Semicolons

Punctuation

CCSS L.9-10.2.ACCSS L.7.2England: Y6 GPS (semicolons)England: KS2 SATs GPSEngland: GCSE English Language (SPaG)

Objective and success criteria

Students will: Semicolons.

I can answer questions on today's skill on my own, without help.
I can explain each step and say why it works.
I can check my answer and spot a mistake.

Before and after

Needs first: Colons

Leads to: Punctuation between clauses (SAT/ACT); Sentence boundaries (SAT/ACT); Semicolon, comma or no punctuation?

Materials: Punctuation cards, A short unpunctuated text, Highlighters, Mini whiteboards, A short model text on the board, Printed student sheet (below).

Warm-up · 5 min

Quick retrieval from earlier learning (Colons). Students answer on mini whiteboards.
Show answers together and note who needs support in the main task.

Which sentence uses a colon correctly? • Jo: had one goal to win the race. • Jo had one goal: to win the race. • Jo had: one goal to win the race. • Jo had one goal to: win the race. (Jo: had one goal to win the race. / Jo had one goal: to win the race. / Jo had: one goal to win the race. / Jo had one goal to: win the race.) → Jo had one goal: to win the race.Prompt: The part before a colon must be a complete sentence (a main clause).
Which sentence uses a colon correctly? • You: will need three things a pencil, a ruler and a sharpener. • You will need three things: a pencil, a ruler and a sharpener. • You will need three: things a pencil, a ruler and a sharpener. • You will need: three things a pencil, a ruler and a sharpener. (You: will need three things a pencil, a ruler and a sharpener. / You will need three things: a pencil, a ruler and a sharpener. / You will need three: things a pencil, a ruler and a sharpener. / You will need: three things a pencil, a ruler and a sharpener.) → You will need three things: a pencil, a ruler and a sharpener.Prompt: The part before a colon must be a complete sentence (a main clause).
Which sentence uses a colon correctly? • Jo had one goal to: win the race. • Jo: had one goal to win the race. • Jo had one goal: to win the race. • Jo had: one goal to win the race. (Jo had one goal to: win the race. / Jo: had one goal to win the race. / Jo had one goal: to win the race. / Jo had: one goal to win the race.) → Jo had one goal: to win the race.Prompt: The part before a colon must be a complete sentence (a main clause).

Hook · 5 min

Read a short passage with no punctuation and let the class hear why it's confusing.
Share the objective: Semicolons. Read the success criteria together.

I do: model it · 10 min

Work through the example out loud, saying why you do each step, not just what you do.
Example: Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly? • Kim loves maths; her brother prefers art. • Kim; loves maths her brother prefers art. • Kim loves maths; and her brother prefers art. • Kim loves; maths her brother prefers art.
Step 1: A semicolon joins two closely related main clauses (without a conjunction), or separates complex list items.
Step 2: So the answer is: Kim loves maths; her brother prefers art.
Answer: Kim loves maths; her brother prefers art.
Pause after each step and ask a student to say what comes next.

We do: guided practice · 10 min

Do these together. Students try each step on whiteboards before you reveal it.
Use the hints as prompts rather than giving the answer.

Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly? • It was raining; heavily the match was cancelled. • It was; raining heavily the match was cancelled. • It was raining heavily; the match was cancelled. • It was raining heavily; and the match was cancelled. (It was raining; heavily the match was cancelled. / It was; raining heavily the match was cancelled. / It was raining heavily; the match was cancelled. / It was raining heavily; and the match was cancelled.) → It was raining heavily; the match was cancelled.Prompt: Could the words on each side of the semicolon stand alone as sentences?
Which is the correct way to join these two main clauses? • Winter came early that year; and the lake froze in November. • Winter came early that year; the lake froze in November. • Winter came early that year, the lake froze in November. • Winter came early that year: and the lake froze in November. (Winter came early that year; and the lake froze in November. / Winter came early that year; the lake froze in November. / Winter came early that year, the lake froze in November. / Winter came early that year: and the lake froze in November.) → Winter came early that year; the lake froze in November.Prompt: A comma on its own cannot join two main clauses (that is a comma splice).

You do: independent practice · 10 min

Students work on the student sheet. Circulate and check the first two answers of every student early.
Students who finish: write a question of their own for a partner, with the answer.

The 8 questions are on the student sheet below, with answers in the key.

Exit ticket · 5 min

Two questions on their own. Sort answers into got it / nearly / not yet to plan the next lesson.

Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly? • I have been to Oslo; Norway, Lyon; France, and Porto; Portugal. • I have been; to Oslo Norway Lyon France and Porto Portugal. • I have been to Oslo, Norway; Lyon, France; and Porto, Portugal. • I have been to; Oslo, Norway, Lyon, France and Porto, Portugal. (I have been to Oslo; Norway, Lyon; France, and Porto; Portugal. / I have been; to Oslo Norway Lyon France and Porto Portugal. / I have been to Oslo, Norway; Lyon, France; and Porto, Portugal. / I have been to; Oslo, Norway, Lyon, France and Porto, Portugal.) → I have been to Oslo, Norway; Lyon, France; and Porto, Portugal.Prompt: Could the words on each side of the semicolon stand alone as sentences?
Which is the correct way to join these two main clauses? • The road was blocked; we took a detour. • The road was blocked we took a detour. • The road was blocked; and we took a detour. • The road was blocked, we took a detour. (The road was blocked; we took a detour. / The road was blocked we took a detour. / The road was blocked; and we took a detour. / The road was blocked, we took a detour.) → The road was blocked; we took a detour.Prompt: A comma on its own cannot join two main clauses (that is a comma splice).

Watch out for

Using commas where a full stop (period) is needed.
Putting apostrophes in plurals (apple's).

Support and stretch

Support

Review first: Colons.
Use concrete materials: punctuation cards.
Give the first step of each question, or a partly worked example to finish.
Pair with a confident partner for the guided practice.

Stretch

Move on to: Punctuation between clauses (SAT/ACT); Sentence boundaries (SAT/ACT); Semicolon, comma or no punctuation?.
Explain a common mistake in writing and how to fix it.
Write a word problem that uses today's skill, then solve a partner's.

Homework and more practice

Free online practice with hints and printable worksheets for this skill: eurekami.com/english/grade-7.

Free lesson plan from eurekami.com/lesson-plan-builder

eurekami

Semicolons

Name

Date

Score/ 8

1
Question 1
Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly? • The film was long; however, it was gripping. • The film; was long however, it was gripping. • The film was long, however; it was gripping. • The film was long; however it was; gripping.
- A. The film was long; however, it was gripping.
- B. The film; was long however, it was gripping.
- C. The film was long, however; it was gripping.
- D. The film was long; however it was; gripping.
2
Question 2
Which is the correct way to join these two main clauses? • Winter came early that year the lake froze in November. • Winter came early that year, the lake froze in November. • Winter came early that year; the lake froze in November. • Winter came early that year; and the lake froze in November.
- A. Winter came early that year the lake froze in November.
- B. Winter came early that year, the lake froze in November.
- C. Winter came early that year; the lake froze in November.
- D. Winter came early that year; and the lake froze in November.
3
Question 3
Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly? • The shop; was closed we went home. • The shop was closed; because we went home. • The shop was; closed we went home. • The shop was closed; we went home.
- A. The shop; was closed we went home.
- B. The shop was closed; because we went home.
- C. The shop was; closed we went home.
- D. The shop was closed; we went home.
4
Question 4
Which is the correct way to join these two main clauses? • Winter came early that year; the lake froze in November. • Winter came early that year, the lake froze in November. • Winter came early that year: and the lake froze in November. • Winter came early that year; and the lake froze in November.
- A. Winter came early that year; the lake froze in November.
- B. Winter came early that year, the lake froze in November.
- C. Winter came early that year: and the lake froze in November.
- D. Winter came early that year; and the lake froze in November.
5
Question 5
Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly? • It was raining heavily; and the match was cancelled. • It was raining; heavily the match was cancelled. • It was raining heavily; the match was cancelled. • It was; raining heavily the match was cancelled.
- A. It was raining heavily; and the match was cancelled.
- B. It was raining; heavily the match was cancelled.
- C. It was raining heavily; the match was cancelled.
- D. It was; raining heavily the match was cancelled.
6
Question 6
Which is the correct way to join these two main clauses? • The lights went out; nobody moved. • The lights went out: and nobody moved. • The lights went out, nobody moved. • The lights went out nobody moved.
- A. The lights went out; nobody moved.
- B. The lights went out: and nobody moved.
- C. The lights went out, nobody moved.
- D. The lights went out nobody moved.
7
Question 7
Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly? • It was; raining heavily the match was cancelled. • It was raining heavily; the match was cancelled. • It was raining heavily; and the match was cancelled. • It was raining; heavily the match was cancelled.
- A. It was; raining heavily the match was cancelled.
- B. It was raining heavily; the match was cancelled.
- C. It was raining heavily; and the match was cancelled.
- D. It was raining; heavily the match was cancelled.
8
Question 8
Which is the correct way to join these two main clauses? • The lights went out: and nobody moved. • The lights went out nobody moved. • The lights went out; and nobody moved. • The lights went out; nobody moved.
- A. The lights went out: and nobody moved.
- B. The lights went out nobody moved.
- C. The lights went out; and nobody moved.
- D. The lights went out; nobody moved.

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Answer key: Semicolons

1. A. The film was long; however, it was gripping.
2. C. Winter came early that year; the lake froze in November.
3. D. The shop was closed; we went home.
4. A. Winter came early that year; the lake froze in November.
5. C. It was raining heavily; the match was cancelled.
6. A. The lights went out; nobody moved.
7. B. It was raining heavily; the match was cancelled.
8. D. The lights went out; nobody moved.