Grammar Worksheet · Grades 6–8
Ellipses Worksheet
A printable grammar worksheet for grades 6-8 on the ellipsis and its three uses: showing omitted words in a quotation, showing a speaker trailing off, and building a suspenseful pause. Students label eight sentences, then answer four short questions. A complete answer key is included.
Subject
Grammar
Grades
Grades 6–8
Skill Focus
Ellipses, punctuation
Lesson Length
20 minutes
Lesson Overview
About this worksheet
An ellipsis is three spaced dots that mark something left out or a place where the words pause or stop. In a quotation it shows that words have been omitted; in narrative writing it can show a speaker trailing off on an unfinished thought or create a deliberate pause that builds suspense. This worksheet helps students tell those three uses apart and punctuate them correctly.
Section A on page 1 gives eight sentences, and students decide whether each ellipsis shows omission, trailing off, or a suspense pause. The reference box teaches all three uses and shows a short Examples block with one generic example of each, so the assessed sentences stay independent of the model.
Section B on page 2 asks students to name the three jobs of an ellipsis, explain why it is useful when quoting part of a sentence, write their own trailing-off sentence, and recall how many dots an ellipsis has. Page 3 is a complete answer key with sample answers. The skill builds on quotation marks and other end punctuation.
How to Use This Lesson
Read the reference box aloud and point out the three uses of the ellipsis.
Complete Section A independently – have students underline the clue that signals each use.
Discuss why omission ellipses appear inside quotation marks but narrative ones do not.
Use the answer key on page 3 for self-check.
Pair with the Quotation Marks Worksheet or the Dashes and Parentheses Worksheet.
Printable Resource
A classroom-ready PDF with everything in one printable resource.
Full Member Resource · Printable PDF · 3 pages · Answer Key
Ellipses Worksheet
A printable grammar worksheet for grades 6-8 on the ellipsis and its three uses: showing omitted words in a quotation, showing a speaker trailing off, and building a suspenseful pause. Students label eight sentences, then answer four short questions. A complete answer key is included.
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