Semicolon - Mini Lesson

Semicolons

2025-2026

Monday
26-08-2025

Timoteo

​How are you feeling today?

​Choose an emoji and share with the person on your right

Poll

Preassessment: What do you know about semicolons?

• I don't know what that is

• I can identify it in a sentence

• I can define it

• I can write a sentence using it

Learning Outcome

​I can use semicolons effectively to create a list

Success Criteria

🥇 I can explain why a semicolon is more effective than a comma when using it in my writing

🥈 I can use semicolons in complex lists within a paragraph

🥉 I can use semicolons correctly in a list

📄 I can recognize a semicolon when used in a sentence with a list

Vocabulary

• Comma

• Punctuation

• Semicolon

• Complex list

Let's Read!

Abu Dhabi is more than just the capital of the UAE; it’s a cultural hub, a seaside escape, and a city of innovation. Visitors can explore iconic landmarks like the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque; stroll along the Corniche; or discover art at Louvre Abu Dhabi. The city blends tradition and modernity effortlessly; it’s where desert dunes meet luxury resorts, and ancient heritage coexists with futuristic skylines.

​Starter: Choose one of the following questions, think about the answer and share it with the student next to you

​Abu Dhabi is more than just the capital of the UAE; it’s a cultural hub, a seaside escape, and a city of innovation.

​🌶️	​🌶️🌶️	​🌶️🌶️🌶️	​🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
​How many different forms of punctuation are being used in this sentence?	​Which of these punctuations is a semicolon?	​How is the semicolon being used in this sentence?	​Can the semicolon be replaced by a comma? Why?

​Choose one of the following questions, think about the answer and share it with the student next to you

​Abu Dhabi is more than just the capital of the UAE; it’s a cultural hub, a seaside escape, and a city of innovation.

​🌶️	​🌶️🌶️	​🌶️🌶️🌶️	​🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
​How many different forms of punctuation are being used in this sentence?	​Which of these punctuations is a semicolon?	​How is the semicolon being used in this sentence?	​Can the semicolon be replaced by a comma? Why?
3 - commas, semicolon, and period/ full-stop	The one after "UAE"	It is being used to separate two complete ideas (clauses)	No, because a comma cannot be used to separate ideas that are complete/ independent clauses

Using semicolons in a sentence and list

1. To connect two related independent clauses (complete sentences) without a conjunction:
   Abu Dhabi is a modern city; it also preserves its cultural heritage.
   ➤ The two ideas are closely linked and could be separated by a period, but the semicolon shows a stronger connection.

   ➤Clause: A clause is a group of words that contains a subject and a verb. It's the basic unit of grammar and can function as a sentence or part of a sentence.

Using semicolons in a sentence and list

2. To separate items in a list when the items already contain commas:
   On our tour, we visited Dubai, UAE; Muscat, Oman; and Manama, Bahrain.
   ➤ The semicolons help avoid confusion caused by the commas within each list item.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence uses semicolons correctly in a list?

• We visited Abu Dhabi, UAE; Cairo, Egypt; and Amman, Jordan.

• We visited Abu Dhabi; UAE, Cairo; Egypt, and Amman; Jordan.

• We visited: Abu Dhabi; UAE; Cairo; Egypt; and Amman; Jordan.

• We visited Abu Dhabi, UAE, Cairo, Egypt, and Amman, Jordan.