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Year 6

Parenthesis: brackets, dashes and commas

I can choose when to use brackets, dashes or commas for most effective parenthesis.

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New
New
Year 6

Parenthesis: brackets, dashes and commas

I can choose when to use brackets, dashes or commas for most effective parenthesis.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Parenthesis can be achieved with a range of punctuation: brackets, dashes and commas.
  2. Any type of parenthesis is additional information that can be removed without compromising grammatical accuracy.
  3. Brackets are useful in non-fiction writing to add extra, factual information.
  4. Dashes are useful in fiction writing for dramatic effect.
  5. Commas are useful to drop information in to a clause.

Common misconception

Pupils may believe dashes and commas are used interchangeably in fiction writing.

We favour using dashes when we are showing a dramatic effect and commas when simply adding detail.

Keywords

  • Parenthesis - additional information that is added to a sentence; if it is removed, the sentence still makes sense

  • Brackets - a punctuation mark used to add extra, factual information in a clause

  • Dashes - a punctuation mark to add extra information in a clause often for dramatic effect

  • Clause - a group of words that contains a verb

  • Phrase - a group of words with no verb

Encourage pupils to consider throughout whether sentences seem to come from fiction or non-fiction texts. In fiction, ask them to consider whether the sentence shows a dramatic effect (dashes) or is simply descriptive (commas).
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is missing after the fronted adverbial in the following sentence? 'Just then the door swung open.'
a full stop
Correct answer: a comma
an exclamation mark
an adjective
Q2.
A fronted adverbial can be:
Correct answer: a single word
a relative clause
Correct answer: a phrase
Correct answer: an adverbial clause
Q3.
Match the types of fronted adverbial to the examples.
Correct Answer:fronted adverbial single word,Instantly,

Instantly,

Correct Answer:fronted adverbial phrase,At that very second,

At that very second,

Correct Answer:fronted adverbial clause,Before we knew what was happening,

Before we knew what was happening,

Q4.
Match the type of fronted adverbial to the sentence that uses it.
Correct Answer:fronted adverbial single word,Now, add the flour into the mixture.

Now, add the flour into the mixture.

Correct Answer:fronted adverbial phrase,With great care, add the flour into the mixture.

With great care, add the flour into the mixture.

Correct Answer:fronted adverbial clause,Once you have beaten the eggs, add the flour to the mixture.

Once you have beaten the eggs, add the flour to the mixture.

Q5.
Match the types of fronted adverbial to the examples.
Correct Answer:fronted adverbial of time,Just then,

Just then,

Correct Answer:fronted adverbial of manner,With a sigh,

With a sigh,

Correct Answer:fronted adverbial of place,To my left,

To my left,

Correct Answer:fronted adverbial of contrast,Even though it was raining,

Even though it was raining,

Correct Answer:fronted adverbial of cause,Unless you do your work,

Unless you do your work,

Q6.
Which of these sentences begins with a fronted adverbial clause of cause and effect?
Even though it was raining, we didn't wear our coats.
When it was raining, we wore our coats.
Correct answer: Because it was raining, we wore our coats.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following can be used to add parenthesis to a sentence?
Correct answer: brackets
Correct answer: dashes
full stops
Correct answer: commas
Q2.
Which of these are true for all types of parenthesis?
Correct answer: It is extra information that is not essential to the sentence.
Correct answer: It could be removed and the sentence would still make sense.
Correct answer: There is a piece of punctuation on either side of the parenthesis.
It never contains a verb.
Q3.
Match the type of punctuation for parenthesis to its purpose.
Correct Answer:using commas,to add detail in fiction and non-fiction

to add detail in fiction and non-fiction

Correct Answer:using dashes,to add dramatic effect in fiction

to add dramatic effect in fiction

Correct Answer:using brackets,to add extra, factual information in non-fiction

to add extra, factual information in non-fiction

Q4.
Select the sentence that could include brackets for parenthesis.
Correct answer: Cambridge a city in eastern England is home to two universities.
The dagger shimmering and sharp glinted in the moonlight.
My cousin whose name is Jason works as a vet.
Q5.
Select the sentence that could include dashes to show parenthesis.
The village a pleasant group of pretty houses stood by a babbling brook.
My cousin whose name is Jason works as a vet.
Correct answer: The dagger shimmering and sharp glinted in the moonlight.
Q6.
Why should the following sentence use commas for parenthesis and not dashes? 'The village a pleasant group of pretty houses stood by a babbling brook.'
It is showing a strong emotion or description.
Correct answer: It is not showing a dramatic effect.
It is adding factual information.