Kelly Bidlake-JamiesonKelly Bidlake-JamiesonEnglish 112English 112

Mrs. J’s power point on everything you need Mrs. J’s power point on everything you need to know to figure out to know to figure out Semi-colons.Semi-colons.

By the end of this lesson, By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:you will be able to:

identify a dependent and independent clause, identify a dependent and independent clause,

subject, predicate, conjunction, and conjunctive subject, predicate, conjunction, and conjunctive

adverb (and yes, you’ll know how to properly adverb (and yes, you’ll know how to properly

use a semi-colon).use a semi-colon).

Background informationBackground informationA semi-colon can be used to join two A semi-colon can be used to join two independent clauses. independent clauses. What’s a clause?What’s a clause?

It is a group of words with a It is a group of words with a subjectsubject (who or (who or what it’s about) and a what it’s about) and a predicatepredicate (verb or (verb or action). An independent clause makes sense action). An independent clause makes sense on its own, (for example … The game was on its own, (for example … The game was over.). over.).

A dependent clause has to borrow some info to A dependent clause has to borrow some info to make sense, (for example … make sense, (for example … After the game After the game was overwas over). You’re waiting for info to know ). You’re waiting for info to know what happened. You can’t use a semi-colon what happened. You can’t use a semi-colon with dependent clauses.with dependent clauses.

MoreMoreSemi-colons can’t be used with a conjunction. Semi-colons can’t be used with a conjunction. They feud and shoot guns at each other!They feud and shoot guns at each other!

What’s a What’s a conjunctionconjunction? It’s a joining word like, ? It’s a joining word like, “and”, “because” or “but”. You can have two “and”, “because” or “but”. You can have two independent clauses with a comma and a independent clauses with a comma and a conjunction between them. It’s another choice conjunction between them. It’s another choice you have as a writer.you have as a writer.

Warning,Warning, semi-colons semi-colons hatehate conjunctions, but conjunctions, but commas and conjunctions have love affairs!commas and conjunctions have love affairs!

Example… I love cats, but I like dogs more.Example… I love cats, but I like dogs more.

Don’t feel sorry for the lonely semi-colon.Don’t feel sorry for the lonely semi-colon. He loves to flirt with conjunctive adverbs.He loves to flirt with conjunctive adverbs.

Besides joining two independent clauses Besides joining two independent clauses by itself, a semi-colon can also be used by itself, a semi-colon can also be used with a conjunctive adverb between those with a conjunctive adverb between those

two independent clauses.two independent clauses.You can join a semi-colon with You can join a semi-colon with a conjunctive a conjunctive adverbadverb. .

Conjunctive adverbs are words that join Conjunctive adverbs are words that join whole clauses to each other and indicate the whole clauses to each other and indicate the nature of the connection. Sounds like nature of the connection. Sounds like romance eh?romance eh?

Need some examples?.Need some examples?.

Conjunctive adverbs you might use are:Conjunctive adverbs you might use are:

however, therefore, consequently, moreover, however, therefore, consequently, moreover, besides, instead, furthermore, hence, besides, instead, furthermore, hence, nevertheless, otherwisenevertheless, otherwise

11. We went to Elliott’s house; nevertheless we . We went to Elliott’s house; nevertheless we had a good time.had a good time.

22. Ellen took cough syrup; consequently she . Ellen took cough syrup; consequently she stopped hacking in class.stopped hacking in class.

The semi –colon has 3 The semi –colon has 3 main uses:main uses:

1.1. It joins two main clauses when there is no It joins two main clauses when there is no conjunctionconjunction. For example…My mother is Korean; . For example…My mother is Korean; my father is German.my father is German.

2.2. It joins 2 independent clauses when a It joins 2 independent clauses when a conjunctive conjunctive adverb adverb is used between the clausesis used between the clauses. For . For example… You are ill; therefore you should stay example… You are ill; therefore you should stay home.home.

3.3. For clearer separation, the semi-colon is used to For clearer separation, the semi-colon is used to separate complicated unrelated items. separate complicated unrelated items. For For example…We had visitors from: Goderich, Ontario; example…We had visitors from: Goderich, Ontario; Gull Bay, Newfoundland; Winston, Quebec; and Gull Bay, Newfoundland; Winston, Quebec; and Seoul, South Korea.Seoul, South Korea.

Decide where semi-colons, commas and Decide where semi-colons, commas and periods belong in the following writing…periods belong in the following writing…

1. We study therefore we make good marks1. We study therefore we make good marks (How (How else could you write this?)else could you write this?)

2. I love Italian food Lasagna is my favorite2. I love Italian food Lasagna is my favorite (How (How else could you write this?)else could you write this?)

3. I have several vehicles: a Ford Mustang3. I have several vehicles: a Ford Mustang

a Chevrolet Camaro a Lincoln Zephyr a a Chevrolet Camaro a Lincoln Zephyr a

Cadillac Escalade and a Mercedes-Benz SLK Cadillac Escalade and a Mercedes-Benz SLK

Class RoadsterClass Roadster

With which clauses do you need to use a semi-With which clauses do you need to use a semi-colon or a semi-colon and a conjunctive adverb, colon or a semi-colon and a conjunctive adverb, or a comma and a conjunction, or a period?or a comma and a conjunction, or a period?

How might that look?How might that look?

We went to the store; we bought ties.We went to the store; we bought ties.

We went to the store; consequently we bought We went to the store; consequently we bought ties.ties.

We went to the store, and we bought ties.We went to the store, and we bought ties.

We went to the store. We bought ties. We went to the store. We bought ties.

Quiz:Quiz:

1.What is a conjunction? Give an example.1.What is a conjunction? Give an example.

2.What’s the difference between a dependent 2.What’s the difference between a dependent clause and an independent clause?clause and an independent clause?

3.What is a subject?3.What is a subject?

4.What is a predicate?4.What is a predicate?

5.Which punctuation hates conjunctions?5.Which punctuation hates conjunctions?

6. Which punctuation loves conjunctions?6. Which punctuation loves conjunctions?

7.What is a conjunctive adverb? Give an 7.What is a conjunctive adverb? Give an example.example.

8. Which punctuation loves conjunctive adverbs?8. Which punctuation loves conjunctive adverbs?

The grammarThe grammar love story love story is over! is over!

,because,because ; however; however