Lesson video

Hi, I'm Mr. Buckingham and I'm so glad you've decided to join me for today's lesson on colons.

I think you're gonna find this one really useful and I'm really looking forward to teaching you.

Let's get to work.

Today's lesson is called colons: second function, and it comes from our unit called punctuation.

By the end of today's lesson, we'll be able to use the colon to introduce an explanation.

Now, colons are a really useful piece of punctuation because they allow us to really improve the flow of our writing by joining together ideas, which would otherwise be separate.

And they're also very useful for adding in an explanation as we'll find out today.

Let's get to work.

Here are our keywords for today's lesson.

My turn, your turn.

Colon, main clause and text cohesion.

Well done.

So a colon is a piece of punctuation placed after a main clause that can introduce an explanation.

It also has other functions, but focusing on that one today.

And a main clause is a group of words that contains a verb and makes complete sense.

And text cohesion is how a text flows to maintain the interest of a reader and achieve the purpose of the text.

Let's look at our lesson outline for today.

We're going to start off by adding a colon to show a boundary between clauses and then we'll move on to writing explanations ourselves using colons.

Let's make a start.

So a colon, as you might already know, can be used to introduce a list of nouns.

We could say the leisure centre has several different areas: a gym, an outdoor pitch, badminton courts and squash courts.

So notice how we've got a main clause, then a colon, and then a list of nouns.

We could say at secondary school, we'll be able to choose to study one of three languages: French, Spanish or Chinese.

We have our main clause, then a colon, then a list of nouns.

We could say, tomorrow, we'll have lots of visitors: my grandparents, my cousins, my stepdad, and my half-brother.

So in each case, what comes before the colon is a sentence containing at least one main clause.

And it could be a sentence on its own.

We could just say, tomorrow we will have lots of visitors, full stop.

Instead we've added the colon and put the list of visitors afterwards and we can see those complete sentences highlighted here.

The leisure centre has several different areas could be its own complete sentence.

Instead, we've used the colon to add the list of areas after it.

So I wonder if you can match the main clauses to the list of nouns that could follow the colon in each case.

Pause the video and have a try.

Well done.

Let's take a look.

So A, we could say on our walk, we saw three species of tree: an oak, an ash and a rowan.

For B, we could say, Mr. Martinez speaks four languages fluently: Spanish, English, French, and Portuguese.

And for C, we could say, as we will learn, the brain has several sections, including the following: the hippocampus, the prefrontal cortex, and the amygdala.

So in each case, we've got a main clause followed by a colon and followed by a list of nouns.

Great job if you managed to match those up.

Now, as we've said, we must ensure there's always a main clause before the colon.

So let's look at this example.

We've written ahe has several pets, including: a guinea pig, a cat and a gerbil.

So this before the colon does not work as a main clause because of that word including.

Instead, we could just say she has several pets: a guinea pig, a cat, and a gerbil.

Now this works properly because we've got something which could be a sentence on its own.

We wouldn't end a sentence with including, but we could end a sentence just like this.

She has several pets, full stop.

Or alternatively, we could say this: she has several pets including the following: a guinea pig, a cat, and a gerbil.

And now this works much better 'cause it's a complete sentence.

So we need a main clause before our colon or a sentence containing a main clause, which could be a complete sentence on its own.

So which version of the sentence here uses the main clause, the colon and the commas correctly to create a list? Look carefully for all three of those features.

Pause the video and have a try.

Okay, let's take a look.

So in A, before the colon, we have this: the competition has three categories which are.

Now, that suggests a new clause is beginning, doesn't it? So it's not a complete sentence there.

So that one's not going to work.

B has before the colon, the competition has three categories, colon.

That works much better.

That could be a sentence on its own.

And C has the same before the colon but we can see we've accidentally put a comma before the and, before the last item in that list there.

So that one won't work either.

So B is correct, really good job.

Now, a colon can also be used to introduce a question as well as a list of nouns.

But just as with the list, the colon must come after a group of words that includes a main clause that could be a sentence on its own.

