Grammar Bytes

My skill for the grammar project is semi colons.

A semi colon is mostly used to join phrases that would usually be in separate sentences or connected by a conjunction. You know its ok to use a semicolon if both of the phrases you’re going to connect are independent clauses. This means that each of the phrases connected by the semi colon could be a sentence even if it is not joined to another one. If you use a semi colon, you cannot use a conjunction after or before it, because the semi colon is made to replace it. You want to use a semi colon when you feel that two statements that are either related or contrasting to each other should be in one same sentence. There should always be a relationship between the two clauses you want to join. When you have added a semi colon to sentence, you should make a pause while reading it; this pause should be longer than a comma but shorter than a period. You can also use a semi colon when you are listing various things that are separated by commas.

Examples of semi colon use:

Incorrect use:

I went to the grocery store yesterday; and I bought a lot of fruits.

 

This sentence is incorrect because it has both a semi colon and a conjunction (and), either one of these has to be removed in order for the sentence to be correct.

Correct: I went to the grocery store yesterday; I bought a lot of fruits.

This computer is really easy to use; my cat has brown hair.

These phrases have nothing to do with each other, therefore the sentence is incorrect.

Correct: This computer is really easy to use; the instructions are color coded.

I like swimming; running also.

This sentence doesn’t work because the second clause is a dependent clause.

Correct: I like swimming and running.

I went to the mall and bought a shirt, a pair of pants; some shoes, and a pair of earrings.

This sentence is incorrect because all the things are in the same list, therefore the semi colon should be changed for a comma.

Correct: I went to the mall and bought a shirt, a pair of pants, some shoes, and a pair of earrings.

My cat and I have a lot of fun together, especially in the summer; because its warm outside.

This sentence is incorrect because there is a conjunction after the semi colon.

Correct: My cat and I have a lot of fun together, especially in the summer since its warm outside.

 

I love apples; pears, strawberries, and blackberries, strawberries are my favorite.

Correct: I love apples, pears, strawberries, and blackberries; strawberries are my favorite.

This sentence is incorrect because all the things are in the same list, therefore the semicolon should be changed for a comma.

I like going to school; but I dont like waking up early.

Correct: I like going to school; I dont like waking up early.

This sentence doesn´t work because the semi colon is before a conjunction.

The chair was too big for me; my hair is brown.

Correct: The chair was too big for me; my dad had to help me sit.

This sentence doesn´t work because the clauses don´t have anything in common.

The laptop was purple; pink, and black.

Correct: The laptop was purple, pink, and black; my favorite colors.

This sentence is incorrect because all the things are in the same list, therefore the semicolon should be changed for a comma.

Semi colons should be used with; independent clauses.

Correct: Semi colons should be used with independent clauses; commas are for dependant clauses.

This sentence doesn´t work because the second clause is a dependant clause.

 

Excersizes:

Semicolons – Exercise 1

Joining Independent Clauses

http://depts.dyc.edu/learningcenter/owl/exercises/semicolons_ex1.htm

Instructions
  1. A semicolon belongs in each of the following sentences. Determine where the semicolon belongs. Then select the  word that comes just before the semicolon.
  2. If you accidentally click on the wrong button, simply click on the button you meant to select.
  3. Now proceed to the next sentence and continue in the same manner until you have finished all 10 sentences.
  4. Click on “Click when Finished” to determine your percentage score. All correct answers will be lit in green.
QUESTIONS

1. It is raining outside I will bring my umbrella with me.
Click to select raining
Click to select outside
Click to select umbrella

2. Hopefully, the weather will change soon otherwise, the whole summer will go by without the sun shining.
Click to select soon
Click to select otherwise
Click to select summer

3. She doesn’t understand algebra therefore, she will probably not pass the math final.
Click to select understand
Click to select algebra
Click to select therefore

4. We will play tennis tomorrow then we will go out for dinner.
Click to select play
Click to select tennis
Click to select tomorrow

5. She had very high grades in high school she applied to Harvard University.
Click to select grades
Click to select school
Click to select applied

6. Some colleges offer full time scholarships others do not.
Click to select colleges
Click to select time
Click to select scholarships

7. There is a lot of financial aid around you just have to know where to look for it.
Click to select lot
Click to select aid
Click to select around

8. Some institutions require a lot of financial support from parents some require only a little.
Click to select support
Click to select parents
Click to select require

