, yet) joining
two or more independent clauses.
Model sentence:
I was going to go to the party, but I fell asleep
while watching television.
Practice:
1. ____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
3. ____________________________________
4. ____________________________________
5. ____________________________________
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Rule: Place a comma between dates, addresses, and
titles:
Rule: Place a comma between all of the items in a list.
Model sentence:
She shopped for paper plates, napkins, cups,
and plastic spoons.
Model sentence:
Robert Smith, PhD, received his doctoral degree
on May 14, 2007.
Practice:
Practice:
1. ____________________________________
1. ____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
3. ____________________________________
3. ____________________________________
4. ____________________________________
4. ____________________________________
5. ____________________________________
5. ____________________________________
Rule: Place a comma directly after tags or phrases
preceding direct quotations.
Rule: Set off nonrestrictive appositives and
nonessential phrases and clauses by placing a
comma on both sides. (Do not use commas
with restrictive appositives such as the poet
Robert Frost.)
Model sentence:
The author of the best-selling novel declared, “I
can’t wait to start working on my next book.”
Practice:
Model sentence:
Will’s girlfriend, Halle [nonrestrictive
appositive], whom he has dated for two years
[nonessential clause], doesn’t know how to
drive.
1. ____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
3. ____________________________________
4. ____________________________________
Practice:
5. ____________________________________
1. ____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
3. ____________________________________
4. ____________________________________
5. ____________________________________
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Rule: Place a comma directly after conjunctive
adverbs and transitional phrases, such as however,
also, then, therefore, for instance, in conclusion, in
fact, and for example.
Rule: Place a comma within (before) the end
quotation mark of a direct quote preceding a tag
(unless the quote ends with a question mark or an
exclamation point).
Model sentence:
In fact, the black shoes are handcrafted in Italy.
Model sentence:
“I’m going on vacation next week,” said Tanya.
Practice:
Practice:
1. ____________________________________
1. ____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
2. ____________________________________
3. ____________________________________
3. ____________________________________
4. ____________________________________
4. ____________________________________
5. ____________________________________
5. ____________________________________
Rule: Use a comma after an introductory adverbial
clause or a prepositional phrase.
Hyphen (-)
■
Model sentence:
Under the decaying front porch, we discovered
a box filled with books and old letters.
■
Practice:
1. ____________________________________
■
2. ____________________________________
3. ____________________________________
Use a hyphen whenever two or more words are
joined together to serve as an adjective directly
before a noun (unless the first word ends in -ly).
→ The well-regarded teacher was honored for his
exceptionally hard work and dedication.
Use a hyphen when writing out fractions and
compound numbers. → I spent one-third of my
allowance on books and DVDs.
Use a hyphen with compound nouns. → My
sister-in-law works at the local mall.
4. ____________________________________
5. ____________________________________
Grammar-Gram
If a word is not listed in the dictionary as a
compound word (for example, notebook or
self-esteem), write it as two separate words
(for example, test taker).
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Parentheses
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Comma Use and Abuse
Place parentheses around letters or numbers
that mark divisions in a series. → The main
rules of the class are the following: (1) don’t
speak when someone else is speaking, (2) act respectfully toward your teacher and your classmates, and (3) work hard and complete all of
your assignments.
Use parentheses to enclose supplementary material. → Dorothy (Mrs. Thomas) Walker, an animal welfare activist, recently adopted an elderly
mixed-breed dog from the local animal shelter.
Some writers sprinkle commas into their
writing like Parmesan cheese over a plate of
spaghetti or sprinkles onto a cake. Yikes!
The best way to avoid this type of comma
abuse is to ask yourself the following question before using a comma: What specific
punctuation rule applies to this particular situation? If a rule doesn’t fit the situation, you
might be creating a dreaded comma splice
by placing a comma between two independent clauses that are direly in need of a coordinating conjunction (there are seven of
them: and, but, for, or, nor, so, and yet).
Ellipsis Points (. . .)
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Ellipsis points signify that material has been
omitted from the middle of a quotation, but
they are normally not placed at the beginning or
end of a quotation. → In his play Uncle Vanya,
Anton Chekhov wrote: “Man has been endowed
with reason, with the power to create . . . but up to
now he hasn’t been a creator, only a destroyer.”
