Question

match it up!
listed below are ten sentences that use colons (and semicolons). read each sentence. then, in the blank, write the letter of the punctuation rule that shows how the colons or semicolons are used in the sentence.

a: use colons to introduce a word, phrase, or list.
b: use colons to introduce a quotation with an independent clause.
c: use a semicolon to join two independent clauses with no coordinating conjunction.
d: use a semicolon between independent clauses joined by conjunctive adverbs.
e: use a semicolon in place of a comma, especially in a list already containing commas.

1. ____ students in our class learned that lorraine hansberry was the first african - american woman to have her work produced on broadway: “i cant wait to read a raisin in the sun!” said our classmate jonathan.
2. ____ the large bass drum is used to keep the pulse in music; you often see it in a marching band.
3. ____ environmentalist and photographer ansel adams took pictures of the objects of his passions: natural parks, mountains, rivers, and interesting landforms.
4. ____ at the museum, we hope to view leonardo da vinci’s inventions, paintings, and sketches; faith ringgold’s paintings, quilts, and books; and alexander calder’s sculptures and mobiles.
5. ____ andrew jackson’s wife rachel played a parlor guitar; however, the instrument was not widely popular in the united states until the 1900s.
6. ____ norman rockwell was an american illustrator famous for his realistic paintings depicting everyday life: the gossips, young love, and the four freedoms.
7. ____ some of the best museums in the world are america’s smithsonian institute, museum of modern art, and metropolitan museum of art; france’s musee du louvre, musee d’orsay, and musee marmottay - monet; and holland’s rijksmuseum.
8. ____ john phillip sousa conducted many orchestras; however, he is most famous for composing the patriotic song “stars and stripes forever.”
9. ____ we were surprised to find out that william shakespeare invented over 2,000 words and phrases that we still use today: “if not for him, we would not have shooting star, football, and downstairs in our vocabulary!” said amanda.
10. ____ grandma moses started painting in her 70s; she became a successful american folk artist.

Explanation:

1. The sentence has a quotation introduced with an independent clause, so it matches rule B.
2. Two independent clauses with no coordinating conjunction are joined by a semicolon, matching rule C.
3. A colon introduces a list of the objects of his passions, matching rule A.
4. Semicolons are used in a list already containing commas, matching rule E.
5. Independent clauses joined by a conjunctive adverb ("however") use a semicolon, matching rule D.
6. A colon introduces a list of his paintings, matching rule A.
7. Semicolons are used in a list with commas, matching rule E.
8. Independent clauses joined by "however" (conjunctive adverb) use a semicolon, matching rule D.
9. A quotation is introduced with an independent clause, matching rule B.
10. Two independent clauses with no coordinating conjunction are joined by a semicolon, matching rule C.

Answer:

1. B
2. C
3. A
4. E
5. D
6. A
7. E
8. D
9. B
10. C