These bright, appealing grammar worksheets are a great help for practising and revising the use of semicolons and clauses in Y6. There are three worksheets in total, covering the following five sections – ‘understand’, ‘challenge’, ‘test’, ‘explain’ and ‘apply’.
- Understand
Look at the clauses below. Can you add an extra clause to each one after the semicolon?
- Challenge
With the aid of an image prompt, write two clauses connected by a semicolon.
- Test
Draw lines to join clauses which might be connected using a semicolon.
- Explain
Using your own words, explain why you might choose to use a semicolon between two clauses instead of a full stop.
- Apply
Use semicolons in three different sentences in response to an image prompt.
What is a semicolon?
A punctuation mark that indicates a pause, typically between two closely related clauses, that is more pronounced a comma but less pronounced than a full stop.
Semicolon examples
- I had a huge meal; however, I am already hungry again.
- I saw a large bird; it was eating a worm.
- Let’s go to the library; there is a book I need to borrow.
- I know you don’t like muesli; nevertheless, it is healthier than sugary cereals.
National Curriculum English programme of study links
Pupils should be taught to indicate grammatical and other features by using semicolons, colons or dashes to mark boundaries between independent clauses.