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Year 6

Colons: second function

I can use the colon to introduce an explanation.

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Year 6

Colons: second function

I can use the colon to introduce an explanation.

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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A colon is a piece of punctuation with more than one purpose.
  2. A colon is always placed after a main clause.
  3. A colon can introduce an explanation of the noun preceding it.
  4. A colon can help to improve text cohesion.

Keywords

  • Colon - a piece of punctuation placed after a main clause that can introduce an explanation

  • Main clause - a group of words that contains a verb and makes complete sense

  • Text cohesion - how a text flows to maintain the interest of the reader and achieve text purpose

Common misconception

Pupils may give a consequence instead of an explanation after the colon.

Ask the question 'why?' about the part of the sentence before the colon - the answer should be an explanation not a consequence.


To help you plan your year 6 english lesson on: Colons: second function, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Throughout work on colons, emphasise that we always have what could be a complete sentence before the colon. Sometimes, this is just one main clause, but at other times, it could be a complex or compound sentence.
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following could be used to introduce a list?
We saw many different animals, such as:
Correct answer: We saw many different animals:
Correct answer: We saw many different animals, such as the following:
Q2.
Match the main clauses to the lists that could follow the colon.
Correct Answer:She speaks three languages: ,French, Spanish and English.
tick

French, Spanish and English.

Correct Answer:I have several good friends:,Jun, Jacob, Alex and Aisha.
tick

Jun, Jacob, Alex and Aisha.

Correct Answer:He had lost several items:,his watch, his keys and his phone.
tick

his watch, his keys and his phone.

Q3.
Which of these sentences is correctly punctuated?
We need to buy a few things, including: coffee, tea, milk and sugar.
Correct answer: We need to buy a few things: coffee, tea, milk and sugar.
We need to buy a few things: coffee, tea, milk, and sugar.
Q4.
Which of these could come before a question introduced by the colon?
Correct answer: Only one question dominated my thoughts:
I couldn't stop thinking about:
The question on my mind was:
Q5.
Which of these sentences is the correct version?
Walking through the forest, my skin was prickling, was someone else there?
Walking through the forest, my skin was prickling: Was someone else there?
Correct answer: Walking through the forest, my skin was prickling: was someone else there?
Q6.
How do colons help to improve text cohesion?
Correct answer: They can join main clauses together.
Correct answer: They can reduce interruptions to the flow of the text.
They help us use fewer lists and questions.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following can a colon be used for?
Correct answer: to introduce a list of nouns
Correct answer: to introduce an explanation
Correct answer: to introduce a question
to follow an explanation
Q2.
Which sentence uses a colon to introduce a list correctly?
Aisha has several pets a dog: a cat and a gerbil.
Aisha has several pets including: a dog, a cat and a gerbil.
Correct answer: Aisha has several pets: a dog, a cat and a gerbil.
Q3.
Which sentence uses a colon correctly to introduce a question?
Correct answer: As she walked away, I sighed: would she ever return?
As she walked away: I sighed, would she ever return?
As she walked away, I sighed would: she ever return?
Q4.
Which of these sentences contain an explanation following the colon?
Correct answer: The dog jumped up: it was excited to see us.
The dog jumped up: it barked loudly.
Miss O'Neill frowned: she sighed heavily to herself.
Correct answer: Miss O'Neill frowned: we were being too noisy and she had a headache.
Q5.
Which of these explanation sentences is correctly punctuated?
When you go out: put on a coat, it's raining.
Correct answer: When you go out, put on a coat: it's raining.
When you go out, put: on a coat, it's raining.
Q6.
Which of the following could complete the following sentence as an explanation? 'We all wanted to impress Miss O'Neill:'
Correct answer: she had promised a reward to the best table.
Correct answer: we wanted her to read us the rest of the story.
we were all sitting up smartly.
we all checked our uniforms carefully.