Dashes for Parenthesis - Worksheets, Questions and Revision

17 original exam-style questions - 7 pages of questions with a full mark scheme - free printable PDF.

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KS2 · Grammar

Y5.5 Dashes for Parenthesis

Calculators not allowed · about 40 minutes
Total Marks
Name: _______________________________    Date: ____ / ____ / ______
Answer ALL questions. Show all your working.

The Camping Trip to Fenwood Forest

Source written for Revision Library (original, copyright-free). Written specifically for this grammar worksheet pack; not derived from or based on any published work, past paper or copyrighted text.

On Friday morning, the Year 5 class - kitted out in waterproof coats and walking boots - set off for Fenwood Forest. Mr Patel, the trip leader, had promised the adventure of a lifetime. The coach wound along a narrow track lined with tall, dripping trees, and Zara pressed her nose against the misty window. When they finally arrived, two rangers - a tall woman named Sam and her quieter colleague, Ben - were waiting by the gate. Sam showed the class how to pitch a two-person tent, tugging each guy rope until the canvas stood tight and firm. Ben, meanwhile, led a small group towards the stream to search for animal tracks. By lunchtime, everyone had gathered wood for the campfire - dry twigs, fallen branches and one enormous, well-worn log. As the light began to fade, Sam lit the fire, and the whole class - even the pupils who had grumbled about the long walk - crowded round to watch the flames climb higher. Nobody wanted to leave the warm circle of light, not even when the first owl called from somewhere deep in the trees.

1
A dash can be used on its own to add extra information to the end of a sentence. In print, a dash is a longer line than a hyphen; in this pack it is shown as a hyphen with a space on each side ( - ). Tick the sentence in each pair that uses a dash correctly.
(a)Which sentence is correct?(1)
  • A) The dog ran into the garden its lead trailing behind.
  • B) The dog ran into the garden - its lead trailing behind.
(b)Which sentence is correct?(1)
  • A) Zara packed her rucksack in a hurry - spare socks, a torch and a water bottle.
  • B) Zara packed her rucksack in a hurry spare socks a torch and a water bottle.
(c)Which sentence is correct?(1)
  • A) Leo won the race he had trained every single day.
  • B) Leo won the race - he had trained every single day.
(d)Which sentence is correct?(1)
  • A) The rangers lit the campfire at last light - too late for toasting marshmallows.
  • B) The rangers lit the campfire at last light too late for toasting marshmallows.
2
A pair of dashes can also mark off extra information in the middle of a sentence, in the same way as a pair of commas or a pair of brackets. The sentences below are taken from the passage above. Underline the extra information marked off by the pair of dashes in each one.
(a)the Year 5 class - kitted out in waterproof coats and walking boots - set off for Fenwood Forest.(1)
(b)two rangers - a tall woman named Sam and her quieter colleague, Ben - were waiting by the gate.(1)
3
A pair of dashes must match: if the parenthesis opens with a dash, it must also close with a dash. Tick the two sentences below that use a matching pair of dashes correctly.
  • A) The scouts - who arrived late, joined the group by the fire.
  • B) The scouts - who arrived late - joined the group by the fire.
  • C) The kettle - now boiling loudly, whistled on the stove.
  • D) The path - narrow and overgrown - was hard to follow.
4
Commas, brackets and a pair of dashes can all mark off the same extra information in a sentence. Sort the six examples in the box below into the correct column of the table, according to which punctuation is used.
Word bank: , who was clearly exhausted, | - who was clearly exhausted - | (who was clearly exhausted) | , still dripping wet, | (still dripping wet) | - still dripping wet -
CommasBracketsDashes
(6)
5
Insert a pair of dashes to mark off the extra information in each sentence below.
(a)The museum guide who had worked there for ten years knew every exhibit by heart.(1)
(b)Elin's little brother barely six years old refused to hold anyone's hand.(1)
(c)The old lighthouse now empty and crumbling still drew curious tourists every summer.(1)
(d)Tomasz's painting a bright splash of orange and red won first prize.(1)
6
Use a single dash to add the extra information in brackets to the end of each sentence.
(a)The bridge finally collapsed. (after years of flooding)(1)
(b)Aisha finished the marathon. (her very first one)(1)
(c)The library stayed open late. (just for exam week)(1)
7
Each sentence below uses a pair of commas to mark parenthesis. Rewrite it using a pair of dashes instead.
(a)The chef, a former Olympic rower, ran the kitchen with strict discipline.(1)
(b)Our neighbour, who travels constantly for work, missed the whole street party.(1)
(c)The museum, now over two hundred years old, still attracts thousands of visitors.(1)
8
Each sentence below uses brackets to mark parenthesis. Rewrite it using a pair of dashes instead.
(a)The storm (the worst in living memory) flooded half the village.(1)
(b)Her grandmother (a retired nurse) bandaged the wound calmly.(1)
(c)The bridge (built in 1932) finally reopened to traffic.(1)
9
Each sentence below has a mistake: either one dash of the pair is missing, or the pair does not match. Find the mistake and rewrite the sentence correctly, using a matching pair of dashes.
(a)The dog - a nervous little terrier, hid under the table.(1)
(b)The teacher, calm as always - handed back the test papers.(1)
(c)The cake now completely burnt had to be thrown away.(1)
10
A hyphen joins the parts of a compound word with no space on either side (for example well-known). A dash is separated from the words around it by a space on each side and marks off extra information. Tick the two sentences below where the punctuation mark shown is a dash used for parenthesis, not a hyphen joining a compound word.
  • A) The well-known author signed copies of her book.
  • B) The author - now retired from teaching - signed copies of her book.
  • C) Mo's two-year-old sister toddled onto the stage.
  • D) Mo's little sister - barely two years old - toddled onto the stage.
11
The paragraph below is missing three pairs of dashes. Find and correct the three errors.

