Grade 7 · English Language Arts · Unit 9 of 11
Semicolons, Colons & Dashes
Punctuation with power
What your child practises
Using semicolons to join related sentences and separate complex lists, colons to introduce lists and explanations, and dashes to add emphasis or interruptions.
New Brunswick Curriculum skill descriptor: Representing: Craft · semicolons, colons and dashes
Sample questions
A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.
Question 1
Which punctuation belongs in both blanks?
The winners were Maya, first place ___ Leo, second place ___ and Zoe, third place.
- : : (colons)
- , , (commas)
- ; ; (semicolons)
; ; (semicolons)
Hint: Each item already has a comma inside it (name, place). Semicolons separate items like these.
Question 2
Which punctuation mark belongs in the blank?
Ravi studied for hours ___ as a result, he aced the quiz.
- , (comma)
- : (colon)
- ; (semicolon)
; (semicolon)
Hint: “As a result” links two complete sentences, so a semicolon goes before it. A comma alone would make a comma splice.
Question 3
Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?
- We need three books; a novel, a dictionary and an atlas.
- The library was quiet; because everyone was reading.
- The library was quiet; everyone was reading.
- The library; was quiet and calm.
The library was quiet; everyone was reading.
Hint: A semicolon joins two complete sentences. Check: could the words on each side stand alone?
Question 4
Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?
- Maya forgot; her lunch Ana shared hers.
- Maya forgot her lunch; shared hers.
- Maya forgot her lunch; Ana shared hers.
- Maya forgot her lunch; and Ana shared hers.
Maya forgot her lunch; Ana shared hers.
Hint: Both halves must be complete sentences, and you don't need a joining word after the semicolon.
Question 5
Which punctuation mark belongs in the blank?
The trail was icy ___ however, we reached the top.
- ; (semicolon)
- : (colon)
- , (comma)
; (semicolon)
Hint: Use a semicolon before a linking word like however or therefore when it joins two complete sentences.
Question 6
Which punctuation belongs in both blanks?
Our teacher ___ a kind and patient person ___ helped us all.
- — — (a pair of dashes)
- : : (colons)
- ; ; (semicolons)
— — (a pair of dashes)
Hint: A pair of dashes can set off extra information in the middle of a sentence.