Commas, Dashes, Parentheses

Commas, parentheses, dashes for nonrestrictive elements

ELA Core Plans

We are going to learn about nonrestrictive elements in sentences.

• A nonrestrictive phrase or clause is one that is NOT absolutely necessary. It is a part of a sentence that is simply extra information, and it interrupts the sentence without being needed.

• Often, nonrestrictive elements interrupt a sentence, so punctuation marks are placed to "set off" the element from the rest of the sentence.

• Example: My bus driver, who loves Star Wars, picks me up at 8:00 sharp. Notice the red part of the sentence. This is just added information. This is why there is a comma before and after it.

There are three ways to "set off" nonrestrictive elements in sentences.

• Use parentheses - Use these to set off information that is not important. Parentheses are a more "gentle" or "quiet" way to add unimportant information. Parentheses are more formal than the dash.

• Use dashes - Use these if you want what is set off to be emphasized. Dashes draw attention!

• Use commas if you don't want something to stand out by using the dash or for something to be a side note in a quiet and gentle way with the parentheses.

Let's look at some examples.

• Louis Braille- who lost his sight at age three- invented an alphabet for blind people. (The part inside the dashes would be said with emphasis!)

• I asked Mr. Badillo, my next door neighbor, for a flashlight.

• Ten flies (huge ones) buzzed around the professor's head.

Multiple Choice

What is a nonrestrictive element in a sentence?

• a part of a sentence that is very important

• a part of a sentence that is extra information and interrupts

Multiple Select

Which of the following punctuation marks can be used to "set off" a nonrestrictive element? There is more than one answer.

• commas

• parentheses

• dashes

• semicolons

Multiple Select

Which of the following punctuation marks would you use if you wanted to emphasize a nonrestrictive element in the middle of a sentence?

• commas

• parentheses

• dashes

• semicolon

An appositive is a word or group of words that renames or explains the noun that it follows. Commas are used before and after the appositive when it appears in the middle of a sentence and when it is not needed to make the meaning clear.

Disney World, the best place on Earth, has the most thrilling roller coasters!

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

• Studying, which often takes a lot of effort, is something students must learn to do.

• Studying, which often takes a lot of effort is something students must learn to do.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following sentences is punctuated correctly?

• The town where I live (Abbeville) is having a spring festival this weekend.

• The town where I live (Abbeville is having a spring festival) this weekend.

Multiple Choice

Amphibians animals that live in water and on land are cold-blooded. Which of the following would correct this sentence?

• NO CHANGE

• Amphibians - animals that live in water and on land are cold-blooded.

• Amphibians, animals that live in water and on land, are cold-blooded.

• Amphibians, animals that live in water, and on land, are cold-blooded.