The gymnastics coach a former national champion arrived early to set up the mats. She checked every mat twice even the ones nobody would use before the pupils came in. By the end of the session, the whole class red-faced and out of breath agreed it had been the best lesson yet.
(3)
12
Look again at the passage 'The Camping Trip to Fenwood Forest' at the top of this pack. Find and write down two more examples of parenthesis marked by dashes that are not already used in Question 2. Do not use 'kitted out in waterproof coats and walking boots' or 'a tall woman named Sam and her quieter colleague, Ben' - these already appeared in Question 2.
(2)
13
Write two sentences of your own about a school trip or event. One sentence must use a pair of dashes to mark off extra information in the middle of the sentence. The other must use a single dash to add extra information at the end of the sentence.
(2)
14
Write a short paragraph (three to four sentences) about a school trip or event of your own choosing. Your paragraph must include: one pair of dashes marking parenthesis in the middle of a sentence, and one single dash adding extra information at the end of a sentence. Underline both examples in your paragraph.
(4)
15
Look at this sentence from the passage.

two rangers - a tall woman named Sam and her quieter colleague, Ben - were waiting by the gate.

Explain the effect of using a pair of dashes here rather than a pair of commas.
(2)
16
Read the two sentences below.

A) The waterfall - hidden deep in the valley) was the best part of the trip.
B) The waterfall - hidden deep in the valley - was the best part of the trip.

Tick the sentence that punctuates the parenthesis correctly, then explain in one sentence why the other sentence is wrong.
  • A) The waterfall - hidden deep in the valley) was the best part of the trip.
  • B) The waterfall - hidden deep in the valley - was the best part of the trip.
17
A pair of dashes can feel more dramatic or informal than a pair of brackets, which feel quieter, more like a side note. Read the two versions of the same sentence below.

A) The rangers (much to everyone's relief) found the missing torch before dark.
B) The rangers - much to everyone's relief - found the missing torch before dark.

Explain which version creates a stronger sense of relief for the reader, and why.
(2)
Mark scheme · Y5.5 Dashes for Parenthesis

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Question 6

Question 7

Question 8

Question 9

Question 10

Question 11

Question 12

Question 13

Question 14

Question 15

Question 16

Question 17