So we could say as is footsteps faded away, I sighed sadly: would he ever return? I could say while the minutes ticked by, we grew increasingly frantic: how were we going to escape from this maze? I could say, I heard a creak from upstairs: was someone there or was my imagination running wild? Can you see, each time before the colon, what comes before the colon could be a complete sentence.

And the question after the colon is also at least one main clause and it could be a complete sentence on its own.

Would he ever return could be a sentence.

How are we going to escape from this maze could be a sentence.

And in this last example, it could be a compound sentence.

Was someone there or was my imagination running wild? So each case before and after the colon now we have what could be a complete sentence.

So can you match the main clause to the question that could follow the colon in each of these cases? Pause the video and have a try.

Well done, let's have a look.

So in A, we would write, we sat in the darkness and waited: was anyone out there trying to find us or were we totally alone in the world? For B, we would say as we stepped through the dark trees, our breath made steam: would this icy forest never end? And for C, I could say dashing through the corridors, I was filled with panic: where on earth was the exit and how would I get out when I found it? So in two of these cases, we've got compound sentences after the colon joined together with what comes before the colon and on both sides of the colon, in every case, we have what could be a complete sentence.

Fantastic job, well done.

Now adding a question after a colon can help to improve what we call text cohesion because it removes an interruption to the flow of our text.

And text cohesion is really talking about how well our text flows together for our reader.

And so I'm gonna show you a couple of examples and I want you to think about how the colon improves the text cohesion here.

So here are two sentences without a colon.

We had a serious question to consider, full stop.

Were we all going to make it out alive? Now I'm going to add in the colon.

We had a serious question to consider: were we all going to make it out alive? So here, adding that colon has joined those two sentences together and improved the cohesion of those two sentences, improved the flow of how they fit together.

We've already seen that using a colon to introduce a question allows us to connect a complex and compound sentences together for again improving text cohesion.

So if you look at this example, I've started with as, a subordinating conjunction.

So I've actually got an adverbial complex sentence followed by my colon, followed by a compound sentence which uses or as its coordinated conjunction.

So it says this, as the walls closed in around us, we looked at each other in desperation: would we find an escape route in time or would we crushed between the slabs of solid marble? So here we've really used that colon to join two quite lengthy sentences together to add to the cohesion of our text.

So whether I'm introducing a question or a list, we've always said that the colon is always placed after what could be a complete sentence.

So let's look at this sentence, which needs a colon added.

Where should it go? We've said Jun has several favourite subjects: PE, Spanish, English, and RE.

Now this one's a list, so we need to think what could be the main clause or the complete sentence before that list? It would be this, wouldn't it? Jun has several favourite subjects.

So we would write the colon after that word subject and before the list begins.

Let's look at one with a question in.

Pausing by the door, I checked my pockets: did I have my keys? So we need a complete sentence this time on either side of the colon, but this could be a complete sentence, couldn't it? Pausing by the door I checked my pockets.

So we would put the colon after that.

And I actually need to add in another comma here after what we call a non-finite -ing clause at the start there, pausing by the door.

So pausing by the door, I checked my pockets: did I have my keys? So again, we've got text cohesion going on here by putting the colon in the correct position.

So can you correct the mistakes in each of these sentences? Perhaps the colon has been placed in the wrong position.

Pause the video and have a think.

Great effort.

Well done.

So A, let's have a look.

It says, while we waited for her to return, we wondered whether she was coming back.

So here it doesn't quite work, does it? Because it doesn't have a complete sentence before the colon.

Instead we could write this: while we waited for her to return, we wondered: was she coming back? So here we've had to remove a word and the colon has moved up to after that word wondered instead.

So now we've got a complete sentence before our column.

Let's look at B.

As the plane flew overhead: would we be safe? Would it come back? Hmm.

So again, we don't have a complete sentence before the colon and the two questions should be joined together with or.

So we could say as the plane flew overhead, we huddled together: would we be safe or would it come back? So we always need to have that complete sentence before the colon.

And in this case we've had to change slightly our other questions as well.

