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Adding Extra Information with Commas, Dashes and Parentheses — Answers

Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the Year 6 punctuation worksheet.

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Success TutoringWorksheetsAnswer sheetYear 6 · English · Punctuation

Adding Extra Information with Commas, Dashes and Parentheses — Answers

Part A: Find the extra information

Parenthesis is extra information placed inside a sentence. The sentence still makes sense if you take it out. Write the extra information from each sentence.

1.My cousin (who lives on a farm) has six goats.

Answer: who lives on a farm

2.The old bridge, which was built over a hundred years ago, is closed for repairs.

Answer: which was built over a hundred years ago

3.Our new teacher — a former zookeeper — told us amazing stories.

Answer: a former zookeeper

4.The answer, as I suspected, was hidden in the last chapter.

Answer: as I suspected

Part B: Which is correct?

Remember: parenthesis always needs a pair of commas, dashes or parentheses.

5.Which is correct?
  1. AOur dog a scruffy terrier, loves the park.
  2. BOur dog, a scruffy terrier, loves the park.
  3. COur dog, a scruffy terrier loves the park.

Answer: Our dog, a scruffy terrier, loves the park.

Extra information needs a pair of commas: one before and one after.

6.Which is correct?
  1. AThe castle — built over six hundred years ago is still standing.
  2. BThe castle built — over six hundred years ago — is still standing.
  3. CThe castle — built over six hundred years ago — is still standing.

Answer: The castle — built over six hundred years ago — is still standing.

The dashes must go around the whole piece of extra information.

7.Which is correct?
  1. AJamal (my best friend) won the prize.
  2. BJamal (my best friend won the prize.)
  3. C(Jamal my best friend) won the prize.

Answer: Jamal (my best friend) won the prize.

Only the extra information goes inside the parentheses.

8.Which is correct?
  1. AThe museum, which opens at nine is free on Sundays.
  2. BThe museum, which opens at nine, is free on Sundays.
  3. CThe museum which, opens at nine, is free on Sundays.

Answer: The museum, which opens at nine, is free on Sundays.

Remove the words between the commas: The museum is free on Sundays. It still makes sense.

Part C: Choose the best punctuation

All three are correct, but each one creates a slightly different effect.

9.You want the extra information to stand out dramatically. Which should you use?
  1. Aa pair of commas
  2. Ba pair of dashes
  3. Ca pair of parentheses

Answer: a pair of dashes

Dashes make the extra information stand out and add emphasis.

10.The extra information is a quiet aside that the reader could easily skip. Which should you use?
  1. Aa pair of commas
  2. Ba pair of dashes
  3. Ca pair of parentheses

Answer: a pair of parentheses

Parentheses make information feel like a side note.

11.The extra information flows naturally as part of the sentence. Which should you use?
  1. Aa pair of commas
  2. Ba pair of dashes
  3. Ca pair of parentheses

Answer: a pair of commas

Commas are the most natural, least interrupting choice.

Part D: Add extra information

Place the extra information straight after the noun it describes.

12.Add the extra information who is ninety to this sentence using a pair of commas: My great-grandmother still swims every morning.

Answer: My great-grandmother, who is ninety, still swims every morning.

13.Add the extra information the strongest in years to this sentence using a pair of dashes: The storm knocked out power across the city.

Answer: The storm — the strongest in years — knocked out power across the city.

14.Add the extra information a red one with a broken strap to this sentence using parentheses: I found my old backpack in the garage.

Answer: I found my old backpack (a red one with a broken strap) in the garage.

15.Add your own extra information to this sentence using any pair: The volcano erupted last night.

Answer: For example: The volcano, which had been quiet for fifty years, erupted last night.

Part E: Your turn

16.Your turn: write three sentences about a person or place you know well. Use a pair of commas in one, a pair of dashes in one and a pair of parentheses in one. Check that each sentence still makes sense without the extra information.

Model answer: My uncle, who works as a chef, makes the best pancakes in the world. His kitchen — always packed with pots, jars and herbs — smells amazing. He keeps one secret ingredient (a pinch of cinnamon) in a tiny tin on the top shelf.

Success criteria:

  • Three complete sentences
  • One pair of commas used correctly
  • One pair of dashes used correctly
  • One pair of parentheses used correctly
  • Each sentence makes sense without the extra information
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