Practice Questions
Choose the punctuation mark that is needed in each
of the following sentences. If no additional punctuation is needed, choose e.
1. “It isn’t fair!” shouted Martin. Coach Lewis
never lets me start the game!”
a. .
b. ,
c. !
d. “
e. correct as is
Get a Grip on
Punctuation
Help!! Writer Wigs Out on
Exclamation Points!
Exclamation points are like cayenne pepper—
use them to add a dash of excitement, but
don’t be heavy-handed or they will irritate
the reader. If you have used more than one
exclamation point on a page, focus instead
on revising to make more precise word
choices that will interject your writing with
the same degree of enthusiasm that you are
hoping to achieve by using exclamation
points.
2. Maureen’s three sisters, Molly, Shannon, and
Patricia are all spending the summer at their
grandmother’s beach house.
a. ;
b. –
c. !
d. ,
e. correct as is
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7. Before sending out invitations, Margo checked
the party date with her mother-in-law.
a. ,
b. ;
c. —
d. .
e. correct as is
3. For the centerpieces, the florist recommended
the following flowers daisies, tulips, daffodils,
and hyacinths.
a. :
b. ,
c. .
d. ;
e. correct as is
8. “I remember” Luis recollected, “the first time I
was allowed to walk home from school by
myself.”
a. ?
b. ,
c. :
d. ;
e. correct as is
4. Lily is an accomplished gymnast she won
three medals in her last competition.
a. ;
b. ,
c. ?
d. :
e. correct as is
9. Madeline Larkin our office manager, is the
most organized person I’ve ever known.
a. :
b. ;
c. —
d. ,
e. correct as is
5. Everyone was shocked when Max Smithfield—
a studious, extremely bright high school senior
decided that college was not for him.
a. ;
b. ,
c. —
d. :
e. correct as is
10. I spend most of my time at the gym on the
treadmill walking is my favorite form of
exercise.
a. ,
b. ?
c. ;
d. !
e. correct as is
6. Kims assistant, usually so reliable, has been
late for work three times this week, without
any excuse.
a. ’
b. ,
c. ;
d. .
e. correct as is
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15. Before the student could be hired by the company, the students adviser had to provide a
letter of recommendation.
a. company the students
b. company, the student’s
c. company, the students’
d. company the students’
e. correct as is
Choose the alternative that shows the best punctuation for the underlined part of the sentence. If the
sentence is correct as is, choose e.
11. Simone bought three new pairs of shoes even
though she had put herself on a tight budget
just last week.
a. shoes, even though, she
b. shoes, even though she
c. shoes. Even though she
d. shoes; even though she
e. correct as is
12. Most residents of the building have air conditioners however I’ve always found that a
ceiling fan is sufficient.
a. air conditioners however: I’ve
b. air conditioners, however, I’ve
c. air conditioners however, I’ve
d. air conditioners; however, I’ve
e. correct as is
16. The volunteers who would like to work the
morning shift should sign their names on this
sheet.
a. volunteers, who would like to work the
morning shift
b. volunteers who would like to work the
morning shift,
c. volunteers, who would like to work the
morning shift,
d. volunteers who, would like to work the
morning shift,
e. correct as is
13. “Are you okay,” asked Timothy, “Are you sure
you don’t want to sit down and rest for a
while?”
a. okay?” asked Timothy. “Are
b. okay?” asked Timothy, “Are
c. okay,” asked Timothy? “Are
d. okay?” asked Timothy? “Are
e. correct as is
17. The employees asked whether the company
would be offering tuition reimbursement
within the next three years?
a. reimbursement within the next three years!
b. reimbursement, within the next three years.
c. reimbursement within the next three years.
d. reimbursement, within the next three years?
e. correct as is
14. The owners of the restaurant maintain that only
organic ingredients are used in their kitchen.
a. maintain, that only
b. maintain that, only
c. maintain: that only
d. maintain—that only
e. correct as is
18. This is the new restaurant you’ve been talking
about, isn’t it?
a. about isn’t it?
b. about, is’nt it?
c. about, isn’t it.
