Punctuation Rules – English Grammar Exercises for B2
Setting the scene for an anecdote – unexpectedly running into an ex-partner at a bustling night market.
Choose the option with the correct punctuation and grammatical structure to complete the sentence. Pay close attention to introductory elements and the subjects that follow them.
1 On a surprisingly chilly Saturday evening in November______ to visit the famous downtown night market.
(a) I decided
(b) ; I decided
(c) , I decided
(d) , decided I
2 As soon as I arrived at the bustling entrance______ of grilled skewers made my mouth water.
(a) ; the smell
(b) , the smell
(c) the smell
(d) . The smell
3 Amidst the sea of brightly colored tents and neon lights______ completely relaxed for the first time in weeks.
(a) , feeling
(b) ; I felt
(c) , I felt
(d) I felt
4 While I was waiting in line for my order of spicy noodles______ accidentally bumped into my shoulder.
(a) someone
(b) , someone
(c) someone,
(d) ; someone
5 To get a better view of the live band playing on the small stage______ closer to the crowd.
(a) , I stepped
(b) I stepped
(c) ; I stepped
(d) , stepping
6 Strolling casually past the vintage clothing section______ a familiar laugh echoing through the noise.
(a) , a familiar laugh was heard by me
(b) I suddenly heard
(c) ; I suddenly heard
(d) , I suddenly heard
7 Surprised by the sudden realization______ in my tracks.
(a) , my heart froze
(b) , I froze
(c) I froze
(d) ; I froze
8 Although we had ended our relationship on good terms three years ago______ him here was still a massive shock.
(a) seeing
(b) , seeing
(c) , and seeing
(d) ; seeing
9 Clutching my bowl of hot noodles tightly______ to hide behind a particularly tall customer.
(a) , I tried
(b) ; I tried
(c) I tried
(d) , the noodles spilled as I tried
10 Before he could turn around and notice me standing there like a statue______ quickly ducked behind a concrete pillar.
(a) I
(b) . I
(c) , I
(d) , ducking
11 Panicking slightly about my messy hair and old sweatpants______ my hood up to conceal my face.
(a) I pulled
(b) , my hood was pulled
(c) ; I pulled
(d) , I pulled
12 If I had known I was going to run into my ex tonight______ definitely dressed better.
(a) , I would have
(b) I would have
(c) ; I would have
(d) , would have I
13 Hoping to escape without an awkward interaction______ like my best option.
(a) , I quietly moved towards the back exit, which seemed
(b) , the back exit seemed
(c) the back exit seemed
(d) ; I quietly moved towards the back exit, which seemed
14 Having just taken a huge, messy bite of my food______ directly towards my hiding spot.
(a) I realized he was walking
(b) , realizing he was walking
(c) , I realized he was walking
(d) ; I realized he was walking
15 In the middle of the crowded market, completely surrounded by noisy tourists______ finally locked eyes.
(a) , we
(b) we
(c) , our eyes
(d) ; we
16 My heart pounding uncontrollably in my chest______ an awkward but polite smile.
(a) ; I forced
(b) I forced
(c) , forcing
(d) , I forced
17 Not wanting to seem rude or bitter after all these years of no contact______ a small wave.
(a) , a small wave was offered by me
(b) I offered
(c) , I offered
(d) ; I offered
18 Caught completely off guard by his sudden appearance in my favorite market______
(a) , my mind went completely blank.
(b) , I couldn’t think of anything smart to say.
(c) I couldn’t think of anything smart to say.
(d) ; I couldn’t think of anything smart to say.
19 To make matters even more embarrassing for me in that exact moment______ a piece of meat on my shirt.
(a) , dropping
(b) I dropped
(c) , I dropped
(d) ; I dropped
20 Standing face-to-face under the flickering neon sign______ that some things never truly change.
(a) , I realized
(b) I realized
(c) , the realization hit me
(d) ; I realized
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (c) , I decided
- Why it is correct (The Key): A comma is required after a long introductory prepositional phrase (“On a surprisingly chilly Saturday evening in November”) to separate the setting from the main subject and verb.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) Common Mistake (Missing the comma). (b) Structural Error (A semicolon cannot follow a dependent phrase). (d) Meaning Trap (Incorrect word order for the subject and verb).
2 (b) , the smell
- Why it is correct (The Key): “As soon as…” introduces a dependent time clause. It must be followed by a comma before the main independent clause begins.
- Distractor Analysis: (c) Common Mistake (Missing comma). (a) Structural Error (Semicolons connect two independent clauses, not a dependent and independent one). (d) Structural Error (Creating a sentence fragment).
3 (c) , I felt
- Why it is correct (The Key): A comma separates the introductory prepositional phrase from the main subject “I”.
- Distractor Analysis: (d) Common Mistake (Missing comma). (b) Structural Error (Incorrect use of a semicolon). (a) Meaning Trap (“feeling” makes the entire sentence a fragment without a main verb).
4 (b) , someone
- Why it is correct (The Key): A dependent clause starting with “While” at the beginning of the sentence must be followed by a comma.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) Common Mistake (Missing comma). (d) Structural Error (Semicolon misuse). (c) Structural Error (Comma placed after the subject of the main clause instead of before it).
5 (a) , I stepped
- Why it is correct (The Key): An infinitive phrase of purpose (“To get a better view…”) acting as an introductory element requires a comma.
- Distractor Analysis: (b) Common Mistake. (c) Structural Error. (d) Meaning Trap (Using “stepping” instead of “I stepped” leaves the sentence without a main subject and verb).
6 (d) , I suddenly heard
- Why it is correct (The Key): The participial phrase “Strolling casually…” modifies the subject of the main clause. The subject doing the strolling must come immediately after the comma (“I”).
