Semi-Colons & Colons worksheet - Free Printable

Explanation:
We need to place semi-colons (;) and colons (:) in the correct positions in the given sentences. Let’s go step by step.

Part 1: Using Semi-Colons
A semi-colon joins two *independent clauses* (complete sentences that could stand alone) that are closely related — but not joined by a conjunction like “and”, “but”, or “so”.

1. *Not today my head was already spinning.*
→ This sentence is actually two ideas: “Not today” (a short clause, but not a full independent clause on its own) and “my head was already spinning” (an independent clause). However, “Not today” is an interjection or fragment, not a full clause — so a semi-colon is not correct here. Wait — let’s re-read carefully. The instruction says: *draw a semi-colon in the correct position* for each sentence. That implies each sentence *does* need one semi-colon, and it's structured so that two independent clauses are present — maybe the punctuation is missing, and we need to find where to insert the semi-colon.

Let’s check each sentence more carefully:

1. *Not today my head was already spinning.*
Hmm — this looks like it should be: “Not today; my head was already spinning.”
But “Not today” is not a full clause. However, in informal or literary usage, “Not today” can function as a clipped independent clause (implied subject/verb: *I’m not doing that today*), and the semi-colon is used to connect it strongly to the next clause. Given this is a worksheet, and arrows point to three boxes (suggesting one of them is correct), and only one semi-colon is to be placed, likely the correct placement is between “today” and “my”, i.e., after “today”.

2. *But I wasn’t going to cry I was too old for that.*
Two independent clauses:
- “But I wasn’t going to cry”
- “I was too old for that.”
They’re joined without punctuation — needs a semi-colon before “I was…”
So: But I wasn’t going to cry; I was too old for that.
→ Place semi-colon after “cry”.

3. *We don’t really hit each other we just pretend.*
Two independent clauses:
- “We don’t really hit each other”
- “we just pretend.”
So: We don’t really hit each other; we just pretend.
→ Place semi-colon after “each other”.

Now Part 2: Using Colons
A colon (:) introduces something that explains, lists, or illustrates what came before. It comes after an independent clause and before a list, explanation, quote, or appositive.

1. *It wasn’t much of a costume just one of Hassan’s foster dad’s shirts over some joggers.*
The second part explains *what* the costume was — so a colon fits after “costume”:
It wasn’t much of a costume: just one of Hassan’s foster dad’s shirts over some joggers.

2. *The class carried on chatting about normal things vloggers, new puppies and pencil sharpeners shaped like robot zombies.*
Here, “vloggers, new puppies and pencil sharpeners shaped like robot zombies” is a list *of* the “normal things”. So the colon should come before the list:
The class carried on chatting about normal things: vloggers, new puppies and pencil sharpeners shaped like robot zombies.

3. *This was it my chance to show the whole school that I was still Ash, still a singer, still a star.*
The part after “This was it” explains *what* “it” refers to — a chance — and then gives emphasis with repetition (“still Ash… still a singer… still a star”). So colon after “it”:
This was it: my chance to show the whole school that I was still Ash, still a singer, still a star.

Now, matching to the diagram:
- For semi-colons: arrows point to possible positions. In each sentence, only one semi-colon is needed.
1. After “today” → between “today” and “my”
2. After “cry” → between “cry” and “I”
3. After “each other” → between “other” and “we”

- For colons:
1. After “costume”
2. After “things”
3. After “it”

These match standard grammar rules and the worksheet’s intent.

Final Answer:
Semi-colons:
1. after “today”
2. after “cry”
3. after “each other”

Colons:
1. after “costume”
2. after “things”
3. after “it”