Year 6 English Brackets, dashes, commas and speech: check-up and practice test questions

Method. Find the extra information, then put a mark before and after it.

1. Find the extra information. The extra information is built in 1400.
   built in 1400
2. Mark it. Put round brackets before and after it, so the sentence still makes sense without it.
   The castle (built in 1400) is open today.
3. Write the answer.
   The castle (built in 1400) is open today.

Check. The sentence makes sense without the extra information. ✓

Watch out. Parenthesis is extra information that can be removed. The main sentence must still make sense.

Method. Find the extra information, then put a mark before and after it.

1. Find the extra information. The extra information is who lives in Leeds.
   who lives in Leeds
2. Mark it. Put a pair of commas before and after it, so the sentence still makes sense without it.
   My sister, who lives in Leeds, is visiting us next week.
3. Write the answer.
   My sister, who lives in Leeds, is visiting us next week.

Check. The sentence makes sense without the extra information. ✓

Watch out. Parenthesis is extra information that can be removed. The main sentence must still make sense.

Method. Think about who or what the words refer to.

1. Read the sentence. Without the comma, the sentence can be misread.
   Let's eat Grandma.
2. Add the comma. The comma shows that Grandma is being spoken to.
   Let's eat, Grandma.
3. Write the answer.
   Let's eat, Grandma.

Check. The comma makes the meaning clear. ✓

Watch out. A comma can change who is being addressed, or what goes with what.

Method. Put the spoken words in speech marks, then the reporting clause.

1. Find the spoken words. The words spoken are: Are you ready?
   Are you ready?
2. Punctuate. The end mark goes inside the speech marks, and the reporting clause follows.
   "Are you ready?" asked Ali.
3. Write the answer.
   "Are you ready?" asked Ali.

Check. The punctuation follows the rules for direct speech. ✓

Watch out. When the speech ends with a question or exclamation mark, do not add a comma before the reporting clause.

Method. Put the spoken words in speech marks, then the reporting clause.

1. Find the spoken words. The words spoken are: I am ready.
   I am ready.
2. Punctuate. The end mark goes inside the speech marks, and the reporting clause follows.
   "I am ready," said Ella.
3. Write the answer.
   "I am ready," said Ella.

Check. The punctuation follows the rules for direct speech. ✓

Watch out. When the speech ends with a question or exclamation mark, do not add a comma before the reporting clause.

Method. Change the pronouns and tenses to match the reporting clause.

1. Find the speaker. The speaker is the person named in the reporting clause.
   Sam
2. Change the words. The pronouns change to third person, and the tense moves back.
   Sam said that he had finished.
3. Write the answer.
   Sam said that he had finished.

Check. The reported sentence keeps the meaning. ✓

Watch out. In reported speech, I becomes he or she, and am becomes was.

Method. Find the extra information and bracket it.

1. Find the extra information. Which was painted last spring gives extra detail.
   which was painted last spring
2. Bracket it. The round brackets enclose the detail.
   The bridge (which was painted last spring) crosses the river.
3. Write the answer.
   The bridge (which was painted last spring) crosses the river.

Check. The sentence makes sense without the brackets. ✓

Method. Test each choice against the sentence or the text.

1. Read what the question asks for. Decide what the sentence or the text needs.
2. Test the choice. The exclamation mark stays inside the speech marks.
   "Hurry!" shouted Mum. fits
3. Reject the other choices. A comma after an exclamation mark is wrong.
   "Hurry!," shouted Mum. do not fit
4. Write the answer.
   "Hurry!" shouted Mum.

Check. The choice fits the sentence or the text. ✓

Method. Compare the two devices.

1. Look at commas. A pair of commas is neutral.
   neutral
2. Look at brackets. Brackets make the extra information more separate.
   separate
3. Write the answer.
   Both mark extra information; commas are neutral and brackets make it more separate.

Check. Both devices mark extra information. ✓

Method. Change she to I, and was to am.

1. Change she. She becomes I.
   I
2. Change was. Was becomes am.
   am
3. Write the answer.
   "I am hungry," said Ruby.

Check. I and am are used. ✓

Method. Find the extra information, and put a comma before and after it.

1. Find the extra information. A tall man in a green coat describes the farmer.
   a tall man in a green coat
2. Add the commas. A comma goes before and after it.
   The farmer, a tall man in a green coat, waved from the gate.
3. Write the answer.
   The farmer, a tall man in a green coat, waved from the gate.

Check. The commas mark the extra information. ✓

Method. Commas are the neutral device.

1. Compare the devices. Commas are neutral, and dashes are more informal.
   neutral
2. Name the device. Commas are the neutral device.
   commas
3. Write the answer.
   commas

Check. Commas are neutral. ✓

Method. Find the person addressed, and put a comma before the name.

1. Find the name. Mum is the person addressed.
   Mum
2. Add the comma. A comma before Mum shows who is thanked.
   Thank you, Mum.
3. Write the answer.
   Thank you, Mum.

Check. The comma shows the person addressed. ✓

Method. Put the speech in marks, with the exclamation mark inside.

1. Find the speech. The spoken words are Hurry.
   Hurry
2. Punctuate it. The exclamation mark goes inside the speech marks, with no comma after it.
   "Hurry!" shouted Mum.
3. Write the answer.
   "Hurry!" shouted Mum.

Check. The exclamation mark is inside the speech marks. ✓

Method. Change I to she, and am to was.

1. Change the pronoun. I becomes she.
   she
2. Change the tense. Am becomes was.
   was
3. Write the answer.
   Ella said that she was cold.

Check. she and was are used. ✓

Method. Think about how the reader follows the dialogue.

1. Think about the reader. The reader needs to know who is speaking.
   who is speaking
2. Think about the layout. A new line shows a new speaker.
   new line
3. Write the answer.
   A new line shows the reader that another person is speaking.

Check. A new line shows the change of speaker. ✓

Method. Find the extra information, then bracket it.

1. Find the extra information. Founded in 1860 gives extra detail about the school.
   founded in 1860
2. Bracket it. The brackets go around it, and the sentence still makes sense.
   The school (founded in 1860) has a large garden.
3. Write the answer.
   The school (founded in 1860) has a large garden.

Check. The sentence still makes sense without the brackets. ✓

Method. Decide who is being spoken to.

1. Find the name. Grandma is the person addressed.
   Grandma
2. Explain the change. Without the comma, Grandma could be the food.
   food
3. Write the answer.
   The comma shows that Grandma is the person spoken to.

Check. The comma shows who is addressed. ✓

Method. Put the spoken words in speech marks, then add the reporting clause.

1. Write the spoken words. Sam is cross, so the words could be a complaint.
   Not again
2. Add the mark and the clause. The exclamation mark goes inside, then said Sam.
   "Not again!" said Sam.
3. Write the answer.
   "Not again!" said Sam.

Check. The punctuation follows the rules for direct speech. ✓

Method. Change was to is, and add the speech marks.

1. Change the tense. Was becomes is in the direct speech.
   is
2. Add the speech marks. The comma goes inside the speech marks before said Priya.
   "The bus is late," said Priya.
3. Write the answer.
   "The bus is late," said Priya.

Check. The direct speech uses the present tense. ✓