d. about isn’t it.
e. correct as is
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19. Turnips a root vegetable can be mashed,
roasted, or used in casseroles.
a. Turnips, a root vegetable,
b. Turnips, a root vegetable
c. Turnips, a root vegetable—
d. Turnips a root vegetable,
e. correct as is
Do Capitalize
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20. They met for the first time on August 27, 1972
in Seattle, WA.
a. August 27 1972 in Seattle, WA.
b. August 27 1972, in Seattle WA.
c. August 27, 1972 in Seattle, WA.
d. August 27, 1972, in Seattle, WA.
e. correct as is
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Capitalization
Don’t Capitalize
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the seasons of the year → spring, summer, fall,
winter
written-out references to specific dates of the
month → the tenth day of February
geographical directions → I told him to drive
north.
the first word in a quotation that is written as a
phrase instead of a complete sentence → He
said that he would prefer to “spend some time at
the shore” during the summer months.
the names of academic subjects, unless they are
languages such as English or titles of academic
courses → second-year calculus; Advanced Calculus II
the first letter(s) of words of an academic degree → bachelor of arts
prepositions, conjunctions, and articles in a
book or article title, unless they appear as the
first or last word
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the first letter(s) of proper nouns referring to
specific beings, places, and things such as the
names of continents, countries, states, cities,
races, nationalities, religions, and languages
the first letter(s) of the names of months, weekdays, and holidays → New Year’s Day
the first word of a sentence → School is in session today.
the first letter(s) of the name of a geographical
location → She left for a business trip out West.
the first letter of an individual’s first, middle,
and last names → President John Quincy Adams
the first letter(s) in the name of an animal →
My cat is named Miss Kitty.
the first letter of the first word of a direct quotation that is written as a complete sentence →
Principal Roberts said, “Research indicates that
an extended school day increases academic
achievement.”
all of the letters in an acronym → ASPCA
the first letter in each word of an organization’s
name → American Red Cross
the pronoun I → I am going to school early today.
the first letter in the first, last, and major words
in the title of a book, magazine, computer software program, poem, story, play, song title, film,
or work of art (However, the titles of certain poems, magazines, and such are sometimes typed
completely in lowercase letters for artistic effect.)
the first letter(s) of a brand name → Crest
toothpaste
the first letter(s) of the name of a river, ocean,
or other large body of water → Mississippi River
the first letter in Mother, Father, Dad, Mom,
Grandfather, Grandma, and so on if they are
not preceded by a possessive noun or pronoun
→ I met Dad in front of the diner.
the first letter(s) in a company name → General
Electric
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21. Last week, | dr. Tanya Miller received |
a
b
a special award from the | city of Atlanta. |
c
d
Correct as is
e
the first letter(s) in the name of a school, college, or university → Columbia University
the first letter(s) of the names of streets, buildings, and institutions when they are part of a
proper noun → Wall Street; White House
the first word of each item in an outline →
Introduction
1. Chapter 1
2. Chapter 2
22. The new bakery | in the center of town |
a
b
sells a wide assortment | of italian pastries. |
c
d
Correct as is
e
Examples of Capitalization
in Titles
Amelia Rules! (comic book)
American Idol (television show)
“Casey at the Bat” (poem by Ernest Lawrence
Thayer)
Girl with a Pearl Earring (work of art by Johannes
Vermeer)
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (book by
Douglas Adams)
March of the Penguins (film)
Paradise Lost (lengthy poem by John Milton)
Popular Science (periodical)
A Raisin in the Sun (play by Lorraine Hansberry)
“The Tell-Tale Heart” (short story by Edgar
Allan Poe)
“What a Wonderful World” (song)
Zone Alarm Internet Security Suite 7 (software)
23. Michael Blake, jr., |
a
is such an accomplished golfer |
b
that he won three tournaments | in a row. |
c
d
Correct as is
e
24. Catherine complained loudly, |
a
“why can’t you ever | pick me up on time |
b
c
in the morning?” | Correct as is
d
e
25. The Declaration of Independence |
a
is one of the most important |
b
documents in the history | of the United States.
c
d
Correct as is
e
Practice Questions
For the following questions, choose the lettered part
of the sentence that contains a word that needs a capital letter. If no additional words should be capitalized, choose e. Refer to the preceding checklists if you
want to be certain about your choice.