Brilliant job if you spotted that.

Well done.

Now we've talked about colons introducing a list and colons introducing a question.

So we can already tell that colons are very useful.

But another function of colons is to introduce an explanation and what comes after the colon explains what comes before it.

So here's an example.

We were excited to visit the restaurant: it had an incredible reputation.

So that second part after the colon explains why we were excited to visit it.

We were excited to visit it because of its reputation.

Here's another example.

She rubbed hers sore feet: they had been hiking for hours and she was sure she had a blister.

So what comes after the colon explains why she's rubbing her feet, what comes before the colon? Here's another one.

My little brother is a terrible nuisance: he's always causing trouble and he damages my things.

So what comes after the colon explains why he's a terrible nuisance.

We sighed when we saw the queue: it went on for miles.

So what comes after is explaining why we sighed.

So in each of these cases, what comes after the colon explains what comes before.

Now notice how here we've got what could be a complete sentence on either side of the colon with at least one main clause.

Both sides here could be a sentence on their own.

We could have a sentence that said it went on for miles and we could have a sentence that said we sighed when we saw the queue, but we've joined them with the colon because the second part explains the first part.

Now let's look at one example in more detail.

Sofia gave a mischievous smirk: she knew what was going to happen next.

So here we've got our main clause.

What could be a complete sentence before the colon and a main clause after the colon.

We don't have a capital letter, notice after that colon either.

The part after the colon, she knew what was going to happen next, explains the part that came before.

It says why Sofia is smirking.

And again, this could be two complete sentences.

We could have said Sofia gave a mischievous smirk, full stop, and she knew what was going to happen next.

Full stop.

But instead, we've increased that text cohesion by joining them together using the colon.

I wonder if you can match the main clause to the explanation that could follow the colon in each of these cases.

Pause the video and have a try.

Well done, let's take a look.

For A, we would say the archaeologist carefully studied the symbol: he was determined to work out its meaning.

That explains why he was studying it so carefully.

For B, we would say the engineers checked every millimetre of the electrical system: the tiniest fault could have disastrous consequences.

So the second part explains why they're checking so thoroughly.

For C, we would say before the match began, we took 15 minutes to stretch our muscles: our coach was determined that no one should get injured this time.

So the second part explains why we're stretching for so long.

Great job if you've managed to match up those explanations with the main clauses that came before them.

Now just as you saw with questions and with lists, the colon is always placed where the first complete sentence containing your main clause would end.

So if we look at this example, which doesn't have a colon in it, it says, Aisha rubbed her stomach.

It was very sore.

So we can see here, this is a main clause.

This could be a sentence.

Aisha rubbed her stomach.

So we've got a second one here, it was very sore, but we're gonna place the colon after that first complete sentence.

Aisha rubbed her stomach: it was very sore.

Here's another example.

As the wind fell, the yacht raised its sails.

This helped it to move more quickly.

Now we can see this could be a complete sentence.

As the wind fell, the yacht raised its sails.

And so could this, this helped it move more quickly.

So the colon's going to go where that first complete sentence finishes.

As the wind fell, the yacht raised it sails, colon.

That's a complete sentence.

That's where the colon should be placed.

So the colon always marks the boundary between two complete sentences as we just thought.

If we look at one more example here, we can see how it works.

Stepping into the cave, we shivered.

The temperature dropped instantly.

We need a colon somewhere.

So we're going to think, could it be here? Stepping into the cave.

No, that wouldn't be a complete sentence before the colon.

Could it go here? Then it would mean after the colon we'd have had dropped instantly.

No, that's not a complete sentence.

It should go here.

Stepping into the cave, we shivered: the temperature dropped instantly.

That works because we've got a complete sentence on either side of the colon.

Let's look at this one.

We all gasped in shock.

The door had to slammed loudly as Alex stormed out.

Could it go here? We all gasped in shock: the door.

No, that doesn't work.

So that can't work.

What about here? As Alex stormed out.

That's not a complete sentence to the right of the colon.

So that won't work either.

