Name: _____________________________

Semicolon or Comma?

Directions: determine whether the clauses need to be joined with commas or semicolons.  Put the proper punctuation on the blank.

1. The artist preferred to paint in oils ____ he did not like watercolors.

2. Even when the house looks clean ____ there is usually a bunch of dirt swept under the rug.

3. I’m going to leave early today ____ unless the boss comes back from the meeting.

4. The computer can perform many calculations at once ____ however, it cannot reason like a human. 

5. In the first place, it was snowing too hard to see the road ____ in the second place, we had no chains.

6. Italy is my favorite foreign country ____ in fact, I plan on staying there for three weeks this summer.  

7. The challenges are not impossible ___ but they are very hard to clear.

8. I’m going to do all of my English homework every night ____ because that’s how you get an “A”.

9. If he misses his appointment ____ he’ll have to wait another six months to see the dentist.

10. There are many negative side effects to smoking ___ there are no positive side effects from smoking.

Give it a shot: Write six ORIGINAL sentences that correctly use a semicolon.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.