Understand and Apply Semi-Colons

Great job- you've made the fantastic decision to practise using semi-colons, ready for the SATs SPAG test!

 

In this activity, you will practice how to use a semi-colon in the correct place and why a semi-colon is sometimes used in writing.

You probably will not be taught about semi-colons until you are in Year 6 as they are a more advanced form of punctuation.

 

What does a semi-colon look like?

A semi-colon is formed from a dot and a comma on top of one another, like this ;

 

When should we use a semi-colon?

 

1. A semi-colon should be used within a sentence, not at the beginning or end.

It is used to separate clauses within a sentence. The semi-colon will take the place of a conjunction or comma and join the clauses together.

 

Example:

The sky was grey and rain was coming.

The sky was grey; rain was coming.

 

A semi-colon is very useful because it makes the reader pause when he/she gets to it.

 

2. A semi-colon can also be used to separate items within a list if the list contains some internal commas. (This is more tricky!)

 

Example:

I have visited London, Brighton and Exeter in the south; and York, Newcastle and Leeds in the north.

 

Over to you now to have a go at some questions...good luck!