Semicolons and Compound Sentences

Semicolons and Compound Sentences

Ms. Marshall8th Grade English

Ms. Marshall8th Grade English

The Semicolon

Warm up: Meet the semicolon. The

semicolon is very sad. Why is he so

sad?

The reason the semicolon is unhappy is nobody understands him.

Sad semicolon

I’m so sad…

Is he just like a comma? NO! He’s stronger than the comma. A comma needs a coordinating

conjunction to join two independent clauses and make a compound sentence.

The semicolon can do it alone.

Joining two independent clauses

John picks his nose his friends throw

up because of it. ;

Conjunctive Adverbs As a result, for example, however,

therefore, and instead

If the clauses have a conjunctive adverb, use a semicolon.

Joining with a conjunctive adverb John has plenty of friends however,

some of them are grossed out.

John’s teachers requested a parent

conference therefore, his parents

had to go to school.

;

;

Groups containing commas You can also use a semicolon to

separate groups that already have commas.

Already containing commas

Many of our community’s residents

separate their garbage into bins for

newspapers, cardboard, and junkmail

glass, metal, and plastic and

nonrecyclable trash.

;;

Practice

Grammar and Composition Book

Page 269-270

Only Odds 1, 3, 5, 7, 9

Conclusion Write a sentence using a semicolon to

join two independent clauses on the white paper.

Write a sentence using a semicolon and a conjunctive adverb on the blue paper.

Write a sentence using a semicolon to separate groups with commas on the gold paper.

Happy Semicolon! Now semicolon is understood by others

and has found happiness!

, Yippee!