Success TutoringWorksheets
WorksheetYear 7Level 2 · Standard

Free Year 7 Commas, Dashes and Parentheses for Extra Information Worksheet

Students learn three ways to add extra information to a sentence without breaking it: a pair of commas, a pair of dashes, or parentheses. They test whether the sentence still makes sense when the extra information is removed, choose the mark that suits the tone, fix sentences with a missing second comma or dash, and write sentences of their own with each type of parenthesis.

Instant download · No sign-up · Free for personal, classroom and homeschool use

Year
Year 7
Subject
English
Topic
Punctuation
Difficulty
Level 2 · Standard
Estimated time
25 minutes
Curriculum
Australian Curriculum
Questions
14
Answers
Included, with working
Format
PDF (A4), print or complete online

Students will practise

  • identifying extra, non-essential information in a sentence
  • using a pair of commas around extra information
  • using dashes for emphasis or interruption
  • using parentheses for asides and explanations
  • correcting missing or unpaired punctuation

Curriculum: Australian Curriculum. We show specific outcome codes only where they have been verified against the official curriculum document.

What's next?

Completed: Commas, Dashes and Parentheses for Extra Information

  1. 1Question Marks, Exclamation Marks and Indirect Questions
  2. 2Sentence Editing: Fragments, Run-ons and Variety
  3. 3Simple, Compound and Complex Sentences: Main and Subordinate Clauses
  4. 4Subject–Verb Agreement: Making Subjects and Verbs Match

How to use this worksheet

  1. Print the PDF or complete it on screen. Write the student's name and date at the top.
  2. Read the instructions for each part together before starting. Encourage working to be shown.
  3. Mark with the answer sheet. Use the model answers and success criteria as a guide rather than a single right answer.
  4. Record the score, celebrate what went well, then follow the "What's next" suggestion.

Common questions

Who is this worksheet for?

Year 7 students (typically ages 12–13) working on punctuation. It is pitched at level 2 · standard.

Are the answers included?

Yes. The PDF includes a full answer sheet with model answers and success criteria where there is more than one good answer. You can also view the answers online.

How long does it take?

About 25 minutes for 14 questions. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.

Do I need to sign up to download?

No. Click Download Free PDF and it opens immediately. It is free for personal, classroom and homeschool use.

What should we do next?

Try Question Marks, Exclamation Marks and Indirect Questions.

Preview

Success TutoringWorksheetsYear 7 · English · Punctuation

Commas, Dashes and Parentheses for Extra Information

Name

Date

Score /

Extra information always comes in a pair: two commas, two dashes or two parentheses.

Part A: Find the extra information

Extra information (called parenthesis) can be lifted out and the sentence still makes sense. It is marked off by a pair of commas, a pair of dashes or parentheses.

1.Underline the extra information: "My cousin, who lives by the sea, is learning to surf." Does the sentence still make sense without it? (answer space)
2.Underline the extra information: "The blue whale — the largest animal that has ever lived — feeds on tiny krill." (answer space)
3.Underline the extra information: "The museum (open every day except Monday) has a new dinosaur exhibit." (answer space)
4.Which sentence does not contain extra information that could be removed?
  1. AOur coach, a former champion, never shouts.
  2. BThe students who finished early helped pack up.
  3. CMount Everest (the highest mountain on Earth) is in the Himalayas.
  4. DElla — always the first to volunteer — raised her hand.

Part B: Choose the mark

Each mark has a slightly different effect. Circle the best choice.

5.Which mark gives the extra information the most emphasis?
  1. Acommas
  2. Bdashes
  3. Cparentheses
6.Which mark makes the extra information feel like a quiet aside the reader could skip?
  1. Acommas
  2. Bdashes
  3. Cparentheses
7.Which mark is the most neutral and common in formal writing?
  1. Acommas
  2. Bdashes
  3. Cparentheses
8.Best choice: "The prize [ ] a trip to the science museum [ ] went to the youngest entrant." The writer wants it to sound surprising.
  1. Acommas
  2. Bdashes
  3. Cparentheses

Part C: Fix it

Rewrite each sentence with the correct punctuation.

9.Fix the missing comma: "Our dog, a scruffy terrier loves chasing seagulls." (answer space)
10.Fix the unpaired dash: "The storm — the worst in fifty years, knocked out power to the whole town." (answer space)
11.Add commas: "Leo who had never been on a plane gripped the armrest." (answer space)
12.Add parentheses: "The recipe serves six people about three cups of rice." (answer space)
Free worksheets at worksheets.successtutoring.com · © Success Tutoring · Free for personal and classroom use

Preview — the PDF contains the full resource and answer sheet.

More Year 7 punctuation resources

  • Worksheet

    Punctuation Review

    A full review of the punctuation students are expected to control by the start of high school: apostrophes for contraction and possession,…

    Difficulty
    Level 2 · Standard
    Time
    22 min
    Questions
    18 questions
    Answers
    Answers included
  • Worksheet

    Question Marks, Exclamation Marks and Indirect Questions

    Students learn when a sentence needs a question mark and when it does not, including indirect questions (She asked whether I was ready.),…

    Difficulty
    Level 2 · Standard
    Time
    20 min
    Questions
    16 questions
    Answers
    Answers included

Punctuation in other year levels

Was this resource helpful?

About this resource

Created by
Success Tutoring
Last reviewed
1 October 2026
How it was made
Written by our team

Free to print and share for personal, classroom and homeschool use. Please don't resell. Spotted an error? Let us know.