Showing Relationships: Using the Semicolon and Compound

Sentences

The Semicolon;

We can relate!

Before we talk about how to use the semicolon, we need a quick review!

• What are independent clauses?– An independent clause is a full sentence: it has a

subject and a predicate.

Can you find the subject and predicate in the following

sentence?

The man loved his dog.

The man loved his dog.

Subject: The man is doing the action.

Predicate: The verb (action that the man is doing) is “loved.” The verb and everything after it is the predicate.

Keeping this in mind, let’s get to the first use of the semicolon!

Semicolons are used to connect two related, independent clauses.

Ice cream is the best food in the world. My favorite ice cream flavor

is cookies and cream.I want to show that these two sentences are related (or, in other words, have something to do with each other…

Ice cream is the best food in the world; my favorite ice cream flavor

is cookies and cream.

Notice that the first letter after the semicolon is not capitalized!

Now the reader knows that I enjoy ice cream, and what my favorite

flavor is; these two ideas are related!

Avoid using a comma when a semicolon is needed.

• Incorrect: I love cheeseburgers, however, I hate how difficult they are to eat.

• Correct: I love cheeseburgers; however, I hate how difficult they are to eat.

I love cheeseburgers; however, I hate how difficult they are to eat.

These are two independent clauses.

“However” indicates a relationship between the two independent clauses; this clear relationship requires a semicolon.

I hope that I haven’t made you too hungry! We still have more to talk about!

Semicolons: The End of the Run-on Sentence!

If there is a great deal of internal punctuation, separate the ideas into

independent clauses and use the semicolon!

• Example:– When dinosaurs agree on something, they’ll often

high five one another; dinosaurs are all about high fives.• (from The Oatmeal)

Let’s Practice!

Use the semicolon to combine the following sentences.

• I went to the doctor. I hate getting shots.• I was good for the doctor. She gave me a

lollipop.• After a long day, I will take a bubble bath.

Bubble baths are a great way to relax!• I love cats. They are good companions.

Did you get it right?Let’s check your answers!

• I went to the doctor; I hate getting shots.• I was good for the doctor; she gave me a

lollipop.• After a long day, I will take a bubble bath;

bubble baths are a great way to relax!• I love cats; they are good companions.

Notice that “I” is still capitalized, even though it comes after a semicolon.

Because there is a semicolon between sentences, it is clear that “they” refers to “cats.” Semicolons help with clarity in writing!

Semicolons: The Super-Comma!

;

Semicolons separate items in list that contains commas.

I travelled to New York, New York; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Portland,

Oregon; and San Francisco, California.

Compound SentencesBring it together!

A compound sentence joins two related sentences (or independent

clauses) using a comma or a semicolon, and then a conjunction.

Conjunctions are “joining words.”

• Coordinating Conjunctions (These are used to create compound sentences; they follow the comma.)

• For• And• Nor• But• Or• Yet• So

When choosing a conjunction, make sure that you pick one that is appropriate for the relationship between the two sentences.

Compound Sentences with a Comma

• I love reading books, but I am usually disappointed by films based on books.

Compound sentences may also be created with the use of the semicolon.

Compound sentences created with a semicolon are called adverbial conjunctions. They need to be used with a semicolon (;) and a comma (,).

Adverbial Conjunctions

; therefore,; consequently,

; thus,; furthermore,

; however,; still,; also,

; besides,; moreover,

; nevertheless,; otherwise,

; then,

Adverbial Conjunctions and the Compound Sentence

• I hate when it rains; therefore, I think that rain should be banned!

Let’s Practice! http://www.bbc.co.uk/skillswise/game/en28conn-game-is-this-a-compound-sentence