Colons and semicolons

Grade 6 Reading Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   Ari wants a semicolon to join two full sentences that belong together. Which version is punctuated correctly?

   • The robot; finished the maze the judges began to clap.
   • The robot finished the maze, the judges began to clap.
   • The robot finished the maze; the judges began to clap.
   • When the robot finished the maze; the judges began to clap.
2. 2.

   Bo wants a semicolon to join two full sentences that belong together. Which version is punctuated correctly?

   • The team won the final; the fans cheered for an hour.
   • After the team won the final; the fans cheered for an hour.
   • The team won the final, the fans cheered for an hour.
   • The team won the final the fans cheered for an hour.
3. 3.

   Esme wants a semicolon to join two full sentences that belong together. Which version is punctuated correctly?

   • Rain; fell all morning the picnic moved indoors.
   • Rain fell all morning; the picnic moved indoors.
   • Rain fell all morning, the picnic moved indoors.
   • Rain fell all morning the picnic moved indoors.
4. 4.

   Luz wants a colon to introduce a reason. Which version is punctuated correctly?

   • Esme was late for one reason the bridge was closed.
   • Esme was late because: the bridge was closed.
   • Esme was late for one reason: the bridge was closed.
   • Esme was late for one reason, the bridge was closed.
5. 5.

   Milo wants a colon to introduce a list. Which version is punctuated correctly?

   • The recipe uses two spices; cinnamon and nutmeg.
   • The recipe uses two spices cinnamon and nutmeg.
   • The recipe uses two spices: cinnamon and nutmeg.
   • The recipe uses: cinnamon and nutmeg.
6. 6.

   Noah wants a colon to introduce a reason. Which version is punctuated correctly?

   • The hikers had one worry, the trail might be muddy.
   • The hikers had one worry: the trail might be muddy.
   • The hikers worried because: the trail might be muddy.
   • The hikers had one worry the trail might be muddy.
7. 7.

   The tide came in fast; the sandcastle disappeared. Pia is explaining the mark in the sentence below. What does the semicolon do?

   • It joins two full sentences that belong together.
   • It shows the first part is just a piece of a sentence.
   • It tells the reader a list of things is coming next.
   • It does the same job as a comma, with a longer pause.
8. 8.

   a ruler, a pencil, and tape. Ren is explaining the mark in the sentence below. What does the colon do?

   • It tells the reader a list is coming next.
   • It ends the idea, the way a period does.
   • It joins two full sentences that belong together.
   • It shows that a person is about to speak.
9. 9.

   Basil, mint, thyme, and sage. Tala is explaining the mark in the sentence below. What does the colon do?

   • It shows the next words are someone's speech.
   • It links two full sentences about one garden.
   • It ends the first idea, as a period would.
   • It opens the list of herbs that finishes the idea.
10. 10.

    The lights went out; the audience waited in the dark. Zee is explaining the mark in the sentence below. What does the semicolon do?

    • It tells the reader the first part cannot stand alone.
    • It means the second part is a list of items.
    • It links two related full sentences without a joining word.
    • It is a bigger comma, so it could replace any comma.