Page 39 - TARGET YOUR PUNCTUATION

Target 9: Colons

Double point target :

Task 1

a) In the second box, write a bullet point list of three things you would take on a
camping trip, using correct punctuation.

A pet dog should be : ..............................................................................

 loyal
 well trained
 good company.

b) To decide if you should use a colon to introduce a list, you have to look at the
beginning of the sentence - the words before the colon must make sense on their
own. If not, you don’t need a colon. Look at the examples below:
When decorating you need: sandpaper, brushes and paint. X

When decorating you need
This part of the sentence does not make sense on its own, so we CAN’T use a colon.

There are three things you need when decorating: sandpaper, brushes and paint.

There are three things you need when decorating
This part of the sentence does make sense on its own, so we CAN use a colon.

Put a circle around the sentences below that have correctly used a colon.

Check you have: your passport, air tickets and money before going on holiday.

Check you have three things before going on holiday: your passport, air tickets and
money.

There are things you should do before leaving your house: switch off lights, turn off
taps, set your security alarm and lock the door.

Remember to: switch off lights, turn off taps, set your security alarm and lock the door
when you leave your house.

Did you find the two sentences that were correct?
Yes / No

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