Punctuating Clauses

PROCEDURAL

English›Grammar & Punctuation|Ages 10—11|ID: mt_xYjD_kA70s

Use semi-colons, colons, and dashes to mark boundaries between independent clauses, choosing the appropriate punctuation based on the relationship between the clauses

Mastery Evidence

Join two related independent clauses using a semi-colon in place of a conjunction
Use a colon to introduce an explanation or elaboration of the first clause
Replace commas with dashes to create stronger pauses between clauses for emphasis

Assessment Prompt

“When [child] writes two closely related sentences, can they join them with a semi-colon or colon — like "It was late; the streets were empty" — rather than always using a full stop or "and"?”

Curriculum Standards2 alignments

Eng.App2.Y6.Punc.1The national curriculum in England

Semi-colon, colon and dash

Use of the semi-colon, colon and dash to mark the boundary between independent clauses [for example, It’s raining; I’m fed up]

English · Key Stage 2

Eng.UKS2.Write.VGP.2dThe national curriculum in England

Mark clause boundaries

Indicate grammatical and other features by using semi-colons, colons or dashes to mark boundaries between independent clauses.

English · Key Stage 2

Prerequisites2

Commas Before Joining Words
softAges 9—11
Subordinate clauses
hardAges 6—9

Show full prerequisite tree

Commas Before Joining Words soft
Clause boundary punctuation builds on comma use with conjunctions
- Commas in lists hard
  Comma before coordinating conjunction builds on existing comma knowledge from list commas
  - Building sentences soft
    Understanding sentences supports knowing where to place commas
  - Starting and Ending Sentences hard
    Must know basic punctuation before learning comma usage
    - Building sentences hard
      Must understand sentences before punctuating them
- Subordinate clauses hard
  Learners must understand coordinating conjunctions joining clauses before learning the punctuation rule for compound sentences
  - Listening and responding soft
    Listening skills support understanding complex sentence structures
  - Building sentences hard
    Must understand sentences before combining clauses
  - Four Types of Sentences soft
    Understanding sentence types supports creating complex sentences
    - Building sentences hard
      Must understand what a sentence is before learning sentence types
    - Starting and Ending Sentences hard
      Must know basic sentence punctuation before varying it by type
      - Building sentences hard
        Must understand sentences before punctuating them
  - Joining Words with 'And' hard
    Must be able to join with 'and' before learning subordination and other co-ordinating conjunctions
    - Building sentences hard
      Must understand sentences before joining them
Subordinate clauses hard
Semi-colons between clauses requires understanding of independent clauses
- Listening and responding soft
  Listening skills support understanding complex sentence structures
- Building sentences hard
  Must understand sentences before combining clauses
- Four Types of Sentences soft
  Understanding sentence types supports creating complex sentences
  - Building sentences hard
    Must understand what a sentence is before learning sentence types
  - Starting and Ending Sentences hard
    Must know basic sentence punctuation before varying it by type
    - Building sentences hard
      Must understand sentences before punctuating them
- Joining Words with 'And' hard
  Must be able to join with 'and' before learning subordination and other co-ordinating conjunctions
  - Building sentences hard
    Must understand sentences before joining them

Unlocks1

Advanced Punctuation for Clarity
hardAges 11—14