Direct Quotations & Punctuation



Name: _________________________ Date: ____________________ Class: _____

Direct Quotations & Punctuation

Dialogue is when two or more people are talking in a piece of writing. There are two types of dialogue.

Indirect dialogue: A summary of what was said. It usually includes the word “that”. It doesn’t require quotations

e.g. Jeff said that he wanted to go home.

2) Direct Dialogue: Words that are actually spoken by a character. Quotations are required.

e.g. “Get out of the kitchen,” Ralph roared.

Using Quotation Marks in Direct Dialogue:

Rule one: Place the quotations marks (“ “) around words that are actually spoken.

e.g. “Go away.”

e.g. “But I love you, Jackie,” he pleaded.

e.g. “I said, get lost!” Freda screamed with fury.

Rule two: If the quotation comes at the end of a sentence put a piece of punctuation before the first quotation mark and before the last quotation mark.

e.g. She slowly replied, “I can’t forget Alfie. He’s my favourite fish!”

e.g. Jen jumped at the chance, “I’ll dance tomorrow night.”

Rule three: The first word spoken in the dialogue gets a capital.

e.g. He quickly added, “Besides, my goldfish will miss me.”

e.g. Freddy thought she should jump at the opportunity, “You have to do it!”

Rule four: If the quotation is split, only the first word of the first part of the quotation is capitalized.

e.g. “I suppose,” she sighed, “you win.”

e.g. “I really like to hike,” he said excitedly, “it’s so much fun!”

Rule five: Quotations get an indented, new paragraph whenever a new person speaks.

e.g.

She was really excited, “I really like birthday parties. They are always so much fun. Especially when there are jugglers.”

“You don’t like birthday parties,” Justin claimed, “you like the cake and only the cake. I know it.”

“Okay,” you’re right,” she replied with a grin.

Practice: Now that we’ve learned the 5 quotation rules, summarize them below.

1. ______________________________________________________

2. ____________________________________________________________________

3. ____________________________________________________________________

4. ____________________________________________________________________

5. ____________________________________________________________________

Name: _________________________ Date: _______________________ Class: _____

Direct Quotations & Punctuation Practice

Complete the following. Be sure to read the instructions. You do not have to re-write the sentence, instead, make corrections directly within the example given.

PART A: Add punctuation marks where they belong.

|Example:    |Are there enough pencils for everyone? Andrew asked. |

|  |"Are there enough pencils for everyone?" Andrew asked. |

1. Kylie questioned her friend, Do you want to bring cookies to the party?

2. Will it rain tomorrow? Daniel asked Isaac worriedly.

3. Do you realize you've been late for school for three days? her dad said sharply.

4. Where are your mittens? Sierra asked her little sister.

5. Mom, can we have a picnic down by the lake this Saturday? asked Brian.

6. Did everyone study last night for the History test? Mrs. Greer asked the class.

7. Where are my new basketball shoes? Robert asked his mother.

8. Will you please drop this letter in the mailbox for me? Dad asked Steven.

9. Do you think Brittany wants to go to the pool with us? Jill asked her friend.

10. What is the date of our class party? Mr. Lee asked the students.

PART B: Add punctuation marks where they belong within these split sentences.

|Example:    |There are 10 goldfish in the large tank, Mrs. Miller pointed out, and five goldfish in the small tank. |

|  |"There are 10 goldfish in the large tank," Mrs. Miller pointed out, "and five goldfish in the small tank." |

1. East or west, someone once said, home is best.

2. You need to have your lines memorized by this Friday, said Mr. Nicholas, so you'll be prepared for dress-rehearsal.

3. There aren't enough people, Emily said, to play that game.

4. Do you mind, asked David, if I ride with you to the meeting?

5. Do I understand correctly, questioned Mrs. Palmer, that you are going away to college next year?

6. Be sure to feed the dog before we leave, Mom said, because we won't be back home tonight until after midnight.

7. The weather report says it's supposed to be warm outside tonight, said Mom, but you'd better take your jacket along just in case.

8. Frogs, Mr. Harris told us, are amphibians.

9. President Lincoln, David said, was assassinated by John Wilkes Booth.

10. Do you think it's okay, asked Kaitlyn, if I wear this outfit to school tomorrow?

PART C: Add commas and quotation marks where they are needed.

|Example:    |Someone once said A willing helper does not wait until he is asked. |

|  |Someone once said, "A willing helper does not wait until he is asked." |

1. Friday is the last day of school Amber said quietly.

2. Hang your jackets on the hooks in the hall Mr. Thompson said.

3. Give me 50 pushups the drill sergeant demanded.

4. Please sit down and take out your science books Mrs. Jones said.

5. This is the first time I have been here Caleb said.

PART D: Add punctuation, capitals and quotations where they belong.

|Example:    |christina do you realize you've been late getting ready for church for the past three sundays? her dad said sharply. |

|  |"Christina, do you realize you've been late getting ready for church for the past three Sundays?" her dad said sharply. |

1. will you please drop this letter in the mailbox for me on your way to school? dad asked steven.

2. what is the date of our class party? mr. king asked the students.

3. dr. johnson asked caleb did your family visit the beach last summer?

4. will it rain tomorrow? john asked kyle worriedly.

5. mom can we have a picnic down by the lake this saturday? asked cody.

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