Thursday 20th March 2025

LO: I am learning how to write sentences that use a semi-colon to mark a boundary between two main clauses.

Read the three sentences. You’ll notice that each sentence consists of two main clauses that have been joined with a semi-colon (;). Remember – a main clause (sometimes called an independent clause) usually contains a subject and a verb and must make sense on its own. 

A semi-colon is used when the statement made in the second clause is closely related to the first. It would, of course, be possible to write two separate sentences demarcated by a full stop. e.g. The blistering sun was proving deadly. The silver ants made a quick retreat. Alternatively, you could use a coordinating conjunction (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) to join the two clauses. e.g. The blistering sun was proving deadly so the silver ants made a quick retreat.  However, there is a subtle difference; the semi-colon establishes a link between the two clauses, but the readers must work out for themselves the exact nature of this link.

1) The blistering sun was proving deadly; the silver ants made a quick retreat.

2) Silver ants scavenge on those that have frazzled in the midday heat; they have no need to hunt other insects.

3) The silver ants were able to move across the desert at lightning speed; long legs were the key to their rapid locomotion.

Grammar challenge:

Challenge 1

Put a semi-colon into the correct places in the sentences below. Remember, the two clauses should each make sense on their own.

1)    The silver ant is the world’s fastest ant species in a single second, it can travel a distance 108 times its own body length.

2)    Silver ants only use four of their six legs when travelling at high speed their front pair are lifted off the ground.

3)    In the blistering heat, the silver ant was starting to overheat she returned to her underground nest.

4)    Many silver ants died as they scavenged the baking sand for food, however, there was a handful of survivors.

5)    The ants tracked the position of the sun consequently, they quickly found their way back to the nest.

Challenge 2

These sentences are mixed up. There are problems with their word order and there are too many semi-colons. You’ll need to change the word order and remove the unwanted semi-colons.

1)    The silver ants; food was in short supply: were ravenous.

2)    The crew; they couldn’t find the metallic-looking ants; scoured the inhospitable desert; for many days.

3) The ants; however, they could hear it; couldn’t see the lizard; by feeling its vibrations through their feet.

4) The desert beetle; back to the nest; was very heavy; it took many silver ants to carry it.

Challenge 3

Complete each of the following sentences by writing your own closely related independent clauses. Don’t forget to use a semi-colon to join the two clauses.

1)    Some silver ants were foraging for food 

2)    The prism-shaped silver hairs reflected the sun 

3)    The fly keeled over

4)    The silver ant disappeared underground 

5)    The ant’s body was dangerously close to 53.6 degrees 

6)    The sandstorm made filming difficult 

Writing challenge:

Having long legs and silver hairs that reflect sunlight are adaptations that enable silver ants to survive temperatures that other land creatures could not. Find out how other animals are able to survive in hot deserts like the Sahara Desert. Present your findings as an information report under the title – Desert Survival.