Colons and semicolons

Grade 8 Reading Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   Three runners joined the relay: Wheeling, West Virginia; Phoenix, Arizona; Austin, Texas. Ari explains the marks in a sentence. What do the semicolons do here?

   • They keep the items apart when each item already contains a comma.
   • They tell the reader that a quotation follows.
   • They join complete sentences whose ideas stand side by side.
   • They show that each place explains the place before it.
2. 2.

   The team charter ends with its motto: “Steady, strong, and together.” Bo explains the marks in a sentence. What does the colon do here?

   • It shows that the words after it explain why the first part is true.
   • It joins two complete sentences whose ideas stand side by side.
   • It keeps the items apart when each item already contains a comma.
   • It introduces a quotation after a complete sentence.
3. 3.

   The pool stayed closed all week: the pump needed a new motor. Kira explains the marks in a sentence. What does the colon do here?

   • It joins two sentences about separate ideas that stand side by side.
   • It shows that the second sentence explains the first.
   • It introduces a quotation from the person who wrote the notice.
   • It introduces a list of reasons that follows the first sentence.
4. 4.

   The east trail climbs steeply; the west trail follows the creek. Esme explains the marks in a sentence. What does the semicolon do here?

   • It shows that the second sentence explains the first.
   • It keeps the items apart when each item already contains a comma.
   • It joins two complete sentences whose ideas stand side by side.
   • It introduces the list of trails that follows.

5. Read this first

   Marked

   [Three clubs meet on Friday] ? [Chess Club, in Room 4] ? [Art Club, in the library] ? [Drama Club, in the gym]

6. 5.

   Luz checks a sentence that has two marks. Which version punctuates both correctly?

   • Three clubs meet on Friday, Chess Club, in Room 4; Art Club, in the library; Drama Club, in the gym.
   • Three clubs meet on Friday, Chess Club, in Room 4, Art Club, in the library, Drama Club, in the gym.
   • Three clubs meet on Friday: Chess Club, in Room 4, Art Club, in the library, Drama Club, in the gym.
   • Three clubs meet on Friday: Chess Club, in Room 4; Art Club, in the library; Drama Club, in the gym.
7. 6.

   “[The sign at the school gate gives a short warning] ? “Slow zone” ? [drivers still speed past it]” Milo checks a sentence that has two marks. Which version punctuates both correctly?

   • The sign at the school gate gives a short warning: “Slow zone”, drivers still speed past it.
   • The sign at the school gate gives a short warning: “Slow zone”; drivers still speed past it.
   • The sign at the school gate gives a short warning; “Slow zone”, drivers still speed past it.
   • The sign at the school gate gives a short warning; “Slow zone”; drivers still speed past it.

8. Marked

   [The festival has three events] ? [Founders Day, on March 3, 2027] ? [Spring Fair, on May 8, 2027] ? [Awards Night, on June 5, 2027]

9. 7.

   Noah checks a sentence that has two marks. Which version punctuates both correctly?

   • The festival has three events; Founders Day, on March 3, 2027; Spring Fair, on May 8, 2027; Awards Night, on June 5, 2027.
   • The festival has three events; Founders Day, on March 3, 2027, Spring Fair, on May 8, 2027, Awards Night, on June 5, 2027.
   • The festival has three events: Founders Day, on March 3, 2027, Spring Fair, on May 8, 2027, Awards Night, on June 5, 2027.
   • The festival has three events: Founders Day, on March 3, 2027; Spring Fair, on May 8, 2027; Awards Night, on June 5, 2027.
10. 8.

    “[Before the show, the morning crew painted the fence] ? [the afternoon crew sanded the benches]” Pia joins two complete sentences. The two ideas stand side by side, and neither explains the other. Which version is correct?

    • Before the show, the morning crew painted the fence; the afternoon crew sanded the benches.
    • Before the show: the morning crew painted the fence; the afternoon crew sanded the benches.
    • Before the show, the morning crew painted the fence, the afternoon crew sanded the benches.
    • Before the show, the morning crew painted the fence: the afternoon crew sanded the benches.

11. Marked

    [After three weeks of voting, the class still could not decide] ? [eleven students wanted the red mural and ten wanted the blue]

12. 9.

    Ren joins two complete sentences. The second sentence explains the first. Which version is correct?

    • After three weeks of voting, the class still could not decide because: eleven students wanted the red mural and ten wanted the blue.
    • After three weeks of voting, the class still could not decide: eleven students wanted the red mural and ten wanted the blue.
    • After three weeks of voting, the class still could not decide, eleven students wanted the red mural and ten wanted the blue.
    • After three weeks of voting, the class still could not decide eleven students wanted the red mural and ten wanted the blue.
13. 10.

    “[In the desert, cacti store water in their stems] ? [in a rain forest, ferns grow in damp, shady ground]” Tala joins two complete sentences. The two ideas stand side by side, and neither explains the other. Which version is correct?

    • In the desert: cacti store water in their stems; in a rain forest, ferns grow in damp, shady ground.
    • In the desert, cacti store water in their stems; in a rain forest, ferns grow in damp, shady ground.
    • In the desert, cacti store water in their stems, in a rain forest, ferns grow in damp, shady ground.
    • In the desert, cacti store water in their stems: in a rain forest, ferns grow in damp, shady ground.