Grade 7 · Foundations of Language · Complex Sentences and Punctuation

Control Connections Between Ideas

Writers can coordinate equal ideas, subordinate supporting ideas, or interrupt a sentence for emphasis. Punctuation signals those relationships to readers.

The big idea

Punctuation expresses logic and rhythm

A semicolon joins closely related independent clauses; a dash can create a deliberate interruption or emphasis.

Work it through

Revise two related sentences

1. Start with: The evidence was incomplete. The team postponed its conclusion.
2. Confirm that both are independent clauses.
3. Join them with a semicolon: The evidence was incomplete; the team postponed its conclusion.
4. Compare the effect with a subordinate version: Because the evidence was incomplete, the team postponed its conclusion.

For parents and educators

Ontario curriculum alignment

Grade 7 Language · Strand B: Foundations of Language

View supported expectations

B3.1 · Syntax and Sentence Structure

Use knowledge of sentence types and forms to construct complex sentences by combining phrases and clauses to communicate relationships among ideas.
B3.2 · Grammar

Demonstrate understanding of parts of speech and their functions, including indirect objects, predicate nouns and adjectives, participles, and adverbial phrases.
B3.3 · Capitalization and Punctuation

Use punctuation to communicate clearly, including colons before quotations, semicolons between related independent clauses, commas with conjunctive adverbs, ellipses, and dashes.