Quotation Marks

Quotation Marks

"Let's put all of the punctuation in the correct spot please!" insisted Mr Moore.

Who's Talking?

Direct or Indirect Speech

• A direct quotation gives the speaker's exact words and must be enclosed in quotation marks.

  • The coach said, "This Friday is match day!"​

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• An indirect quotation tells what the speaker said but not in their exact words. It does not require quotation marks

  • The coach said that we have a match this Friday. ​

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Who's Talking?

Direct or Indirect Speech

• A direct quotation gives the speaker's exact words and must be enclosed in quotation marks.

  • The coach said, "This Friday is match day!"​

• An indirect quotation tells what the speaker said but not in their exact words. It does not require quotation marks

  • The coach said that we have a match this Friday. ​

​

Multiple Choice

Which sentence below contains dialogue?

Alia came over on Saturday night. Georgia was so excited. When they were getting ready to leave, Alia asked her mom if she could stay the night. Her mom said, "Sure, as long as your aunt is okay with it."

• Alia came over Saturday night

• Georgia was so excited.

• When they were getting ready to leave, Alia asked her mom if she could stay the night.

• Her mom said, "Sure, as long as your aunt is okay with it."

Multiple Choice

The art teacher was angry when she yelled at us to clean up the spilled dyes.

• Direct quote

• Indirect quote

Multiple Choice

"Clean up that mess quickly!" yelled Miss Smith.

• Direct quote

• Indirect quote

Multiple Choice

"Darn, I stained my shirt," the student whined.

• Direct quote

• Indirect quote

, ! or ?

Separating the quote from the speech verb

• Use a comma to separate the dialogue from the speech verb, unless that quotation needs a question mark or an exclamation mark.

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"Next Monday is a public holiday," said Michael.

"Are you sure?" asked Sally.

"I'm positive!" insisted Michael. ​

Interrupted quotes

If the speech verb is in the middle of the quote...

• Put quotation marks around both parts of the interrupted quotation:

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"I'm going to the office," said Sally, "to see the nurse."

"You'll need a movement pass," Mrs. Figaro interrupted, "before you leave."

"It will be fine," yelled Sally. "The nurse knows me."

Multiple Choice

Select the answer below that uses capitalisation and punctuation correctly.

• It would be so nice, exclaimed Terry, if we had less questions.

• "It would be nice, exclaimed Terry, "if we had less questions."

• "It would be nice," exclaimed Terry, "if we had less questions."

• "It would be nice, exclaimed Terry, if we had less questions."

Multiple Choice

Select the answer below that uses capitalisation and punctuation correctly.

• Its a good idea, explained Ben, too buy more books.

• It's a good idea, "explained Ben," to buy more books.

• "It's a good idea," explained Ben, "to buy more books."

• "Its a good idea," explained Ben, "too by more books.

Quotes inside quotes!

Use single quotation marks ' ' for the second quote

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Michael stood up and said, "It was Prime Minister, Bob Hawke, who said, 'The things which are most important don't always scream the loudest.'"

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Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence with the correct use of quotation marks and punctuation.

• "Who wants the last piece of apple pie?" asked grandma.

• "Who wants the last piece of apple pie?" Asked grandma.

• "Who wants the last piece of apple pie"? asked grandma.

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence with the correct use of quotation marks and punctuation.

• "Which store do you want to go to?" asked Marie.

• Which store do you want to go to?" asked Marie.

• "Which store do you want to go to? asked Marie.

• Which store do you want to go to? asked Marie.

Multiple Choice

Choose the sentence with the correct use of quotation marks and punctuation.

• Did she say, "We'll leave at 3:15"?

• Did she say, "We'll leave at 3:15?"

• Did she say, "We'll leave at 3:15."?