What are brackets?
Brackets look like ( ).
Uses
1. Add more information about a subject
2. Add more information about a whole sentence
Add more information about a subject
In the middle of a sentence, brackets can be used to add more information about a particular subject.
Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977) was a famous comedian.
The house cost $7m (about 46m renminbi)
Add More information about a sentence
Brackets can also be used at the end of a sentence to add more information about the whole sentence.
The teacher told him to sit down and be quiet, which he did (he was used to this: the teacher told him every class).
His first girlfriend, Penny, wanted to marry him, and for a while he thought about it (although now he is glad that he didn’t).
Exercises
Choose a part (or the whole sentence) and add more information using brackets:
1. The first car he ever owned was an old VW that he got from his uncle.
2. Although Anna didn’t like it, Philip agreed to meet his ex-wife one last time.
3. That morning the birds were singing loudly and the sun was up before 6am.
4. Tomorrow I shall go to visit my doctor, and then go play badminton in the park.