Year 6 English: The semi-colon between two independent clauses
Part of the Year 6 English semi-colons, colons, dashes, bullet points and hyphens chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
The semi-colon between two independent clauses
A semi-colon (;) joins two independent clauses, which could each stand alone as a sentence. Use it when the two ideas are closely related. The second clause starts with a small letter after the semi-colon, unless it is a name or a proper noun.
Two sentences and one semi-colon
| Two sentences | Joined with a semi-colon |
|---|---|
| It rained all day. The match was cancelled. | It rained all day; the match was cancelled. |
| The shop was closed. We walked home instead. | The shop was closed; we walked home instead. |
| The bell rang. The children ran into the hall. | The bell rang; the children ran into the hall. |
Key ideas
- A semi-colon joins two closely related independent clauses.
- Each clause could stand alone as a sentence.
- The second clause starts with a small letter.
Method. Check that both parts could stand alone, then join them with a semi-colon.
- Check the first clause. The shop was closed could stand alone.The shop was closed
- Check the second clause. We walked home instead could stand alone.We walked home instead
- Join them. Use a semi-colon, and a small letter for the second clause.The shop was closed; we walked home instead.
- Write the answer. The shop was closed; we walked home instead.
Check. A semi-colon joins two independent clauses. ✓
Method. Join two related clauses with a semi-colon.
- Check the clauses. Both clauses are complete.The bell rang / the children ran
- Join them. Use a semi-colon before the second clause.The bell rang; the children ran into the hall.
- Write the answer. The bell rang; the children ran into the hall.
Check. A semi-colon links the bell and the running. ✓
Method. Replace the full stop with a semi-colon, and make the next word a small letter.
- Find the full stop. The full stop between the two sentences is replaced.the bridge is old.
- Use the semi-colon. The semi-colon joins the closely related clauses.The bridge is old; it has been repaired many times.
- Write the answer. The bridge is old; it has been repaired many times.
Check. The semi-colon replaces the full stop. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: a semi-colon is not a comma. Do not join two clauses with only a comma, which is called a comma splice.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask your child to read two joined sentences aloud, and to pause for the semi-colon. Ask whether the two ideas are closely linked.
Exercise 8A Practice: semi-colons
Method. Keep both clauses, and join them with a semi-colon, not a full stop.
- Find the two clauses. Each clause could stand alone as a sentence.It rained all day / The match was cancelled
- Join them with a semi-colon. Use a semi-colon between two closely related clauses. The second clause starts with a small letter.It rained all day; the match was cancelled.
- Write the answer. It rained all day; the match was cancelled.
Check. The semi-colon joins two independent clauses. ✓
Watch out. Do not join two clauses with only a comma. Use a semi-colon, a dash, or a full stop.
Method. Keep both clauses, and join them with a semi-colon, not a full stop.
- Find the two clauses. Each clause could stand alone as a sentence.The shop was closed / We walked home instead
- Join them with a semi-colon. Use a semi-colon between two closely related clauses. The second clause starts with a small letter.The shop was closed; we walked home instead.
- Write the answer. The shop was closed; we walked home instead.
Check. The semi-colon joins two independent clauses. ✓
Watch out. Do not join two clauses with only a comma. Use a semi-colon, a dash, or a full stop.
Method. Keep both clauses, and join them with a semi-colon, not a full stop.
- Find the two clauses. Each clause could stand alone as a sentence.The bell rang / The children ran into the hall
- Join them with a semi-colon. Use a semi-colon between two closely related clauses. The second clause starts with a small letter.The bell rang; the children ran into the hall.
- Write the answer. The bell rang; the children ran into the hall.
Check. The semi-colon joins two independent clauses. ✓
Watch out. Do not join two clauses with only a comma. Use a semi-colon, a dash, or a full stop.
Method. Keep both clauses, and join them with a semi-colon, not a full stop.
- Find the two clauses. Each clause could stand alone as a sentence.She finished the puzzle / Her brother was still searching for the last piece
- Join them with a semi-colon. Use a semi-colon between two closely related clauses. The second clause starts with a small letter.She finished the puzzle; her brother was still searching for the last piece.
- Write the answer. She finished the puzzle; her brother was still searching for the last piece.
Check. The semi-colon joins two independent clauses. ✓
Watch out. Do not join two clauses with only a comma. Use a semi-colon, a dash, or a full stop.
Method. Keep both clauses, and join them with a semi-colon, not a full stop.
- Find the two clauses. Each clause could stand alone as a sentence.The bridge is old / It has been repaired many times
- Join them with a semi-colon. Use a semi-colon between two closely related clauses. The second clause starts with a small letter.The bridge is old; it has been repaired many times.
- Write the answer. The bridge is old; it has been repaired many times.
Check. The semi-colon joins two independent clauses. ✓
Watch out. Do not join two clauses with only a comma. Use a semi-colon, a dash, or a full stop.
Method. Keep both clauses, and join them with a semi-colon, not a full stop.
- Find the two clauses. Each clause could stand alone as a sentence.The farmer checked the fields / The sheep were safe in the barn
- Join them with a semi-colon. Use a semi-colon between two closely related clauses. The second clause starts with a small letter.The farmer checked the fields; the sheep were safe in the barn.
- Write the answer. The farmer checked the fields; the sheep were safe in the barn.
Check. The semi-colon joins two independent clauses. ✓
Watch out. Do not join two clauses with only a comma. Use a semi-colon, a dash, or a full stop.
Method. Test each choice against the sentence or the text.
- Read what the question asks for. Decide what the sentence or the text needs.
- Test the choice. A semi-colon joins two independent clauses correctly.It rained all day; the match was cancelled. fits
- Reject the other choices. A comma alone joins them wrongly, which is a comma splice.It rained all day, the match was cancelled. do not fit
- Write the answer. It rained all day; the match was cancelled.
Check. The choice fits the sentence or the text. ✓
Method. Think about whether each part could stand alone.
- Check the parts. Each part is a complete clause.two complete clauses
- Choose the mark. A semi-colon joins them correctly.semi-colon
- Write the answer. A semi-colon marks a stronger break between two complete ideas than a comma does.
Check. Two independent clauses need a semi-colon. ✓
Method. Replace the comma with a semi-colon.
- Find the wrong mark. The comma joins two clauses wrongly.comma
- Replace it. A semi-colon joins the two clauses. The sky starts with a small letter.The sun set; the sky turned red.
- Write the answer. The sun set; the sky turned red.
Check. The semi-colon joins the clauses. ✓
Method. Write two clauses, then join them with a semi-colon.
- Write the first clause. It was windy on the hill is complete.It was windy on the hill
- Write the second clause. The kites flew high above the field is complete.the kites flew high
- Write the answer. It was windy on the hill; the kites flew high above the field.
Check. The semi-colon joins two clauses. ✓
Method. Find the semi-colon, and name the subject of each clause.
- Find the semi-colon. The semi-colon is after book.book;
- Name the subjects. The subjects are Ella and Sam.Ella, Sam
- Write the answer. Ella, Sam
Check. Ella and Sam are the subjects. ✓
Method. Join the two clauses with a semi-colon.
- Check the clauses. Both clauses are complete.two clauses
- Join them. Use a semi-colon, and a small letter for the second clause.The farmer checked the fields; the sheep were safe in the barn.
- Write the answer. The farmer checked the fields; the sheep were safe in the barn.
Check. The semi-colon joins the clauses. ✓
Method. Write two complete clauses about the trip.
- Write the first clause. We packed our bags early is complete.We packed our bags early
- Write the second clause. The coach left at seven o'clock is complete.the coach left at seven o'clock
- Write the answer. We packed our bags early; the coach left at seven o'clock.
Check. The sentence uses a semi-colon correctly. ✓
Method. Think about whether the sentence has ended.
- Look at the semi-colon. A semi-colon joins two clauses in one sentence.one sentence
- Decide. The second clause continues the sentence, so it starts with a small letter.small letter
- Write the answer. Because the clause is part of the same sentence, so it continues rather than starting a new one
Check. The second clause continues the sentence. ✓
Method. Join the two complete clauses.
- Check the clauses. Both clauses are complete.two clauses
- Join them. Use a semi-colon, then a small letter.The concert was loud; the audience cheered at the end.
- Write the answer. The concert was loud; the audience cheered at the end.
Check. The semi-colon joins the two clauses. ✓
Method. Think about the rule for names.
- Look at the word. Paris is a proper noun, which is a name of a place.Paris
- Apply the rule. Names always start with a capital letter, even after a semi-colon.capital letter
- Write the answer. Because a proper noun, a name, always starts with a capital letter
Check. Names keep their capital letter. ✓