PUNCTUATING DIALOGUE

PUNCTUATING DIALOGUE

RULES FOR PUNCTUATING SPEECH

RULE 1 - SPEECH MARKS/QUOTATION MARKS ('' '')

• Use double quotation marks to indicate a direct ( word-for-word) quotation.

• Example: I am going to Venice next month, Sarah said.

• Ans: ''I am going to Venice next month,'' Sarah said.

• Example: Does Carly work in your department? Tina asked.

• Ans: ''Does Carly work in your department?'' Tina asked.

RULE 2 - Capitalize the first word in the quotation.

• Example: Rob screamed, do not lie to me!

• Ans: Rob screamed, ''Do not lie to me!''

• Example: The Judge said, you are guilty as charged.

• Ans: The Judge said, ''You are guilty as charged.''

Open Ended

Re-write this sentence and capitalize the first letter/word of the quotation. Remember to add speech marks at the right places.

i have a business meeting next Friday, John answered.

Open Ended

Re-write this sentence and capitalize the first letter/word of the quotation. Remember to add speech marks at the right place.

my father said, don’t forget to look both ways before crossing the street.

RULE 3 - Use commas to introduce the quotation (,)

• Example: He yelled Get out of my way!

• Ans: He yelled, ''Get out of my way!''

• Example: My Sister said ''I need to borrow your car so I can go to my appointment."

• Ans: My Sister said, ''I need to borrow your car so I can go to my appointment."

Open Ended

Re-write this sentence. Use commas to introduce the quotation (,)

Daniel suggested Let's ride our bike down the street.

Open Ended

Re-write this sentence. Use commas to introduce the quotation (,)

Please bring me my blanket requested Janie.

RULE 4 - Full stops, exclamation marks & questions comes into the closing speech marks.

• Example: You may come in, Grace said to Paul 

• Ans: Grace said to Paul, ''You may come in.'' 

• Example: Do you want to go out for dinner tomorrow night? Mary inquired.

• Ans: ''Do you want to go out for dinner tomorrow night?'' Mary inquired.

• Ans: Rob screamed, ''Do not lie to me!''

Multiple Choice

Select the speech that has been punctuated correctly.

• ''Where is the lake'' asked David.

• Where is the lake? asked David.

• ''Where is the lake?'' asked David.

Multiple Choice

Which of these speech has been punctuated correctly?

• Jane exclaimed, '' Where is the Library!''

• Jane exclaimed, where is the Library!

Multiple Choice

Which of these speech has been punctuated correctly?

• Can you help me make dinner? Sam asked.

• ''Can you help me make dinner?'' Sam asked.

• ''Can you help me make dinner'' Sam asked.

Multiple Choice

Select the sentence that has been punctuated correctly.

• ''I didn't see any celebrities in Los Angeles,'' Mr. Smith said, ''but I still had a great time.''

• I didn't see any celebrities in Los Angeles, Mr. Smith said, but I still had a great time.

RULE 5-NEW SPEAKER, NEW LINE

It was Saturday morning, and Maggie was already in the kitchen.

''Breakfast will be ready in about five minutes,'' Maggie yelled up to her brothers. 

''Do you want some help?'' Mum offered, who had just walked into the kitchen. 

Open Ended

List two words that has been use in these speech in place of 'said' ( synonyms for said)

''Breakfast will be ready in about five minutes,'' Maggie yelled up to her brothers.

''Do you want some help?'' Mum offered, who had just walked into the kitchen.

Open Ended

Write three synonyms for 'said' that you know/another word that can be used instead of 'said'.

Now let's Practice-punctuating dialogue together.

Thanks Mum replied Maggie but I’d really like to do it by myself. Okay agreed Mum I will just take the dog for a quick walk then.

Maggie popped the bread in the toaster and went back to the stove to check the eggs and beacon.

Answers I

• "Thanks Mum," replied Maggie, "but I’d really like to do it by myself."

• "Okay," agreed Mum. "I will just take the dog for a quick walk then."

• Maggie popped the bread in the toaster and went back to the stove to check the eggs and beacon.

Practice punctuating dialogue

About a minute later, Ben said to Sam Do you smell something burning

Yup answered Sam It smells like burnt toast to me and there goes the smoke alarm 

I guess Maggie making breakfast again laughed Ben as they ran down to the kitchen 

Awswers II

• About a minute later, Ben said to Sam, "Do you smell something burning?"

• "Yup," answered Sam. "It smells like burnt toast to me and there goes the smoke alarm!" 

• "I guess Maggie is making breakfast again," laughed Ben, as they ran down to the kitchen.