- Distractor Analysis: (b) Common Mistake (Missing comma). (c) Structural Error. (a) Meaning Trap/Dangling Modifier (Passive voice makes “a familiar laugh” the subject, which implies the laugh was strolling).
7 (b) , I froze
- Why it is correct (The Key): The past participial phrase “Surprised by…” modifies the person (“I”). A comma is needed to separate it from the main clause.
- Distractor Analysis: (c) Common Mistake (Missing comma). (a) Meaning Trap/Dangling Modifier (A “heart” cannot literally feel surprised by a realization in this grammatical context; the person is). (d) Structural Error.
8 (b) , seeing
- Why it is correct (The Key): A comma must follow the dependent concessive clause starting with “Although”.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) Common Mistake (Missing comma). (c) Structural Error (Adding “and” breaks the grammar, as you don’t use a coordinating conjunction after an introductory dependent clause). (d) Structural Error.
9 (a) , I tried
- Why it is correct (The Key): The present participle phrase (“Clutching…”) needs a comma to separate it from the main subject “I”.
- Distractor Analysis: (c) Common Mistake. (b) Structural Error. (d) Meaning Trap/Dangling Modifier (Implies the “noodles” were clutching the bowl).
10 (c) , I
- Why it is correct (The Key): A comma separates the introductory time clause (“Before he could turn…”) from the main clause.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) Common Mistake. (b) Structural Error (Creates a fragment). (d) Structural Error (Missing a main subject/verb if “ducking” is used).
11 (d) , I pulled
- Why it is correct (The Key): The introductory participial phrase must be followed by a comma and the subject that performs the action (the speaker, “I”).
- Distractor Analysis: (a) Common Mistake. (c) Structural Error. (b) Meaning Trap/Dangling Modifier (The “hood” wasn’t panicking, the speaker was).
12 (a) , I would have
- Why it is correct (The Key): In a conditional sentence (Type 3), if the “if” clause comes first, it must be followed by a comma.
- Distractor Analysis: (b) Common Mistake. (d) Structural Error (Incorrect word order for a statement). (c) Structural Error.
13 (a) , I quietly moved towards the back exit, which seemed
- Why it is correct (The Key): The introductory phrase “Hoping to escape…” must modify the person doing the hoping (“I”).
- Distractor Analysis: (b) Meaning Trap/Dangling Modifier (This is a huge trap! It sounds correct, but “the back exit” cannot “hope to escape”). (c) Common Mistake & Dangling Modifier. (d) Structural Error.
14 (c) , I realized he was walking
- Why it is correct (The Key): The perfect participle phrase “Having just taken…” must be followed by a comma and the subject “I”.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) Common Mistake. (d) Structural Error. (b) Meaning Trap (Using “realizing” removes the main verb of the sentence, creating a fragment).
15 (a) , we
- Why it is correct (The Key): A comma separates the long introductory setting phrase from the main subject “we”.
- Distractor Analysis: (b) Common Mistake. (c) Meaning Trap/Dangling Modifier (The “eyes” were not surrounded by noisy tourists, “we” were). (d) Structural Error.
16 (d) , I forced
- Why it is correct (The Key): The phrase “My heart pounding uncontrollably in my chest” is an absolute phrase. It sets the scene but cannot stand alone as a sentence. It must be connected to the main clause with a comma.
- Distractor Analysis: (b) Common Mistake. (a) Structural Error. (c) Meaning Trap (Creates a sentence fragment with no main verb).
17 (c) , I offered
- Why it is correct (The Key): A negative participial phrase (“Not wanting…”) still functions as an introductory adverbial element requiring a comma and the correct subject.
- Distractor Analysis: (b) Common Mistake. (d) Structural Error. (a) Meaning Trap/Dangling Modifier (The “wave” wasn’t the one “not wanting to seem rude”, the speaker was).
18 (b) , I couldn’t think of anything smart to say.
- Why it is correct (The Key): The past participle “Caught completely off guard…” describes the speaker (“I”), so “I” must be the subject immediately following the comma.
- Distractor Analysis: (a) Meaning Trap/Dangling Modifier (The “mind” wasn’t caught off guard by his sudden appearance; the person “I” was). (c) Common Mistake. (d) Structural Error.
19 (c) , I dropped
- Why it is correct (The Key): An infinitive phrase of purpose/result acting as an introductory element needs a comma to separate it from the main clause.
- Distractor Analysis: (b) Common Mistake. (d) Structural Error. (a) Meaning Trap (Leaves the sentence without a main subject and verb).
20 (a) , I realized
- Why it is correct (The Key): The present participle phrase modifies the speaker. It requires a comma followed by the subject “I”.
- Distractor Analysis: (c) Meaning Trap/Dangling Modifier (“The realization” was not standing face-to-face; “I” was). (b) Common Mistake. (d) Structural Error.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- The Golden Rule of Introductory Commas: If a sentence begins with a dependent clause (starting with words like If, When, Although, Because, Since) or a long prepositional phrase, you must use a comma to separate it from the main independent clause. This signals to the reader that the background information is over and the main action is about to begin.
- Beware of Dangling Modifiers (The Meaning Trap):
When you start a sentence with a participial phrase (an V-ing or V-ed phrase like “Walking down the street,” or “Surprised by the news,”), the noun immediately following the comma must be the entity doing the action in that phrase. - Incorrect: Hoping to escape, the door was my best option. (The door wasn’t hoping).
- Correct: Hoping to escape, I ran to the door.
- Semicolons vs. Commas:
Never use a semicolon (;) to separate an introductory phrase or dependent clause from the main clause. Semicolons are strictly used to connect two grammatically complete, independent clauses.