Punctuation Exercise

PUNCTUATIONS

Punctuations The ability to use punctuation marks correctly, that is, according to the accepted conventions is an indispensable part of writing skills. A large number of students exhibit palpable deficiencies in this respect. It needs to be realised that a writer with inadequate command of punctuation rules denies himself immense resources of English language for effective and elegant expression. 09/03/09

Exercise Which indicates (of the two sentences) that there were only two people in the car?

• The two passengers who were seriously hurt were taken to a nearby hospital. • The two passengers, who were seriously hurt, were taken to a nearby hospital.

In which has the speaker pried into the private lives of his friends? •Everyone I know has a secret ambition. •Everyone, I know, has a secret ambition. Which sentence overtones?

has

cannibalistic

•We are going to eat, Ahmad, before we proceed further. •We are going to eat Ahmad before we proceed further.

• Which is a matter of identification? • He is the one, I believe. • He is the one I believe. In which case has the speaker managed to change his friends’ attitude towards him? • Now, my friends listen to me. • Now my friends listen to me.

In which case is the Prime Minister probably feeling more alone? • The Prime Minister, who was recently ousted by the masses and his wife, arrived in London yesterday. • The Prime Minister, who was recently ousted by the masses, and his wife arrived in London yesterday. • Which is the neurotic personality? • She too eagerly awaits the spring. • She, too, eagerly awaits the spring.

Which sentence shows extraordinary powers of persuasion? •I left him convinced he was a fool. •I left him, convinced he was a fool. Which is more flattering to Mrs. Khan? •Mrs. Khan is a pretty generous woman. •Mrs. Khan is a pretty, generous woman.