Punctuation Lesson But why does it matter Because it saves lives Lets eat Grandma Lets eat Grandma Punctuation gives us pauses between words and ideas Imagine if you didnt take pauses between words and sentences ID: 642649
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Slide1
Commas, Semicolons, Colons, Dashes, and Parentheses
Punctuation Lesson Slide2
But why does it matter?
Because it saves lives.
Let’s eat Grandma.
Let’s eat, Grandma.
Punctuation gives us pauses between words and ideas.
Imagine if you didn’t take pauses between words and sentences. Slide3
Commas
Separate items in a series.
Set off
interrupting information.
,
Examples
There will be drinks, snacks, and games at the party.
Chicago, the largest city in Illinois, is home to over three million people. Slide4
Interrupting Information
Nonessential phrases may come at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence.
Examples
On a beautiful spring day
,
they had a picnic.
Picnics
,
an old tradition
,
can be a lot of fun.
Dad grilled ribs
,
the big ones from Costco.Slide5
Practice
Where would you put the comma?
No Jackie I don’t want to go with Mark
.
No Jackie, I don’t want to go with Mark.
My
mom who is a nurse cares for the sick injured and disabled.
My mom, who is a nurse, cares for the sick, injured, and disabled. Slide6
Semicolons
Semicolons
connect
independent clauses – parts of the sentences that could stand as their own sentences.
;
Examples
My mom said I couldn’t go to the party; I didn’t want to go anyway.
Bananas are a healthy snack; they contain potassium which may help your vision.
He loved that car; it was his greatest treasure.
Slide7
You should always use a semicolon in these two situations…
…between items in a series where commas are used for each item:
Science fiction includes Star Trek, with Mr. Spock;
Battlestar
Galactica
, with its
Cylons
; and Star Wars, with Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader.
…between
independent
clauses, especially
if the two sentences “feel related”:
Even baby giraffes are tall; their average height is six feet!
Mushrooms grow very quickly; in fact, after a good rain, it takes only a few hours and you start picking them.Slide8
Practice
Where would you put the semicolon?
In Western films, dark hats often represent bad or evil characters a white hat does just the opposite.
In Western films, dark hats often represent bad or evil characters; a white hat does just the opposite. Slide9
Colons
Colons introduce lists and explanations. It’s also like using the words “
and here it is
” or “
and here they are
.”
Examples
There are many reasons to exercise: it’s good for your health, it’s fun, and it’s free.
The supreme court justice had this to say on the issue: “With great power comes great responsibility.” Slide10
Practice
Where would you put the colon?
My teacher gave us a practice packet for one reason only to help us ace the test.
My teacher gave us a practice packet for one reason only: to help us ace the test. Slide11
Parentheses
Usually surround words or phrases that break a sentence’s train of thought, but provide explanatory information.
Between sentences to add more information.
Example
Their road trip (which they made in a convertible) lasted three weeks and spanned fourteen states.
Their road trip lasted three weeks and spanned fourteen states. (The one they took two years ago lasted two weeks and covered ten states.) When they got home they were exhausted. Slide12
Dashes
Indicate and abrupt break in thought or an insertion of additional, explanatory information.
Examples
He walked so slowly—with his lame leg he couldn’t go much faster—that even his neighbor’s zombie toddler eventually overtook him.
I don’t have the heart to refuse a friend’s request for help—do you?
Her taste in music—from country to rap—exemplifies her eclectic personality.