The Semicolon: Divided Yet Combined

Did you enjoy this article? If so, be sure to like my Facebook Page, Learn English with Patrick Carpen, for more!
Last updated: May 15, 2017 at 20:02 pm

combine photoThe semicolon is a punctuation device in the English Language which is used to separate two or more principal clauses in a compound sentence. We know that a compound sentence contains two subjects and two verbs. Here is an example of a compound sentence:

John is making a fire, and Mary is peeling the potatoes.

The two independent clauses in the above sentences could have been made into two separate sentences, but we combine them with the conjunction “and” because they are directly related to each other.

The semicolon is a substitute for combining sentences like the one above. Instead of using a comma and a conjunction, we can use a semicolon to do the same work.

John is making a fire; Mary is peeling the potatoes.

So then, the semicolon simply gives us one more option when creating compound sentences.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments