CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The principal said Please remain…”?
A. The principal said: “Please remain seated.”
B. The principal said, “Please remain seated.”
C. The principal said “Please remain seated.”
D. The principal said; “Please remain seated.”
Correct Answer: B
A comma commonly introduces a short direct quotation after a reporting clause.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “On Monday June 8 2026…”?
A. On Monday; June 8, 2026, the committee met in Islamabad.
B. On Monday: June 8, 2026, the committee met in Islamabad.
C. On Monday June 8, 2026, the committee met in Islamabad.
D. On Monday, June 8, 2026, the committee met in Islamabad.
Correct Answer: D
Commas separate elements in a full date used in a sentence.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “She checked the figures corrected…”?
A. She checked the figures; corrected the totals, and signed the report.
B. She checked the figures, corrected the totals, and signed the report.
C. She checked the figures corrected the totals, and signed the report.
D. She checked the figures: corrected the totals, and signed the report.
Correct Answer: B
Commas separate parallel items in a series.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The office was closed so…”?
A. The office was closed; so we returned the next morning.
B. The office was closed, so we returned the next morning.
C. The office was closed: so we returned the next morning.
D. The office was closed so we returned the next morning.
Correct Answer: B
A comma precedes a coordinating conjunction joining independent clauses.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The task was difficult but…”?
A. The task was difficult; but the team completed it on time.
B. The task was difficult, but the team completed it on time.
C. The task was difficult but the team completed it on time.
D. The task was difficult: but the team completed it on time.
Correct Answer: B
A comma precedes a coordinating conjunction joining two independent clauses.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The witness gave a clear…”?
A. The witness gave a clear: concise, and convincing statement.
B. The witness gave a clear; concise, and convincing statement.
C. The witness gave a clear, concise, and convincing statement.
D. The witness gave a clear concise, and convincing statement.
Correct Answer: C
Coordinate adjectives in a series are separated by commas.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “We visited Lahore Multan Bahawalpur…”?
A. We visited Lahore: Multan, Bahawalpur, and Sukkur.
B. We visited Lahore Multan, Bahawalpur, and Sukkur.
C. We visited Lahore; Multan, Bahawalpur, and Sukkur.
D. We visited Lahore, Multan, Bahawalpur, and Sukkur.
Correct Answer: D
Commas separate items in a series.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The box contains pens pencils…”?
A. The box contains pens pencils, markers, and paper.
B. The box contains pens, pencils, markers, and paper.
C. The box contains pens: pencils, markers, and paper.
D. The box contains pens; pencils, markers, and paper.
Correct Answer: B
Commas separate items in a series.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “Thank you Madam for your…”?
A. Thank you: Madam, for your guidance.
B. Thank you Madam, for your guidance.
C. Thank you, Madam, for your guidance.
D. Thank you; Madam, for your guidance.
Correct Answer: C
A title used in direct address is set off by commas.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “Ali please bring the file…”?
A. Ali please bring the file to my office.
B. Ali; please bring the file to my office.
C. Ali, please bring the file to my office.
D. Ali: please bring the file to my office.
Correct Answer: C
A name used in direct address is separated by a comma.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The proposal however still requires…”?
A. The proposal however, still requires legal review.
B. The proposal; however, still requires legal review.
C. The proposal, however, still requires legal review.
D. The proposal however still requires legal review.
Correct Answer: C
A parenthetical conjunctive adverb is set off by commas.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “Dr Khan who chaired the…”?
A. Dr. Khan who chaired the committee, presented the findings.
B. Dr. Khan who chaired the committee presented the findings.
C. Dr. Khan, who chaired the committee, presented the findings.
D. Dr. Khan; who chaired the committee, presented the findings.
Correct Answer: C
A nonrestrictive who-clause is set off by commas.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The new policy which was…”?
A. The new policy, which was announced yesterday, will take effect in September.
B. The new policy which was announced yesterday will take effect in September.
C. The new policy which was announced yesterday, will take effect in September.
D. The new policy; which was announced yesterday, will take effect in September.
Correct Answer: A
A nonrestrictive relative clause is enclosed by commas.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “The Ravi one of Punjabs…”?
A. The Ravi one of Punjab's major rivers has historical importance.
B. The Ravi; one of Punjab's major rivers, has historical importance.
C. The Ravi one of Punjab's major rivers, has historical importance.
D. The Ravi, one of Punjab's major rivers, has historical importance.
Correct Answer: D
A nonessential appositive phrase is set off by commas.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “My uncle a retired teacher…”?
A. My uncle; a retired teacher, lives in Multan.
B. My uncle a retired teacher lives in Multan.
C. My uncle a retired teacher, lives in Multan.
D. My uncle, a retired teacher, lives in Multan.
Correct Answer: D
A nonessential appositive is enclosed by commas.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “If the weather improves the…”?
A. If the weather improves,, the rescue team will leave at dawn.
B. If the weather improves the rescue team will leave at dawn.
C. If, the weather improves the rescue team will leave at dawn.
D. If the weather improves, the rescue team will leave at dawn.
Correct Answer: D
A comma follows an introductory if-clause.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “In the early morning the…”?
A. In the early morning, the valley was covered with mist.
B. In the early morning the valley was covered with mist.
C. In, the early morning the valley was covered with mist.
D. In the early morning,, the valley was covered with mist.
Correct Answer: A
A comma commonly follows an introductory prepositional phrase when clarity benefits.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “Before submitting the form check…”?
A. Before submitting the form, check every entry carefully.
B. Before submitting the form check every entry carefully.
C. Before submitting the form,, check every entry carefully.
D. Before, submitting the form check every entry carefully.
Correct Answer: A
A comma follows an introductory phrase.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “Although the road was narrow…”?
A. Although, the road was narrow the driver remained calm.
B. Although the road was narrow, the driver remained calm.
C. Although the road was narrow the driver remained calm.
D. Although the road was narrow,, the driver remained calm.
Correct Answer: B
A comma separates an introductory dependent clause from the main clause.
CSS - PMS - Precis & Composition
Punctuation
Which option is correctly punctuated for the sentence beginning “After the meeting ended the…”?
A. After, the meeting ended the members left quietly.
B. After the meeting ended,, the members left quietly.
C. After the meeting ended the members left quietly.
D. After the meeting ended, the members left quietly.
Correct Answer: D
A comma follows an introductory dependent clause.