Starter quiz
- What piece of punctuation can be used to introduce a list, a question or an explanation?
- a comma
- a full stop
- a colon ✓
- a question mark
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- Which sentence uses a colon to introduce a list correctly?
- We had several lessons this morning: maths, English, spelling and handwriting. ✓
- The lessons we had this morning were: maths, English, spelling and handwriting.
- We had many lessons this morning, including: maths, English and spelling.
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- Which sentence uses a colon correctly to introduce a question?
- We crept deeper into the cave: shivering with fear, would we make it out alive?
- We crept deeper into the cave, shivering with fear, would we make it out alive?
- We crept deeper into the cave, shivering with fear: would we make it out alive? ✓
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- Which of these sentences contain an explanation following the colon?
- Mr Martinez was furious: his face was bright red.
- Mr Martinez was furious: someone had drunk his coffee. ✓
- The man smiled: he rarely did.
- The man smiled: he had seen an old friend. ✓
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- Which of these explanation sentences is correctly punctuated?
- If you must go into town, take this shopping list: I need a few things. ✓
- If you must go into town: take this shopping list, I need a few things.
- If you must go into town, take this shopping list, I need: a few things.
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- Which of the following could complete this sentence as an explanation? 'The cat pounced:'
- it had seen a mouse on the floor. ✓
- it had sharp claws.
- it leapt from the chair.
- it wanted to catch its prey. ✓
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Exit quiz
- What must be on either side of a semi-colon?
- a gap
- words that could make a complete sentence ✓
- an adjective
- a noun or noun phrase
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- Which version below joins these two sentences correctly using a semi-colon? 'The competition was ferocious. Many players got injured.'
- The competition was ferocious; Many players got injured.
- The competition was ferocious; many players got injured. ✓
- The competition was ferocious, many players got injured.
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- Match each main clause to a closely-related one to create a sentence that could be joined with a semi-colon.
- The children were excited;⇔a special visitor was arriving soon. ✓
- The school trip was cancelled;⇔not enough adults volunteered to come. ✓
- Sofia was furious;⇔she had been looking forward to it for days. ✓
- Which of the following sentences has the semi-colon in the correct position?
- Laura stopped smiling; as she entered the room she could see them doing a test.
- Laura stopped smiling as she entered the room; she could see them doing a test. ✓
- Laura stopped smiling as she entered the room she could see; them doing a test.
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- Tick all the sentences with a semi-colon in the correct position.
- When we reached the mountaintop, I smiled; the view was incredible. ✓
- As the door creaked open; we froze, the house was completely dark.
- Pausing mid-explanation, Mr Martinez glared at Andeep; he had been talking. ✓
- Aisha tiptoed down the stairs; which creaked loudly.
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- Which of the following sentences uses a semi-colon correctly to join two closely-related ideas?
- Miss O'Neill hurried into the classroom; she had heard that I was injured. ✓
- Alex was appalled; he is my next-door neighbour.
- Lucas loves Spanish food; his brother hates it. ✓
- Aisha is very rarely late; she lives close to school. ✓
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Worksheet
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Presentation
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Lesson Details
Key learning points
- A semi-colon is a piece of punctuation with more than one purpose.
- A semi-colon can be used to join two closely-related main clauses.
- A semi-colon can help to improve text cohesion.
Common misconception
Pupils may struggle with the concept of ideas being 'closely related'.
Semi-colons don't need to show cause and effect or contrast; they are versatile and we should interpret 'closely-related' broadly.
Keywords
Semi-colon - a piece of punctuation that can join two closely-related main clauses
Main clause - a group of words that contains a verb and makes complete sense
Text cohesion - how a text flows to maintain the interest of the reader and achieve text purpose
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