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26. Sally’s Sweet shop, |
a
one of the oldest businesses in town, |
b
is located on one of the main streets |
c
of Millersville. | Correct as is
d
e
31. a. Leo told her, to call the customer service
department in the morning.
b. She put up signs all over town, but she
didn’t get any response.
c. Occasionally, her neighbors ask her to feed
their cat.
d. no mistakes
27. My first childhood pet, | a gray cat named otis,
a
b
| was given to me as a gift | on my fifth birthday. |
c
d
Correct as is
e
32. a. Did you see all three movies about Shrek?
b. She was given an award by mayor
Chambers.
c. Math and science are my two best subjects.
d. no mistakes
28. The local elementary school |
a
is organizing a screening |
b
of the movie toy story | as a fund-raiser. |
c
d
Correct as is
e
33. a. A major highway is being built on the outskirts of town.
b. When you reach the traffic light on Berkshire Road, turn right onto Springfield
Boulevard.
c. We were staying at my sister’s cape Cod
vacation home.
d. no mistakes
For each question, find the sentence that has a mistake in capitalization or punctuation. If you find no
mistakes, mark choice d.
34. a. The instructor asked us if we needed more
time?
b. Carla’s mother is a pediatric dentist.
c. Every item in the store costs less than a
dollar.
d. no mistakes
29. a. My least favorite season is Winter.
b. Next Friday, Uncle Jake is coming to visit.
c. Maureen served as treasurer for the
women’s organization.
d. no mistakes
35. a. Jane’s family owned three Persian cats.
b. My Uncle always takes the subway to Yankee Stadium.
c. Everyone knows that Marisa’s favorite book
is Pride and Prejudice.
d. no mistakes
30. a. “Can you attend next week’s meeting?” she
asked.
b. His new car was damaged in the accident.
c. The girls’ giggled through the whole movie.
d. no mistakes
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36. a. “I’ll do the grocery shopping for you,
grandma,” Lucy said.
b. “Where can I find the best pizza in town?”
he asked.
c. “Be sure to arrive two hours early,” she
warned.
d. no mistakes
42. a. Can you find the Indian ocean on this
map?
b. Which river, the Nile or the Amazon, is
longer?
c. Lerner Avenue runs into the Thompson
Parkway.
d. no mistakes
37. a. I always have a hard time getting up in the
morning.
b. We took: a tent, a cooler, and a sleeping bag.
c. The fog was as thick as potato soup.
d. no mistakes
43. a. He’s the best dancer in the school.
b. We were planning to go, but the meeting
was canceled.
c. “Okay,” she said, I’ll go with you.”
d. no mistakes
38. a. This is someone elses coat.
b. Which of these songs was recorded by
Bruce Springsteen?
c. That book must be yours.
d. no mistakes
44. a. Does Judge Parker live on your street?
b. Twenty government officials met to deal
with Wednesday’s crisis.
c. The Mayor spoke at a news conference this
morning.
d. no mistakes
39. a. Don’t stand in my way.
b. Cecilia and I fought our way through the
crowd.
c. The vegetables were old rubbery and
tasteless.
d. no mistakes
40. a.
b.
c.
d.
45. a. My brother Isaac is the best player on the
team.
b. Because of the high cost; we decided not
to go.
c. Where’s your new puppy?
d. no mistakes
Remember to walk the dog.
“Don’t run”! Mr. Ellington shouted.
It’s supposed to snow today and tomorrow.
no mistakes
46. a. I have learned to appreciate Mozart’s music.
b. My cousin Veronica is studying to be a
Veterinarian.
c. Mr. Shanahan is taller than Professor
Martin.
d. no mistakes
41. a. Charleen’s parents worried whenever she
drove the car.
b. Who designed the Brooklyn Bridge?
c. Diseases like Smallpox and Polio have been
virtually eradicated.
d. no mistakes
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53. a.
b.
c.
d.
