Ellipsis Practice - 8

What is an ellipsis?

• A figure of speech

• A literary genre

• A type of punctuation mark

• A mistake

Answer explanation

An ellipsis is a type of punctuation mark consisting of three dots (...), used to indicate omitted text or a pause in thought. It is not a figure of speech, literary genre, or a mistake.

Tags

CCSS.L.8.2A

CCSS.L.8.2B

Which of these is an ellipsis?

• /

• --

• ,

• . . .

Answer explanation

. . . is an ellipsis, which indicates the omission of words or a pause in thought. The other options (/, --, ,) do not serve this purpose.

Why would a writer use an ellipsis?

• to indicate a thought trailing off or fading away

• to indicate a pause, like when someone is thinking what to say

• to cut out certain words from a quote to make it shorter and easier to understand

• ALL OF THE ABOVE

Answer explanation

A writer uses an ellipsis to indicate a thought trailing off, to show a pause in speech, or to omit words in a quote. Therefore, the correct answer is ALL OF THE ABOVE.

Which of the following is NOT what you would use an ellipsis for?

• to list items

• to show that time has passed or will pass before the next event

  (to be continued)

• to show that a character's voice is trailing off

• to eliminate extra words from a quote

Answer explanation

An ellipsis is not used to list items; it serves to indicate omitted text, a trailing voice, or a pause in time. Therefore, 'to list items' is the correct choice as it does not align with the functions of an ellipsis.

Tags

CCSS.L.8.2A

CCSS.L.8.2B

Where would you put an ellipsis in this sentence?

I wonder where I left my Chromebook.

• after the word where

  I wonder where...I left my Chromebook.

• after the word I

  I wonder where I...left my Chromebook.

• at the end of the sentence

  I wonder where I left my Chromebook....

• at the beginning of the sentence

  ...I wonder where I left my Chromebook.

Answer explanation

The ellipsis is used to indicate a trailing thought or an unfinished idea. Placing it at the end of the sentence, as in "I wonder where I left my Chromebook....", effectively conveys this sense of uncertainty.

Tags

CCSS.L.8.2A

CCSS.L.8.2B

Where would you put an ellipsis in this sentence?

I wanted to tell you I think you're a great friend.

• after the word wanted

  I wanted...to tell you I think you're a great friend.

• after the word you

  I wanted to tell you...I think you're a great friend.

• at the end of the sentence

  I wanted to tell you I think you're a great friend....

• at the beginning of the sentence

  ...I wanted to tell you I think you're a great friend.

Answer explanation

The correct placement of the ellipsis is after 'you' to indicate a pause before continuing the thought. This reflects a natural break in the sentence, making it clear that the speaker is transitioning to a new idea.

Tags

CCSS.L.8.2A

CCSS.L.8.2B

True or False: when an ellipsis is used at the end of a sentence, you use FOUR dots instead of three.

[three dots for the ellipsis + one dot for the period -- . . . .]

• True

• False

Answer explanation

True. An ellipsis consists of three dots, and when it appears at the end of a sentence, a period is also needed, resulting in a total of four dots: three for the ellipsis and one for the period.

Tags

CCSS.L.8.2A

CCSS.L.8.2B

An ellipsis is formed by putting _ dots in a row.

Tags

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.6.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

How could you rewrite this quote using an ellipsis (. . .) to get rid of details you don't need and make it shorter and easier to understand?

“The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They’re there to stop the other people.”

Tags

CCSS.L.8.2A

CCSS.L.8.2B

How could you rewrite this quote using an ellipsis (. . .) to get rid of details you don't need and make it shorter and easier to understand?

"In the silent city, every step felt like a crime. Streets that had once been busy were now cluttered with garbage and buildings that had bustled with life stood hollow, their windows shattered and walls scorched black. A lone figure moved slowly through the wreckage, their eyes darting to every corner, as if expecting danger to spring from the shadows."

Tags

CCSS.L.8.2A

CCSS.L.8.2B