9. You should always choose a college according to whether you believe you’ll be happy you’re the one who will be attending for four years.
Click to select college
Click to select believe
Click to select happy

10. It’s such a beautiful day I will walk in Niagara Falls.
Click to select beautiful
Click to select day
Click to select walk

Semicolons – Exercise 2

Separating Serial Items

Instructions
  1. Each of the following sentences may or may not contain a semicolon. Determine if a semicolon is needed. If it is, select the word that comes just before the semicolon.
  2. If you accidentally click on the wrong button, simply click on the button you meant to select.
  3. Now proceed to the next sentence and continue in the same manner until you have finished all 10 sentences.
  4. Click on “Click when Finished” to determine your percentage score. All correct answers will be lit in green.
QUESTIONS

1. He wanted to take a walk, so we drove to Niagara Falls and walked around the park.
Click to select walk
Click to select Falls
Click to select no semicolon

2. She did the laundry she used the last of the laundry detergent.
Click to select laundry
Click to select up
Click to select no semicolon

3. They both went swimming while they were on vacation in Mexico.
Click to select swimming
Click to select vacation
Click to select no semicolon

4. They finished digging in the garden and planting flowers they admired their work.
Click to select garden
Click to select flowers
Click to select no semicolon

5. To build the fence around the garden, they needed to dig trenches close to seven feet deep.
Click to select garden
Click to select trenches
Click to select no semicolon

6. The garden contained vegetables they will harvest them in fall.
Click to select vegetables
Click to select them
Click to select no semicolon

7. Their house and garden are extremely important to them that’s why they take care of their property so well.
Click to select garden
Click to select them
Click to select no semicolon

8. When planting impatiens, it’s important to plant some in the sun and some in the shade because it’s hard to tell how much of each they need.
Click to select sun
Click to select shade
Click to select no semicolon

9. All of the garden tools are kept in the garage they are cleaned every spring.
Click to select tools
Click to select garage
Click to select no semicolon

10. My favorite flower is forget-me-nots even though some people consider it a weed.
Click to select forget-me-nots
Click to select though
Click to select no semicolon

Web 2.0 tools

Comic creator:
If we were to use these tools, I think we would make a comic of a kid writing a story and thinking about how to use semi colons. For example, he could write a sentence that needed a semi colon but doesnt have it, and then he would think to himself, Is this right?. Then, he would realize what was wrong and fix it. We would do this with different examples and different types of semi colon uses. The advantages of this tool are that its easy to read and go back to if you have a question, you can simply check the part of the comic where it explains it. Also, its easy to identify which sentences are wrong and which are right and how to fix them. The disadvantages are that the comic isnt very interactive and therefore could be boring, and the written format could resemble a worksheet.

Quizlet:

I we were going to use quizlet, we could write in each flashcard a rule of using semi colons. Also we could write in them examples for a better understanding. We would en up having around 15 flash cards. Since quizlet is a website that lets you make flashcards, there are many activities and ways to learn them easily. The advantages of this tool would be all the different ways you can learn semi colons, their are even games. The disadvantages of using this tool would be that it is just learning by reading flashcards so it may be a little boring. Even though there are games, only learning by flashcards may not be that helpful.

Xtranormal:

If we were to use Xtranormal, I think we would do something similar to the comic but more interative. For example, it could be one person speaking using semi colons correctly and another on not using them. Since the characters speak, the audience could understand why it sounds wrong and learn to apply it when writing. For example, if one person says “I like cats and dogs farm animals aren’t my thing”, the other one could reply “Thats not how you say it! I like cats and dogs; farm animals aren’t my thing”. The person viewing it would then realize that the first sentence sounded wrong without the pause, and therefore learn something about semi colon use. I think the advantages of this tool are that it´s fun to watch and the characters correcting each other could almost be funny, plus the benefit of hearing how the sentence sounds rather than just seeing it written down can help identify mistakes much more easily. I think the disadvantages are that if a person has a doubt on a certain use of a semi colon, for example when using dependent clauses, they would have to re watch the whole video again or find the part where they explain it, instead of simply checking a piece of paper to see where it is. Lastly, I think that Xtranormal can sometimes have very “robot-like” voices so I don’t know if the semi colon pauses and the difference between both sentences will be very clear.

Final Project:

Comic English

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