Colons

Colons

Review and Game

Rule 1:

Use a colon to introduce an appositive

Multiple Choice

Determine if the following sentence correctly uses a colon before an appositive.

"He was watching his favorite type of television show: a football game."

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

Determine if the following sentence correctly uses a colon before an appositive.

"The best medicine to cheer you up on a bad day is: the company of friends."

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

Determine if the following sentence correctly uses a colon before an appositive.

"The dentist recommend an expensive solution: braces."

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

Determine if the following sentence correctly uses a colon before an appositive.

"In 1912, the National Biscuit Company introduced one of the wonders of the modern world: the Oreo cookie."

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

Determine if the following sentence correctly uses a colon before an appositive.

"To do the experiment you will need the following: fifteen boxes of matches and a bottle of glue.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

Determine if the following sentence correctly uses a colon before an appositive.

"Even criminals will want to be on his nice list: Santa Claus."

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

Determine if the following sentence correctly uses a colon before an appositive.

"I saw the most amazing thing: a chicken crossing the road."

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

What is the noun or pronoun that the appositive is clarifying?

"Adjusting to a new job requires one quality: the ability to adapt."

• adjusting

• job

• requires

• quality

Multiple Choice

What is the noun or pronoun that the appositive is clarifying?

"Many immigrants lost an unrecoverable currency: their native language."

• immigrants

• lost

• unrecoverable

• currency

Rule 2: 

Use a colon to introduce a list when the words before the colon are a complete clause.

Multiple Choice

Is a colon needed for this list?

Pick the correct option.

• The mechanic insisted that I needed to replace: the radiator, the shocks, and the belt.

• The mechanic insisted that I needed to replace the radiator, the shocks, and the belt.

Multiple Choice

Is a colon needed for this list?

Pick the correct option.

• When I went to Japan, I visited: Tokyo, Kyoto, and Yokohama.

• When I went to Japan, I visited Tokyo, Kyoto, and Yokohama.

Multiple Choice

Is a colon needed for this list?

Pick the correct option.

• These are the schools I would most like to attend: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Rydell High School, and Bayside High School.

• These are the schools I would most like to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Rydell High School, and Bayside High School.

Multiple Choice

Is a colon needed for this list?

Pick the correct option.

• As soon as we put bird seed in the feeder we began to see: finches, sparrows, and squirrels.

• As soon as we put bird seed in the feeder we began to see finches, sparrows, and squirrels.

Multiple Choice

Is a colon needed for this list?

Pick the correct option.

• The silverware set consists of: knives, forks, and spoons.

• The silverware set consists of knives, forks, and spoons.

Multiple Choice

Is a colon needed for this list?

Pick the correct option.

• I packed my cheer bag with the equipment I need: poms, megaphone, shoes, and shorts.

• I packed my cheer bag with the equipment I need poms, megaphone, shoes, and shorts.

Multiple Choice

Is a colon needed for this list?

Pick the correct option.

• She loves spring flowers such as: daffodils, daisies, and sunflowers.

• She loves spring flowers such as daffodils, daisies, and sunflowers.

Multiple Choice

Is a colon needed for this list?

Pick the correct option.

• The homework consisted of: 3 pages of reading, 2 worksheets, and one short response.

• The homework consisted of 3 pages of reading, 2 worksheets, and one short response.

Rule 3:

Use a colon to introduce a quotation when the words before the colon are a complete clause.

Multiple Choice

Is a colon needed for this quotation?

Pick the correct option.

• The teacher always said the same thing: "I'm not sure, but I will check on that for you."

• The teacher always said the same thing, "I'm not sure, but I will check on that for you."

Multiple Choice

Is a colon needed for this quotation?

Pick the correct option.

• The large, green alien looked at me and repeated his message: "We come in peace; take me to your leader."

• The large, green alien looked at me and repeated his message, "We come in peace; take me to your leader."

Multiple Choice

Is a colon needed for this quotation?

Pick the correct option.

• When I asked him to repeat himself, he shouted just one word: "nope!"

• When I asked him to repeat himself, he shouted just one word, "nope!"

Multiple Choice

Is a colon needed for this quotation?

Pick the correct option.

• As Madonna famously said: "I am my own experiment. I am my own work of art."

• As Madonna famously said, "I am my own experiment. I am my own work of art."

Multiple Choice

Is a colon needed for this quotation?

Pick the correct option.

• People don't always understand, but like Martin Luther King Jr. said: "A riot is the language of the unheard."

• People don't always understand, but like Martin Luther King Jr. said, "A riot is the language of the unheard."

Multiple Choice

Is a colon needed for this quotation?

Pick the correct option.

• He ended his speech with the immortal words of Jimi Hendrix: "Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens."

• He ended his speech with the immortal words of Jimi Hendrix, "Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens."

Multiple Choice

Is a colon needed for this quotation?

Pick the correct option?

• Analyze the following quote by Toni Morrison: "In this country, American means white. Everybody else has to hyphenate."

• Analyze the following quote by Toni Morrison, "In this country, American means white. Everybody else has to hyphenate."

Multiple Choice

Is a colon needed for this quotation?

Pick the correct option.

• Ariana Grande says: "there's always going to be someone who doesn't like you."

• Ariana Grande says "there's always going to be someone who doesn't like you."

Rule 4:

Use a colon to introduce a clause that restates or explains the clause before it.

Multiple Choice

Determine if the following sentence correctly uses a colon between independent clauses.

Our town has banned smoking in all parks: the mayor argues that it's a win for everyone.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

Determine if the following sentence correctly uses a colon between independent clauses.

As a child, I often played in the sandbox: as a parent, I worry about all the germs.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

Determine if the following sentence correctly uses a colon between independent clauses.

My all time favorite reality show is The Amazing Race: it's the perfect mix of drama and travel.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

Determine if the following sentence correctly uses a colon between independent clauses.

The Mona Lisa is perhaps the world's most famous painting: my favorite, however, is much lesser known.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

Determine if the following sentence correctly uses a colon between independent clauses.

I have the greatest intentions of learning to do a pull-up: and one day I may actually learn to do one.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Multiple Choice

Determine if the following sentence correctly uses a colon between independent clauses.

My first concert was the Lilith Fair in 1997: it began my love of live music.

• Correct

• Incorrect

Poll

After finishing the practice activity today, what is your comfort level with colons?