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Grade 7 · English Language Arts · Unit 12 of 14

Punctuation Power

Colons, however and ellipses

What your child practises

Using a colon before a quotation, a semicolon with words like however and therefore, and ellipses or dashes to show a pause, an omission or a break.

Alberta Curriculum learning outcome: General Outcome 4 · punctuating quotations, conjunctive adverbs and interruptions

Sample questions

A taste of this unit. In the app, questions change every time and get easier or harder to match your child.

  1. Question 1

    Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?

    • Maya loves art; her sister prefers music.
    • Maya loves art; and her sister prefers music.
    • Maya; loves art her sister prefers music.
    Show answer

    Maya loves art; her sister prefers music.

    Hint: A semicolon joins two related independent clauses.

  2. Question 2

    Which sentence uses a dash to add emphasis?

    • She—had one wish to win.
    • She had one wish to—win.
    • She had one wish—to win.
    Show answer

    She had one wish—to win.

    Hint: A dash can set off a final, emphasized idea.

  3. Question 3

    Which sentence introduces a quotation correctly?

    • Her answer was clear: “I will not give up.”
    • Her answer was: “I will not give up.”
    • Her answer was clear; “I will not give up.”
    Show answer

    Her answer was clear: “I will not give up.”

    Hint: Use a colon after a complete sentence to introduce a quotation.

  4. Question 4

    What do the dashes show? The answer—if there is one—is not easy.

    • the end of the sentence
    • a list of items
    • an interruption or break in the sentence
    Show answer

    an interruption or break in the sentence

    Hint: A pair of dashes sets off an interrupting thought.

  5. Question 5

    Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • We were tired; nevertheless, we kept going.
    • We were tired, nevertheless, we kept going.
    • We were tired nevertheless; we kept going.
    Show answer

    We were tired; nevertheless, we kept going.

    Hint: A semicolon comes before nevertheless and a comma comes after.

  6. Question 6

    A writer leaves out part of a quotation. Which mark shows the omission?

    • an ellipsis
    • a colon
    • a semicolon
    Show answer

    an ellipsis

    Hint: Three dots stand for the missing words.

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