Grammar for writing: using brackets and dashes

This lesson, we will be covering how to use brackets and dashes accurately - a very useful skill! We will be using them to explore how you can create a convincing narrative voice. You will need a pen and paper.

This quiz includes images that don't have any alt text - please contact your teacher who should be able to help you with an audio description.

Quiz:

Intro quiz - Recap from previous lesson

Before we start this lesson, let’s see what you can remember from this topic. Here’s a quick quiz!

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Q1.It's or its?

The chicken has escaped from _____ coop.

its it's

____ nearly bedtime.

its it's

My family has _____ moments of madness.

its it's

1/5

Q2.There, their or they're?

I think I left my homework over _________.

their they're there

I never read magazines when ___________ full of celebrity gossip.

their they're there

My sisters have just made ___________ hundredth online video.

their they're there

2/5

Q3.Practice or practise?

I am going to be late for football ______________.

practice practise

Do you have time to ____________ our lines for the play?

practice practise

I need to get home to ____________ my spellings.

practice practise

3/5

Q4.Affect or effect?

Carbon dioxide emissions have a major _____________ on global warming.

affect effect

When analysing language, you should think about the ___________ on the reader.

affect effect

Have you ever thought about how your choices ___________ your future?

affect effect

4/5

Q5.Imply or infer?

I used reassuring words to _________ that everything will be fine.

imply infer

From his tone of voice, we can _________ that he was angry.

imply infer

5/5

This quiz includes images that don't have any alt text - please contact your teacher who should be able to help you with an audio description.

Quiz:

Intro quiz - Recap from previous lesson

Before we start this lesson, let’s see what you can remember from this topic. Here’s a quick quiz!

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Q1.It's or its?

The chicken has escaped from _____ coop.

its it's

____ nearly bedtime.

its it's

My family has _____ moments of madness.

its it's

1/5

Q2.There, their or they're?

I think I left my homework over _________.

their they're there

I never read magazines when ___________ full of celebrity gossip.

their they're there

My sisters have just made ___________ hundredth online video.

their they're there

2/5

Q3.Practice or practise?

I am going to be late for football ______________.

practice practise

Do you have time to ____________ our lines for the play?

practice practise

I need to get home to ____________ my spellings.

practice practise

3/5

Q4.Affect or effect?

Carbon dioxide emissions have a major _____________ on global warming.

affect effect

When analysing language, you should think about the ___________ on the reader.

affect effect

Have you ever thought about how your choices ___________ your future?

affect effect

4/5

Q5.Imply or infer?

I used reassuring words to _________ that everything will be fine.

imply infer

From his tone of voice, we can _________ that he was angry.

imply infer

5/5

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This quiz includes images that don't have any alt text - please contact your teacher who should be able to help you with an audio description.

Quiz:

Brackets and Dashes: Quiz

Thank you for your focus today. Complete the questions below to check your understanding.

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Q1.Which of the phrases below could be used to complete the sentence. Parenthesis is...

marked by a pair of brackets, dashes or commas

true false

a way of adding extra information to the sentence

true false

usually optional detail

true false

marked by a semicolon

true false

1/5

Q2.Match up the punctuation mark with its name and function.

hyphen (used to join compound words)

- ; :: ( ) —

brackets (used to add non-essential information)

- ; :: ( ) —

dash (used to emphasise additional information)

- ; :: ( ) —

colon (used to introduce information to clarify, explain or emphasise)

- ; :: ( ) —

semicolon (used to link related main clauses)

- ; :: ( ) —

2/5

Q3.Which of the following rules for using brackets are true?

full stops should never go inside the bracket

true false

the extra information inside the brackets should be a main clause

true false

a pair of brackets surround the extra information.

true false

the extra information is essential

true false

3/5

Q4.Which sentence uses brackets correctly?

I was devastated to learn that the bookshop (one of my only places of refuge and comfort) was closing down. I was (devastated) to learn that the bookshop one of my only places of refuge and comfort was closing down. I was devastated to learn that the bookshop one of my only places (of refuge and comfort) was closing down. I was devastated (to learn that the bookshop) one of my only places of refuge and comfort was closing down.

4/5

Q5.Which sentence uses dashes correctly?

He blinked dazed by the sunlight and — searched the sky. He blinked — dazed by the sunlight and searched the sky. He blinked dazed — by the sunlight and — searched the sky. He blinked— dazed by the sunlight — and searched the sky.

5/5

This quiz includes images that don't have any alt text - please contact your teacher who should be able to help you with an audio description.

Quiz:

Brackets and Dashes: Quiz

Thank you for your focus today. Complete the questions below to check your understanding.

Question 1

Question 2

Question 3

Question 4

Question 5

Q1.Which of the phrases below could be used to complete the sentence. Parenthesis is...

marked by a pair of brackets, dashes or commas

true false

a way of adding extra information to the sentence

true false

usually optional detail

true false

marked by a semicolon

true false

1/5

Q2.Match up the punctuation mark with its name and function.

hyphen (used to join compound words)

- ; :: ( ) —

brackets (used to add non-essential information)

- ; :: ( ) —

dash (used to emphasise additional information)

- ; :: ( ) —

colon (used to introduce information to clarify, explain or emphasise)

- ; :: ( ) —

semicolon (used to link related main clauses)

- ; :: ( ) —

2/5

Q3.Which of the following rules for using brackets are true?

full stops should never go inside the bracket

true false

the extra information inside the brackets should be a main clause

true false

a pair of brackets surround the extra information.

true false

the extra information is essential

true false

3/5

Q4.Which sentence uses brackets correctly?

4/5

Q5.Which sentence uses dashes correctly?

5/5

Lesson summary: Grammar for writing: using brackets and dashes

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The next lesson in Grammar for Writing is "Refining punctuation in creative writing"

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