Pre-ACT Review: Semi-Colons

COMPOUND SENTENCE

● When you combine 2 Two or

more simple
sentences(independent
clauses) you can use:

○ Semicolon

Use a semicolon (;) to connect 2 independent clauses that
can be combined with (,and).

1. The girl read the book; she loved it.
   2. The girl read the book, and she loved it.
   3. The girl read the book; she loved it.

(What happens if we replace she (of the 2nd clause) with an
and?)

Another Option for Compound Sentence: Semicolons

Semicolon Rules

1.

You need two complete sentences
a.

One on the left of the semicolon

b.

One on the right of the semicolon

2.

You do not capitalize the first word of the second
sentence

3.

You cannot follow a semicolon with a conjunction

Semicolon Rule 1

1.

You need two complete sentences
a.

One on the left of the semicolon

b.

One on the right of the semicolon

Chloe is in ballet. She loves it.

Chloe is in ballet; she loves it.

Chloe is in ballet ; which she loves. *Not independent
clause on the right, so there should not be a semicolon.

Semicolon Rule 2

You do not capitalize the first word of the second
sentence

Mike made the varsity football team; he also made the
track team. Right!

Mike made the varsity football team; He also made the
track team. WRONG!

Semicolon Rule 3

3. You cannot follow a semicolon with a conjunction

I missed the bus; I was late to first hour.

I missed the bus; and I was late to first hour.

COMPOUND SENTENCE - restate rules

1.

You need a sentence on the left of the semicolon
a.

One on the right of the semicolon

2.

You do not capitalize the first word of the second
sentence

3.

You CANNOT follow a semicolon with a conjunction