Paretheses and Dashes worksheet - Free Printable
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Step-by-step solution for: Paretheses and Dashes worksheet
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Paretheses and Dashes worksheet
Let’s go through each sentence one by one. We need to add parentheses ( ) or dashes — where they make sense to set off extra information, interruptions, or clarifications.
Remember:
- Parentheses are for quiet side notes — things you could skip and the sentence still makes sense.
- Dashes are for stronger breaks — like sudden thoughts, interruptions, or emphasis.
We’ll look at each sentence and decide which punctuation fits best.
---
1. Tell me I doubt that you can what city is the capital of Wyoming.
This sounds like someone is interrupting themselves: “Tell me… wait, I doubt you can…” So we use a dash to show the break.
→ Tell me—I doubt that you can—what city is the capital of Wyoming.
*(Note: Actually, this might be better as: “Tell me — I doubt that you can — what city is the capital of Wyoming?” But since the original doesn’t have a question mark, we’ll keep it as is with dashes.)*
Wait — actually, looking again: The phrase “I doubt that you can” is an interruption in the middle of “Tell me what city...”. So yes, dashes work.
✔ Final: Tell me—I doubt that you can—what city is the capital of Wyoming.
---
2. Gouda pronounced gou´d is a kind of cheese.
Here, “pronounced gou’d” is explaining how to say “Gouda.” That’s extra info — perfect for parentheses.
✔ Final: Gouda (pronounced gou’d) is a kind of cheese.
---
3. The correct answer appears to be no, figure it out for yourself.
“Figure it out for yourself” feels like a separate thought — maybe even a little sassy! A dash works well here to show the shift.
✔ Final: The correct answer appears to be no—figure it out for yourself.
---
4. Sludge the word itself sounds horrid filled our basement during the flood.
“The word itself sounds horrid” is describing “sludge” — it’s extra info about the word. Use parentheses.
✔ Final: Sludge (the word itself sounds horrid) filled our basement during the flood.
---
5. Movie producer Samuel Goldwyn 1882–1974 was born in Poland.
Dates of life are usually put in parentheses after a person’s name.
✔ Final: Movie producer Samuel Goldwyn (1882–1974) was born in Poland.
---
6. Brenda can’t that is, won’t help me.
“That is, won’t” is correcting or clarifying “can’t.” This is a classic case for dashes — showing a self-correction.
✔ Final: Brenda can’t—that is, won’t—help me.
---
7. The box contains a pound 16 ounces of detergent.
“16 ounces” explains what “a pound” means — it’s equivalent. Use parentheses.
✔ Final: The box contains a pound (16 ounces) of detergent.
---
8. Cajun music how I love it! is loud and lively.
“How I love it!” is an emotional aside — not essential to the main sentence. Parentheses work, but dashes feel more excited and natural here.
✔ Final: Cajun music—how I love it!—is loud and lively.
---
9. Gila monsters they give me the shivers aren’t really monsters.
“They give me the shivers” is extra info about Gila monsters. Parentheses fit nicely.
✔ Final: Gila monsters (they give me the shivers) aren’t really monsters.
---
10. They are classified as lizards the biological family Helodermatidae.
“The biological family Helodermatidae” explains what kind of lizards — so it’s extra detail. Use parentheses.
✔ Final: They are classified as lizards (the biological family Helodermatidae).
---
11. My desk calendar it was a gift contains animal cartoons.
“It was a gift” is extra info about the calendar. Parentheses work.
✔ Final: My desk calendar (it was a gift) contains animal cartoons.
---
12. “Next we will read please stop talking from the book,” Mr. Naylor said.
“Please stop talking” is an interruption inside the quote. Use dashes to show the break in speech.
✔ Final: “Next we will read—please stop talking—from the book,” Mr. Naylor said.
---
13. My grandfather’s first truck a Chevrolet is worth a lot now.
“A Chevrolet” tells us what kind of truck — it’s extra info. Use parentheses.
✔ Final: My grandfather’s first truck (a Chevrolet) is worth a lot now.
---
Now let’s write all the corrected sentences clearly.
Final Answer:
1. Tell me—I doubt that you can—what city is the capital of Wyoming.
2. Gouda (pronounced gou’d) is a kind of cheese.
3. The correct answer appears to be no—figure it out for yourself.
4. Sludge (the word itself sounds horrid) filled our basement during the flood.
5. Movie producer Samuel Goldwyn (1882–1974) was born in Poland.
6. Brenda can’t—that is, won’t—help me.
7. The box contains a pound (16 ounces) of detergent.
8. Cajun music—how I love it!—is loud and lively.
9. Gila monsters (they give me the shivers) aren’t really monsters.
10. They are classified as lizards (the biological family Helodermatidae).
11. My desk calendar (it was a gift) contains animal cartoons.
12. “Next we will read—please stop talking—from the book,” Mr. Naylor said.