47. a. “You look just like your mother,” Ms. Jones
told me.
b. “Please be careful,” he said.
c. Tyler asked, “why do I have to go to bed so
early?”
d. no mistakes
Questions 54–57 are based on the following passage.
First, read the passage; then, choose the alternative
that shows the best capitalization or punctuation for
each underlined part.
48. a. Do you prefer root beer or orange soda?
b. In which year did world war II end?
c. I like to study the geography of the
Everglades.
d. no mistakes
Madam Helena P. Blavatsky born in Russia on
May 8, 1831, claimed to have psychic powers
and to be capable of performing feats of
clairvoyance and telepathy. During her 60 years,
she traveled to many countries—including the
United States, England, India, and Egypt—in
order to study the occult. Although many
considered her a fake throughout her lifetime
she was surrounded by faithful believers,
including such influential persons as British
statesman Allen O. Hume and Swedish countess
Constance Wachtmeister. To this day, followers
commemorate the date of her death calling
May 8 “White Lotus Day.”
49. a. Colds like many other viruses are highly
contagious.
b. Call me when you feel better.
c. Did you wash your hands, Michael?
d. no mistakes
50. a.
b.
c.
d.
Those shoes are too expensive.
Michael’s best friend is Patrick.
Did you hear that Inez got a new puppy.
no mistakes
The industrial revolution began in Europe.
Is Labor Day a national holiday?
General Patton was a four-star general.
no mistakes
51. a. Carmen brought bread, and butter, and
strawberry jam.
b. Let’s look at the map.
c. Be sure to thank Aunt Helen for the gift.
d. no mistakes
52. a. My Aunt Georgia loves to read EighteenthCentury novels.
b. Eli’s sister’s cousin lives in Alaska.
c. Is that a German shepherd?
d. no mistakes
15
54. a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Blavatsky: born
Blavatsky—born
Blavatsky, born
Blavatsky. Born
correct as is
55. a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
countries, including
countries: including
countries. Including
countries including
correct as is
ETTM_01_001_036.QXD:GED Test series
7/1/08
1:50 PM
Page 16
– ENGLISH TO THE MAX–
56. a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
fake, throughout
fake. Throughout
fake: throughout
fake; throughout
correct as is
treatment I expect from your fine
establishment. I hope you will make restitution
and have a discussion with your staff about
customer service. My receipt is enclosed.
57. a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
death. Calling
death, calling
death: calling
death; calling
correct as is
Melanie Jeffords
Sincerely yours,
Questions 58–61 are based on the following passage.
First, read the passage; then, choose the alternative
that shows the best capitalization or punctuation for
each underlined part.
312 Maple Avenue
Chicago, IL 60632
June 2, 2006
Mark Franklin, general manager
Wholesome Food Store
1245 Main Street
Chicago, IL 60627
58. a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Franklin, general Manager
franklin, General Manager
Franklin, General Manager
Franklin, General manager
correct as is
59. a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Dear Mr. Franklin.
Dear, Mr. franklin,
dear Mr. Franklin:
Dear Mr. Franklin:
correct as is
60. a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Monday, May 22nd I
Monday May 22nd; I
Monday. May 22nd I
Monday, May 22nd, I
correct as is
61. a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
extremely rude, and she
extremely rude: and she
extremely rude? And she
extremely rude and, she
correct as is
dear Mr. Franklin;
I am writing to complain about the behavior of
one of your sales clerks. On Monday May 22nd
I visited your store to return a package of
ground turkey that I had purchased the day
before. When I explained to your sales clerk that
the expiration date on the package was May 1st,
she was extremely rude and she refused to
refund my money. This is not the kind of
16
ETTM_01_001_036.QXD:GED Test series
7/1/08
1:50 PM
Page 17
– PUNCTUATION POWER-UP–
Answers
14. e. The sentence is punctuated correctly.
15. b. The word student’s is possessive and needs
an apostrophe.
16. e. The sentence does not require any additional punctuation.
17. c. This is a declarative sentence; it asks an
indirect question, so a question mark
should not be used. Also, to add the comma
is incorrect.
18. e. The sentence is punctuated correctly.
19. a. The phrase a root vegetable is a nonessential
element in the sentence and needs to be set
off with commas.
20. d. Commas separate dates and addresses.
