Name: _____________________________
Comma or Semicolon 2
Directions: Determine whether each sentence needs a comma or semicolon. Put the correct punctuation
mark on the line. Then explain why that punctuation mark best completes the sentence.
1. When the islanders started fighting amongst themselves _____ the monkeys took control.
Why? ______________________________________________________________________________
2. The islanders were weary of fighting _____ consequently, the monkeys faced little resistance.
Why? ______________________________________________________________________________
3. As soon as the monkeys were in charge of Fire Island _____ things began to change.
Why? ______________________________________________________________________________
4. David was afraid of Tiny, the leader of the monkeys _____ because David had heard things.
Why? ______________________________________________________________________________
5. Tiny demanded all kinds of crazy things from the islanders _____ this troubled them greatly.
Why? ______________________________________________________________________________
6. One warm summer morning _____ Tiny marched to the village square and pronounced a new law.
Why? ______________________________________________________________________________
7. This law shocked and appalled the islanders _____ they could not accept such ridiculous leadership.
Why? ______________________________________________________________________________
8. After much hemming and hawing _____ the elders decided to accept the law afterall.
Why? ______________________________________________________________________________
9. The islanders had lost their spirit for fighting _____ furthermore, no one wanted to provoke Tiny's ire.
Why? ______________________________________________________________________________
10. David _____ however, had had enough.
Why? ______________________________________________________________________________
11. David was offended by Tiny's law _____ he didn't want to eat his shoes or wear tacos on his feet.
Why? ______________________________________________________________________________
12. Whenever David thought of Tiny, the monkeys, and what had happened _____ his blood boiled.
Why? ______________________________________________________________________________
13. David decided that he would form a resistance _____ he would gather the town's strongest warriors.
Why? ______________________________________________________________________________
14. David talked to Hugo _____ the strongest man in town, and Hugo couldn't wait to help.
Why? ______________________________________________________________________________
15. Hugo led David to Katrina, the fan-dancer from the parlor _____ she was excited to join the effort.
Why? ______________________________________________________________________________
16. Katrina introduced David to Bruno, the rock thrower _____ and Bruno was ready for action too.
Why? ______________________________________________________________________________
17. Now that David's team was assembled _____ it was time for them to take down the monkeys.
Why? ______________________________________________________________________________
18. Katrina lured the monkeys into a pit, Hugo trapped them _____ and Bruno crushed them with a rock.
Why? ______________________________________________________________________________
19. David was happy that Tiny escaped _____ David wanted Tiny for himself.
Why? ______________________________________________________________________________
20. David was wearing taco shoes when he jump kicked Tiny _____ however, the irony went unnoticed.
Why? ______________________________________________________________________________
