SPAG Focus: Colons, Semi-Colons and Dashes
Purpose of Colons, Semi-Colons and Dashes
Colons can be used to introduce an explanation or items in a list. Semi-colons can be used instead of a conjunction to join two closely connected ideas in a sentence. They can also be used to separate longer phrases or clauses in a list. A single dash can be used to connect two main clauses or to add more information to a previous clause.
Task One: Fill in the missing punctuation. You may write on the sheet.
- Insert colons in the correct places in the sentences below.
- Josh had three activities after school athletics, swimming and judo.
- I’ve visited four countries Japan, Austria, France and Iceland.
- Sophie baked her favourite cakes at the weekend raspberry and white chocolate muffins.
- The zoo had lots of animals camels, elephants, lemurs, giraffes, lions and tigers.
- Insert semi-colons in the correct places in the sentences below.
- The children were wet and muddy they desperately wanted to go home.
- Rafael was tired he had spent the day travelling home from Scotland with his family.
- Flora felt extremely excited her relatives were coming to visit from New Zealand.
- My team are taking part in a cricket tournament tomorrow I really hope we win.
- For your writing task today, you will need: a pencil with a sharp point a sheet of A4 lined paper and a new rubber to correct any mistakes that you make.
- Insert dashes in the correct places in the sentences below.
- The wildlife programme was very interesting I found out a lot of new information.
- Ostriches are the largest running flightless birds they can reach speeds of around 70 kilometres per hour.
- I love to play the guitar I’m not as good as my sister though.
- There is one thing we’ve forgotten to pack for our camping trip the tent!
Task Two: Have a look at the evacuee picture from WW2.
Imagine you are one of those children in the picture. Write a short chapter describing what will happen on your evacuation journey in your English homework book.
Remember – you should spend at least 45 minutes on your homework.
You need to use semi-colons, colons and dashes, as well as:
*Adjectives/adverbs,
*Varied sentence openers,
*Range of coordinating and subordinating conjunctions.
Task 3:
Learn the following spellings. You will be tested on Wednesday 4th October.
- Nuisance
- Secretary
- Signature
- Sufficient
- Vegetable
- Prejudice
- Harass
- Hindrance
- Government
- Committee
Challenge words: Luftwaffe, mischievous, controversy, chronological, consecutive
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