Paretheses and Dashes worksheet - Free Printable

Task: Using Parentheses and Dashes

The task requires adding parentheses or dashes where needed in the given sentences. Some sentences may be punctuated with either dashes or parentheses. Below is the solution with explanations for each sentence.

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Solutions and Explanations

#### 1. Tell me I doubt that you can what city is the capital of Wyoming.
- Revised Sentence: Tell me (I doubt that you can) what city is the capital of Wyoming.
- Explanation: The phrase "I doubt that you can" is a parenthetical remark, providing additional information but not essential to the main sentence. It is set off using parentheses.

#### 2. Gouda pronounced goud is a kind of cheese.
- Revised Sentence: Gouda (pronounced goud) is a kind of cheese.
- Explanation: The pronunciation "pronounced goud" is additional information about "Gouda," so it is enclosed in parentheses.

#### 3. The correct answer appears to be no figure it out for yourself.
- Revised Sentence: The correct answer appears to be no—figure it out for yourself.
- Explanation: The phrase "figure it out for yourself" is an abrupt addition or afterthought, making it appropriate to use a dash to separate it from the main sentence.

#### 4. Sludge the word itself sounds horrid filled our basement during the flood.
- Revised Sentence: Sludge—the word itself sounds horrid—filled our basement during the flood.
- Explanation: The phrase "the word itself sounds horrid" is a parenthetical remark inserted between two parts of the sentence. It is set off using dashes.

#### 5. Movie producer Samuel Goldwyn 1882–1974 was born in Poland.
- Revised Sentence: Movie producer Samuel Goldwyn (1882–1974) was born in Poland.
- Explanation: The years "1882–1974" are additional information about Samuel Goldwyn, so they are enclosed in parentheses.

#### 6. Brenda can’t that is won’t help me.
- Revised Sentence: Brenda can’t—that is, won’t—help me.
- Explanation: The phrase "that is, won’t" is an explanation or clarification of "can’t." It is set off using dashes.

#### 7. The box contains a pound 16 ounces of detergent.
- Revised Sentence: The box contains a pound (16 ounces) of detergent.
- Explanation: The phrase "16 ounces" is additional information explaining what a "pound" means, so it is enclosed in parentheses.

#### 8. Cajun music how I love it! is loud and lively.
- Revised Sentence: Cajun music—how I love it!—is loud and lively.
- Explanation: The phrase "how I love it!" is an interjection expressing emotion, so it is set off using dashes.

#### 9. Gila monsters they give me the shivers aren’t really monsters.
- Revised Sentence: Gila monsters—they give me the shivers—aren’t really monsters.
- Explanation: The phrase "they give me the shivers" is a parenthetical remark providing additional information about Gila monsters, so it is set off using dashes.

#### 10. They are classified as lizards the biological family Helodermatidae.
- Revised Sentence: They are classified as lizards (the biological family Helodermatidae).
- Explanation: The phrase "the biological family Helodermatidae" is additional information about their classification, so it is enclosed in parentheses.

#### 11. My desk calendar it was a gift contains animal cartoons.
- Revised Sentence: My desk calendar—it was a gift—contains animal cartoons.
- Explanation: The phrase "it was a gift" is a parenthetical remark providing additional information about the desk calendar, so it is set off using dashes.

#### 12. “Next we will read please stop talking from the book,” Mr. Naylor said.
- Revised Sentence: “Next we will read—please stop talking—from the book,” Mr. Naylor said.
- Explanation: The phrase "please stop talking" is an interruption or instruction within the quote, so it is set off using dashes.

#### 13. My grandfather’s first truck a Chevrolet is worth a lot now.
- Revised Sentence: My grandfather’s first truck—a Chevrolet—is worth a lot now.
- Explanation: The phrase "a Chevrolet" is additional information specifying the type of truck, so it is set off using dashes.

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Final Answer

Here are the revised sentences with the necessary punctuation:

1. Tell me (I doubt that you can) what city is the capital of Wyoming.
2. Gouda (pronounced goud) 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.

Boxed Final Answer:
\boxed{
\begin{aligned}
&1. \text{Tell me (I doubt that you can) what city is the capital of Wyoming.} \\
&2. \text{Gouda (pronounced goud) is a kind of cheese.} \\
&3. \text{The correct answer appears to be no—figure it out for yourself.} \\
&4. \text{Sludge—the word itself sounds horrid—filled our basement during the flood.} \\
&5. \text{Movie producer Samuel Goldwyn (1882–1974) was born in Poland.} \\
&6. \text{Brenda can’t—that is, won’t—help me.} \\
&7. \text{The box contains a pound (16 ounces) of detergent.} \\
&8. \text{Cajun music—how I love it!—is loud and lively.} \\
&9. \text{Gila monsters—they give me the shivers—aren’t really monsters.} \\
&10. \text{They are classified as lizards (the biological family Helodermatidae).} \\
&11. \text{My desk calendar—it was a gift—contains animal cartoons.} \\
&12. \text{“Next we will read—please stop talking—from the book,” Mr. Naylor said.} \\
&13. \text{My grandfather’s first truck—a Chevrolet—is worth a lot now.}
\end{aligned}
}