I bet you've spotted it, it should go here.

We all gasped in shock: the door had slammed loudly as Alex stormed out.

So we need to make sure we've got a complete sentence on either side of the colon and it might contain more than just a main clause.

We can see in these examples the part on either side, one part on either side has more than just the main clause.

Here we've got an adverbial clause.

As Alex stormed out, after the main clause, the door slammed loudly, but we've got at least one main clause and we've got what could be a complete sentence on either side of the column.

So that's what we're looking for.

So where should the column be placed in these explanation sentences? Pause the video and think carefully about where you'd like to place the colon.

Have a go.

Well done, that's right.

So let's share together.

In A, we would place it here.

The author wrote her signature rapidly, colon, because then we've got a complete sentence on either side.

For B, we would put it after language.

It's always useful to know another language, colon, 'cause then the sentence after it would be: you never know where you may want to travel or who you will meet.

For C, we placed it here after vegetables and I've had to add a comma there as well.

Grabbing a peeler, he began to prepare the vegetables: the guests were coming soon and he had not yet started making the stew.

So here we've got a complete sentence on either side of the colon.

Really well done if you managed to get those.

So let's do our first task for this lesson.

I'm gonna show you some sentences and I'd like you to add a colon to each sentence in the correct position.

And you might also need to add some commas.

Here are our sentences.

Some of them are lists, some are questions, and some are explanations.

But remember, each time the colon shows a boundary between a complete sentence and either a list or a question or an explanation.

So pause the video and decide where should the colon be placed after the first complete sentence in our sentences here.

Pause the video and have a go.

Okay, let's take a look.

I'm gonna show you the sentences now with the colons and the commas added.

For A, we would write, a number of children added their signatures to the petition: and then I've had to put commas between those children's names apart from the last two where we have the and.

For B, I would write pausing at the door of the head teacher's office, I felt my pulse racing: what on earth was going to happen? So in this case, we've got a question after the colon.

For C, I've got an explanation.

The MP smiled as she walked into parliament for the first time: she had finally achieved her lifelong ambition.

So that second part explains why she's smiling.

For D, I've got a question again.

I huddled against the wall, sobbing violently: would this ever end? For E, I've got another explanation.

As I opened the door, I stopped abruptly: it was the wrong room.

So that second part explains why I stopped abruptly.

And for F, we've got another list.

On our walk through the forest, we saw lots of birds: and then I've used commas between the items between those different birds apart from the last two where I've used and.

Brilliant job if you've managed to put those colons after that first complete sentence or what could be a complete sentence.

Really good job.

Well done.

Okay, we've talked about how we can use a colon to show a boundary between clauses.

Now we're going to see if we can write some explanations of our own using colons.

So we've seen that colons can be used to introduce an explanation.

Here's a sentence which needs an explanation after it.

We pulled out our torches as we tiptoed through the cemetery.

Well, why did we do that? Why did we pull out this torches as we went through the cemetery? Maybe it was because it was pitch black and we could scarcely see our hands in front of our faces.

So we've got two separate sentences there, but the second sentence explains the first one.

So we could join them together using a colon.

We could say we pulled out our torches as we tiptoed through the cemetery: it was pitch black and we could scarcely see our hands in front of our faces.

So we've got a complete sentence followed by a colon, followed by a second complete sentence.

And that second sentence explains the first.

So we've increased our text cohesion by combining the two sentences using the colon to create an explanatory sentence, a sentence where the second part explains the first.

Now we've said that the second part of the sentence must be capable of being a complete sentence on its own.

But we must also make sure that that part of the sentence after the colon is actually an explanation of what comes before.

So let's look at this bad example.

Lightning flashed through the sky: it hit a tall building.

Well, that doesn't work because the part of the sentence after the colon there doesn't explain why there's lightning.

It's giving us an effect of the lightning.

Well, that's not an explanation.

The second part needs to explain what came before.

So instead I could say this: lightning flashed through the sky: a storm was raging.

That explains why there's lightning.

It's because there's a storm.

Here's another example.