13. My grandfather’s first truck (a Chevrolet) is worth a lot now.
Remember:
- Parentheses are for quiet side notes — things you could skip and the sentence still makes sense.
- Dashes are for stronger breaks — like sudden thoughts, interruptions, or emphasis.
We’ll look at each sentence and decide which punctuation fits best.
---
1. Tell me I doubt that you can what city is the capital of Wyoming.
This sounds like someone is interrupting themselves: “Tell me… wait, I doubt you can…” So we use a dash to show the break.
→ Tell me—I doubt that you can—what city is the capital of Wyoming.
*(Note: Actually, this might be better as: “Tell me — I doubt that you can — what city is the capital of Wyoming?” But since the original doesn’t have a question mark, we’ll keep it as is with dashes.)*
Wait — actually, looking again: The phrase “I doubt that you can” is an interruption in the middle of “Tell me what city...”. So yes, dashes work.
✔ Final: Tell me—I doubt that you can—what city is the capital of Wyoming.
---
2. Gouda pronounced gou´d is a kind of cheese.
Here, “pronounced gou’d” is explaining how to say “Gouda.” That’s extra info — perfect for parentheses.
✔ Final: Gouda (pronounced gou’d) is a kind of cheese.
---
3. The correct answer appears to be no, figure it out for yourself.
“Figure it out for yourself” feels like a separate thought — maybe even a little sassy! A dash works well here to show the shift.
✔ Final: The correct answer appears to be no—figure it out for yourself.
---
4. Sludge the word itself sounds horrid filled our basement during the flood.
“The word itself sounds horrid” is describing “sludge” — it’s extra info about the word. Use parentheses.
✔ Final: Sludge (the word itself sounds horrid) filled our basement during the flood.
---
5. Movie producer Samuel Goldwyn 1882–1974 was born in Poland.
Dates of life are usually put in parentheses after a person’s name.
✔ Final: Movie producer Samuel Goldwyn (1882–1974) was born in Poland.
---
6. Brenda can’t that is, won’t help me.
“That is, won’t” is correcting or clarifying “can’t.” This is a classic case for dashes — showing a self-correction.
✔ Final: Brenda can’t—that is, won’t—help me.
---
7. The box contains a pound 16 ounces of detergent.
“16 ounces” explains what “a pound” means — it’s equivalent. Use parentheses.
✔ Final: The box contains a pound (16 ounces) of detergent.
---
8. Cajun music how I love it! is loud and lively.
“How I love it!” is an emotional aside — not essential to the main sentence. Parentheses work, but dashes feel more excited and natural here.
✔ Final: Cajun music—how I love it!—is loud and lively.
---
9. Gila monsters they give me the shivers aren’t really monsters.
“They give me the shivers” is extra info about Gila monsters. Parentheses fit nicely.
✔ Final: Gila monsters (they give me the shivers) aren’t really monsters.
---
10. They are classified as lizards the biological family Helodermatidae.
“The biological family Helodermatidae” explains what kind of lizards — so it’s extra detail. Use parentheses.
✔ Final: They are classified as lizards (the biological family Helodermatidae).
---
11. My desk calendar it was a gift contains animal cartoons.
“It was a gift” is extra info about the calendar. Parentheses work.
✔ Final: My desk calendar (it was a gift) contains animal cartoons.
---
12. “Next we will read please stop talking from the book,” Mr. Naylor said.
“Please stop talking” is an interruption inside the quote. Use dashes to show the break in speech.
✔ Final: “Next we will read—please stop talking—from the book,” Mr. Naylor said.
---
13. My grandfather’s first truck a Chevrolet is worth a lot now.
“A Chevrolet” tells us what kind of truck — it’s extra info. Use parentheses.
✔ Final: My grandfather’s first truck (a Chevrolet) is worth a lot now.
---
Now let’s write all the corrected sentences clearly.
Final Answer:
1. Tell me—I doubt that you can—what city is the capital of Wyoming.
2. Gouda (pronounced gou’d) is a kind of cheese.
3. The correct answer appears to be no—figure it out for yourself.
4. Sludge (the word itself sounds horrid) filled our basement during the flood.
5. Movie producer Samuel Goldwyn (1882–1974) was born in Poland.
6. Brenda can’t—that is, won’t—help me.
7. The box contains a pound (16 ounces) of detergent.
8. Cajun music—how I love it!—is loud and lively.
9. Gila monsters (they give me the shivers) aren’t really monsters.
10. They are classified as lizards (the biological family Helodermatidae).
11. My desk calendar (it was a gift) contains animal cartoons.
12. “Next we will read—please stop talking—from the book,” Mr. Naylor said.
13. My grandfather’s first truck (a Chevrolet) is worth a lot now.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of dashes worksheet.
