Colons or Semicolons?
What punctuation mark is used before a list?
Colon
Identify the error, if any, in the following sentence:
She wanted to visit three cities: Paris, London, and Madrid.
No errors
When providing an explanation, clarification, or elaboration that directly follows an independent clause, which punctuation mark is commonly used to introduce it?
Colon
What is the definition of independent clause? (can it stand alone or does it need more information)
A clause that can stand alone as a complete sentence because it expresses a complete thought.
What punctuation mark connects two closely related independent clauses?
Semicolon
Identify the error, if any, in the following sentence:
He loved to play basketball: however, his knee injury prevented him from continuing.
Replace the colon with a semicolon.
When joining two independent clauses with a semicolon, what must be ensured about the relationship between the two clauses?
The two clauses should be closely related
What is the definition of a dependent clause? (can it stand alone or does it need more information)
A clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence because it does not express a complete thought.
What punctuation mark is used to connect two independent clauses without a coordinating conjunction?
Semicolon
Identify the error, if any, in the following sentence:
I have four pets, a dog, two cats, and a fish.
Replace the comma with a colon.
Write a sentence that links these two independent clauses together (use the proper punctuation):
I went to the store to buy groceries
I picked up some milk on the way home.
I went to the store to buy groceries, and I picked up some milk on the way home.
or,
I went to the store to buy groceries; I picked up some milk on the way home.
What is a coordinating conjuction (examples are fine)?
A word that connects words, phrases, or clauses of equal grammatical importance within a sentence. FANBOY ("for," "and," "nor," "but," "or," "yet," "so."
True or False: A semicolon can be used instead of a comma when separating items in a list, especially if the items contain commas themselves.
True.
Ex: I have lived in Gahanna, Ohio; Provo, Utah; and recently moved to Meridian, Idaho.
Identify the error, if any, in the following sentence:
The cat meowed loudly; the dog barked in response.
No errors.
Write one sentence that uses a colon correctly.
1. Introducing a List
2. Introducing an Explanation or Elaboration
3. Introducing a Quotation or Example
4. Introducing a Subtitle
What is a clause (what components make up a clause)?
A group of words containing a subject and a predicate/verb
True or False: A colon can only be used to introduce a list or an explanation.
False. While one common use of a colon is to introduce a list or an explanation, it can also serve other purposes such as introducing quotations, emphasizing a point, or separating independent clauses.
Identify the error, if any, in the following sentence:
She enjoys playing soccer; but her brother prefers basketball.
Replace the semicolon with a comma.
She enjoys playing soccer, but her brother prefers basketball.
Write one sentence that uses a semicolon correctly.
1. Connects two independent clauses that are closely related in meaning
2. Each part of the sentence could stand alone as a complete sentence if separated by a period
What is the definition of a subordinating conjunction (examples are fine)?
Words or phrases that join two clauses, where one clause (dependent clause) depends on the other (independent clause) for its meaning. They help to create complex sentences by connecting ideas and showing the relationship between them.
Examples: "because," "although," "while," "since," "if," "when," "though," "whereas," and "unless."