The secretary was late: she rarely ever was.

Good example or bad example? That's bad.

We don't here see an explanation that doesn't tell us why she's late.

Instead, we need to write something like this: the secretary was late: her car hadn't started.

That is an explanation for why she's late.

So what you've got to think is when you get to the colon, ask the question why.

The secretary was late.

Why? Her car hadn't started.

The second part of the sentence must answer that question why? It must be an explanation or we're not making an explanatory sentence.

So see if you can spot an explanation as it happens.

Which of these sentences includes an explanation after the colon? Pause the video, and have a think.

Well done.

Let's take a look.

So A does not work as an explanation.

It reopens at 1 PM doesn't explain why it closes at 12 PM but B does work.

The staff take the lunch break at this time explains why it would be closed.

C works as well.

This explains why it's a privilege to teach at the school: the pupils behave beautifully and the adults are a delight.

But D isn't an explanation, that's just another statement of fact, isn't it? I have done it for 12 years.

That doesn't explain why it's a privilege.

Now, the other way around might work, I could say I have taught at this school for 12 years: teaching here is a privilege.

That might explain why I've been there for 12 years.

But this way around isn't an explanation.

So these can be quite tricky to spot.

Really well done if you did it.

Now, each of these sentences gives an explanation with the colon in the correct position.

So we're looking for two things here.

Is there an explanation after the colon? And is the colon in the right place after a complete sentence and before a complete sentence? Pause the video and see if you can spot which option is done correctly in both respects.

Have a go.

Well done.

I bet you spotted that it is C.

So if we look at each of them in turn, let's see what's gone wrong.

In A, we can see that before the colon, we have when you conduct a scientific experiment.

Well, that couldn't be a complete sentence on its own because that one definitely doesn't work.

For B, we don't have an explanation at the colon.

Scientists are absolutely vital for our future as a country doesn't explain why we have to collect the correct equipment.

So that is not an explanation.

But in C, we have the colon in the right place and what comes after the colon explains what comes before.

We have to have the correct equipment before we start our experiment because if we interrupted it, that could affect the results.

So this one works.

Really well done if you spotted that.

So when we write an explanation after a colon, we must make sure of two things.

First of all, we're giving an explanation for the information that comes before the colon.

The second part has to explain the first part.

And what we write could be a complete sentence on its own.

So if we look at this part before the colon, it says the queue was enormous.

So we need to explain why the queue was enormous.

So we could say the game that was being released was very popular.

That works because it explains why the queue is enormous and it's a complete sentence on its own.

We've just joined it with the first sentence.

Now, what about this one? I turned away and discussed.

Does that explain why the queue was enormous? No, it doesn't.

So we've got to have after the colon something that explains why the queue is enormous.

What about this one? Very, very enormous.

Well, that doesn't work either because it couldn't be a complete sentence, could it? So we haven't got something after the colon that could be a complete sentence on its own.

So notice how the first one explains the part before the colon, and it could be a complete sentence all on its own.

We have to meet those two criteria if we're going to make this work as an explanation sentence.

Okay, let's put those ideas to the test.

I wonder if you can spot what mistake has been made in each of these sentences.

Pause the video and have a think.

Well done, great effort.

So in A, we can see it says, when we saw the restaurant was closed, we groaned in disappointment: Andeep started moaning straight away.

Well, that doesn't work because we're not groaning because Andeep is moaning.

So we need to say something like this: when we saw the restaurant was closed, we groaned in disappointment: we had heard great things about the food there.

So that second part has to explain why we're groaning.

We're not groaning because of Andeep, we're groaning because the restaurant is closed and because we were looking forward to eating there.

If you look at B, it says in year six, we had the opportunity to visit Parliament: an incredible opportunity.

Well, there are two problems here.

First of all, an incredible opportunity couldn't be a complete sentence on its own and it's not an explanation.

It doesn't explain why we have the opportunity to visit parliament.

So instead, we could say something like this: in year six, we had the opportunity to visit Parliament: we were studying democracy in PSHE.

