Semicolons and Dashes Worksheet (Grade 8)
Free printable Grade 8 punctuation worksheet. Students name the job each semicolon or dash is doing, from joining clauses to marking a dramatic pause. Answer key included.
Grade 8 · Grammar worksheet
Name
Date
Grammar
Semicolons and Dashes
Semicolons join two closely related sentences or separate list items that already contain commas. Dashes mark a dramatic pause or set off extra information. Name the job the punctuation is doing in each sentence.
- 1.What job is the punctuation doing? "The first act dragged; the second act flew by."
- a) Semicolon joining two closely related sentences
- b) Semicolon separating list items that contain commas
- c) Dash marking a dramatic pause or afterthought
- d) Dashes setting off extra information
- 2.What job is the punctuation doing? "The old ute - rust, dents and all - started on the first try."
- a) Semicolon joining two closely related sentences
- b) Semicolon separating list items that contain commas
- c) Dash marking a dramatic pause or afterthought
- d) Dashes setting off extra information
- 3.What job is the punctuation doing? "She trained for one reason - to win."
- a) Semicolon joining two closely related sentences
- b) Semicolon separating list items that contain commas
- c) Dash marking a dramatic pause or afterthought
- d) Dashes setting off extra information
- 4.What job is the punctuation doing? "Three towns - Yamba, Bellingen and Dorrigo - made the shortlist."
- a) Semicolon joining two closely related sentences
- b) Semicolon separating list items that contain commas
- c) Dash marking a dramatic pause or afterthought
- d) Dashes setting off extra information
- 5.What job is the punctuation doing? "We tasted mango, sweet and ripe; lime, sharp and green; and passionfruit, tangy and gold."
- a) Semicolon joining two closely related sentences
- b) Semicolon separating list items that contain commas
- c) Dash marking a dramatic pause or afterthought
- d) Dashes setting off extra information
- 6.What job is the punctuation doing? "The team travelled to Cairns, Queensland; Hobart, Tasmania; and Broome, Western Australia."
- a) Semicolon joining two closely related sentences
- b) Semicolon separating list items that contain commas
- c) Dash marking a dramatic pause or afterthought
- d) Dashes setting off extra information
- 7.What job is the punctuation doing? "He opened the box and found - nothing."
- a) Semicolon joining two closely related sentences
- b) Semicolon separating list items that contain commas
- c) Dash marking a dramatic pause or afterthought
- d) Dashes setting off extra information
- 8.What job is the punctuation doing? "The tide was rising; we moved the gear up the beach."
- a) Semicolon joining two closely related sentences
- b) Semicolon separating list items that contain commas
- c) Dash marking a dramatic pause or afterthought
- d) Dashes setting off extra information
- 9.What job is the punctuation doing? "The panel included a vet, Dr Chen; a ranger, Ms Torres; and a farmer, Mr Doyle."
- a) Semicolon joining two closely related sentences
- b) Semicolon separating list items that contain commas
- c) Dash marking a dramatic pause or afterthought
- d) Dashes setting off extra information
- 10.What job is the punctuation doing? "My grandfather - a shearer for forty years - still rises at five."
- a) Semicolon joining two closely related sentences
- b) Semicolon separating list items that contain commas
- c) Dash marking a dramatic pause or afterthought
- d) Dashes setting off extra information
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