Year 5 English: Brackets, dashes and commas for extra information
Part of the Year 5 English brackets, dashes, commas and hyphens chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Brackets, dashes and commas for extra information
Key pattern
Brackets, dashes and commas can each set off extra information in a sentence. The sentence still makes sense without it.
Brackets: The fox (a red one) ran off.
Dashes: The fox – a red one – ran off.
Commas: The fox, a red one, ran off.
Use a pair of marks: an opening and a closing bracket, or two dashes, or two commas.
Key ideas
- Brackets are often used for extra information that is a little separate from the sentence.
- Dashes are used for extra information that adds drama or emphasis.
- Commas are used for extra information that is closely linked to the sentence.
- Always use a pair: the extra information must have a start mark and an end mark.
Method. Find the words that give extra information about the cat.
- Find the extra information. A tabby is a type of cat, which gives more detail.a tabby
- Put brackets around it. Use brackets around the extra words.My cat (Ginger, a tabby) sleeps all day.
- Write the answer. My cat (Ginger, a tabby) sleeps all day.
Check. The brackets set off the extra information. ✓
Method. Look at the marks around the extra words.
- Find the marks. There are two dashes, one before and one after the extra words.two marks
- Name the pair. A pair of dashes sets off extra information.dashes
- Write the answer. dashes
Check. Dashes. ✓
Method. Put a comma before and after the extra words.
- Find the extra information. Who is ten gives more detail about my sister.who is ten
- Add the commas. A comma goes before who and after ten.My sister, who is ten, likes swimming.
- Write the answer. My sister, who is ten, likes swimming.
Check. My sister, who is ten, likes swimming. ✓
Exercise 7A Practice: brackets, dashes and commas
Method. Put a pair of brackets around the extra words.
- Find the extra words. On the corner tells where the shop is.on the corner
- Add the brackets. Put brackets before on and after corner.The shop (on the corner) sells maps.
- Write the answer. The shop (on the corner) sells maps.
Check. The shop (on the corner) sells maps. ✓
Method. The sentence must make sense with the extra words in dashes.
- Find the extra words. Heavy and full of books adds detail.heavy and full of books
- Add the dashes. Dashes go before heavy and after books.The box – heavy and full of books – was on the table.
- Write the answer. The box – heavy and full of books – was on the table.
Check. The box – heavy and full of books – was on the table. ✓
Method. Check that both ends of the extra words are marked.
- Find the start mark. A comma is before who.comma
- Find the end mark. A comma is after York.comma
- Write the answer. comma
Check. Both commas are there, so no mark is missing. ✓
Method. Look at the marks around the extra words.
- Find the marks. The marks are dashes, one at each side.dashes
- Name them. The pair of dashes sets off extra information.dashes
- Write the answer. dashes
Check. Dashes. ✓
Method. Put commas around the words that give extra information.
- Find the extra words. Which goes to the park gives extra detail.which goes to the park
- Add commas. A comma goes before which and after park.The bus, which goes to the park, is late.
- Write the answer. The bus, which goes to the park, is late.
Check. The bus, which goes to the park, is late. ✓
Method. Look at the marks around the words.
- Look at the marks. The marks are round brackets.brackets
- Name the pair. Brackets set off extra information.brackets
- Write the answer. brackets
Check. Brackets. ✓
Method. Think about how strong the extra information is.
- Compare. Brackets are often used for a small aside.small aside
- Choose. Brackets are the lighter choice.brackets
- Write the answer. brackets
Check. Brackets. ✓
Method. Change the brackets to dashes.
- Find the extra words. Which flows past the school.which flows past the school
- Change the marks. Use dashes in place of brackets.The river – which flows past the school – is wide.
- Write the answer. The river – which flows past the school – is wide.
Check. The river – which flows past the school – is wide. ✓
Method. Change the brackets to commas.
- Find the extra words. A black labrador is extra detail.a black labrador
- Change the marks. Use commas in place of brackets.The dog, a black labrador, ran across the field.
- Write the answer. The dog, a black labrador, ran across the field.
Check. The dog, a black labrador, ran across the field. ✓
Method. Check that both marks are there.
- Check the first. The first sentence has no closing bracket.no closing
- Choose. The second has an opening and a closing bracket.The tower (built in 1800) stands tall.
- Write the answer. The tower (built in 1800) stands tall.
Check. The tower (built in 1800) stands tall. ✓
Method. Choose a noun and add extra information with a pair of dashes.
- Choose the noun. The race is the noun.race
- Add the extra words. A long one this year is the extra information.a long one this year
- Write the answer. The race – a long one this year – was won by Mia.
Check. The dashes set off the extra words. ✓
Method. Think about where the main sentence goes.
- Look at the sentence. The main sentence is the words outside the marks.outside the marks
- Look at the marks. A pair shows where the extra words begin and end.begin and end
- Write the answer. the marks show where the extra information starts and ends, so the main sentence still makes sense
Check. A pair shows the start and end of the extra words. ✓