That could be a complete sentence and it explains why you went on that visit to parliament.

So really well done if you managed to explain those mistakes.

Good job.

Now, we've seen a colon used to introduce an explanation in lots of different ways and we sometimes use the colon to introduce an explanation after a noun, a noun phrase or a pronoun.

For example, we could say it's an absolute bargain: usually they cost 300 pounds.

There we've got an absolute bargain as a noun phrase followed by a colon, followed by the explanation.

We could say we all danced to the rhythm: it was incredibly infectious.

So here we've got the noun phrase, the rhythm, followed by the explanation after the colon.

We could say I struggled to recognise him.

He has changed his hairstyle a lot since I saw him last.

Him is a pronoun.

It's followed by the colon and then by explanation, this is one way of using the colon to introduce the explanation.

And we could start a sentence like this in different ways using different nouns.

So here I've got the second part.

It was incredibly infectious and the colon there.

So what could go in front of it? Well, I could say we had to isolate when we got the disease, colon.

I could say everyone loved Laura's laugh: it was incredibly infectious.

Or I could say everyone had the jingle stuck in their head: it was incredibly infectious.

I've used different nouns there, disease, laugh and head.

I followed them by the colon and then by the explanation.

So that's another way we can use a colon to introduce an explanation.

So can you think of different ways we could start this sentence that would've matched with the explanation given after the colon? So blank, colon, he was causing a terrible nuisance.

So what could come before that that is explained by the sentence or what could be a sentence, he was causing a terrible nuisance? Pause the video and think of different ways we could begin that sentence.

Have a go.

Well done.

Good effort.

Here are some examples I thought of.

I bet you thought of some even more imaginative ones.

I went for Miss O'Neill sent Jacob out of the room: he was causing a terrible nuisance.

Or I rolled my eyes at Alex: he was causing a terrible nuisance.

Or when I got home, I shut the door to block out the sound of my baby brother: he was causing a terrible nuisance.

Or finally, dad shouted angrily at my uncle: he was causing a terrible nuisance.

So hopefully you've come up with some similar ideas.

So let's do our second task for this session.

I'd like you to write an explanation after the colon in each of these examples.

So I want you to make sure that the part of your sentence after the colon could be a complete sentence, and most importantly, that it explains the first part of the sentence, the part that comes before the colon.

And remember, no capital letter after that colon unless it's a name.

Pause the video and have a check.

Great effort.

Let's take a look at some examples.

Now, yours will look different, but hopefully, you've managed to get an explanation after the colon on each occasion.

For A, I said, we all love the new school library: it had bean bags to sit on and a huge range of wonderful books, which were beautifully arranged on colourful wooden shelves.

For me, I put I shuddered as I entered the cave: it was ice cold in the darkness and I was dressed only in my normal school clothes with no coat.

And for C, my explanation for gasping is the room had been turned upside down and everything, even chairs and tables, was in chaos.

Fro D, I've explained why my dad hates our neighbours by saying they are constantly playing loud music and they drop litter in our front garden.

For E, I've explained why I didn't recognise Mr. Martinez by saying he had grown a beard, a moustache, and he had a dark suntan.

And for F, I've explained why we're enjoying this book by saying it was set in our own city and the characters seemed like people we all knew from real life.

So in each case, I don't have a caps letter after my colon, I've got a complete sentence after my colon and that complete sentence explains what came before the colon.

Really good job if you've managed to do something similar.

Great work.

So let's summarise our learning in this lesson.

We've learned that a colon is a punctuation mark that can be used to introduce a list of nouns or a question.

And we've learned that the colon must be placed after a group of words, including a main clause that could be a sentence on its own.

We've learned that a colon can also be used to introduce an explanation and that the words before and after the colon must both be able to be a complete sentence on their own.

And we've learned that using a colon in these different ways can improve our text cohesion by reducing interruptions to the flow of our writing.

You've written some brilliant sentences in this lesson and done some really good thinking about how a colon helps us to improve our text cohesion.

So well done, and I can't wait to see you again in a future lesson.

Goodbye.