21. b. A title, such as Dr., requires a capital.
22. d. Nationalities and languages require
capitals.
23. a. Jr. is a kind of title and therefore takes a
capital.
24. b. The first letter of a direct quotation takes a
capital.
25. e. Capitalization is correct.
26. a. All words in the proper name of a place or
company require capitals.
27. b. Proper names require capitals.
28. c. Movie titles are capitalized.
29. a. Winter should not be capitalized.
30. c. There should not be an apostrophe after
the word girls.
31. a. The comma is incorrect and should be
deleted.
32. b. Mayor should be capitalized because it
refers to a particular mayor.
33. c. Cape Cod is a proper noun, and both words
should be capitalized.
34. a. This is a declarative sentence that asks an
indirect question, so the question mark
should be replaced with a period.
1. d. There should be a quotation mark before
the word Coach to set off the dialogue.
2. d. Commas set off nonrestrictive appositives,
phrases that say the same thing as the previous phrase in different words. (A comma
should be placed after Patricia.)
3. a. A colon can go before a list. (Place a colon
after the word flowers.)
4. a. A semicolon can be used to separate two
main clauses that could each stand alone as
complete sentences.
5. c. Dashes can be used to set off a parenthetical element, for emphasis. (Place another
em dash after the word senior.)
6. a. The possessive Kim’s requires an
apostrophe.
7. e. This sentence is punctuated correctly.
8. b. Commas set off parenthetical elements and
always go inside the quotation marks in a
line of dialogue. (Place a comma after the
word remember.)
9. d. Commas set off a word or phrase that
describes the subject but does not alter the
meaning of the entire sentence. (Place a
comma after the word Larkin.)
10. c. A semicolon can be used to separate two
main clauses that could each stand alone as
complete sentences. (Place the semicolon
after the word treadmill.)
11. b. The comma separates the main clause from
the long, descriptive subordinate clause.
12. d. The semicolon can be used to separate two
main clauses that could each stand alone as
complete sentences, and the comma follows
the conjunctive adverb however.
13. a. The quotation is a question, and the tag
asked Timothy ends the sentence.
17
ETTM_01_001_036.QXD:GED Test series
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1:50 PM
Page 18
– ENGLISH TO THE MAX–
48. b. World War is a proper noun and should
be capitalized.
49. a. The phrase like many other viruses should
be set off by commas because it is a
nonessential element in the sentence.
50. a. Industrial Revolution should be capitalized.
51. a. The commas in this sentence should be
deleted. Commas are not used in a series
when the series is already linked by
conjunctions.
52. a. The names of centuries are not capitalized.
53. c. This sentence asks a question and should
end with a question mark.
54. c. Commas are used to set off a word or
phrase that describes the subject but does
not alter the meaning of the entire sentence.
55. e. Dashes are used to set off parenthetical elements, for emphasis.
56. a. The comma is used after an introductory
element.
57. b. The comma separates the main clause from
the descriptive subordinate clause.
58. c. Titles require capitals.
59. d. First words of salutations, titles, and proper
names all take capitals; a colon follows the
salutation in a business letter.
60. d. Commas set off parenthetical elements.
61. a. A comma goes before and when and links
two main clauses.
35. b. Uncle is not used as a proper noun and
should not be capitalized.
36. a. Grandma is used as a proper name and
should be capitalized.
37. b. A colon should not be used between a verb
and its objects.
38. a. There should be an apostrophe in the word
else’s, which is possessive.
39. c. The commas are missing from this series
of adjectives.
40. b. The quotation mark should appear on the
outside of the exclamation point: “Don’t
run!”
41. c. The word polio and smallpox should not be
capitalized. Diseases are not capitalized
unless a proper noun is part of the name.
42. a. Ocean should be capitalized.
43. c. To set off the dialogue, there should be a
quotation mark before the word I’ll.
44. c. Mayor should not be capitalized, because it
does not precede the name of a particular
mayor.
45. b. A semicolon is not used between a dependent and an independent clause. Use a
comma.
46. b. Veterinarian is not a proper noun and
should not be capitalized.
47. c. The word Why, which begins the quotation, should be capitalized.
18