Commas and Quotation Marks in Dialogue

Commas in Dialogue

Where do they go?

Multiple Choice

Review Question - Choose the sentence with the correct use of quotation marks.

• My brother asked Will "you help me with this?"

• My brother asked Will you help me with this

• My brother asked, "Will you help me with this?

• My brother asked, "Will you help me with this?"

Multiple Choice

Review Question - The dialogue tag tells...

• who is speaking

• what is said

Commas - Where dialogue gets difficult!

• Basic Rule - A comma separates dialogue from the dialogue tag.

Situation One - Dialogue Tag Comes First

When dialogue tag comes first, the comma goes right after the tag.

Patrick said, "Our team is in first place."

Kelsey remarked, "This doesn't seem so difficult."

Collin whined, "Another Quizizz! What is Mr.Vizzachero thinking?"

Multiple Choice

Practice - Which sentence has the comma in the correct place?

• Zeke announced ",Today is my birthday."

• Zeke announced, "Today is my birthday."

• Zeke announced "Today is my birthday,".

Situation Two - Dialogue Tag Comes Last

When dialogue tag comes last, the comma goes INSIDE the quotation.

"Probably just another trick," Doc Smith replied.

"Hey, that's not fair," Vinny complained.

"Please stay in your seat," the teacher said.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence has the comma in the correct place?

• "Get up Grandfather", Little Willy said.

• "Get up Grandfather" Little Willy, said.

• "Get up Grandfather," Little Willy said.

Exception to Situation Two

I told you this would get tricky!

You won't need a comma if...

The dialogue tag comes last AND the sentence is a question or exclamation

"What did you have for lunch?" she asked.

"We won the championship!" the team chanted.

Multiple Select

Which two sentences do NOT need a comma?

• Jane declared "This isn't fair!"

• "Do you play Roblox?" asked Donovan.

• "My leg hurts!" wailed Eric.

• "Stone Fox is a good book" remarked Paul.

Poll

How are you feeling about these comma rules so far?

• No problem - they're easy.

• A bit tricky, but I'm getting the hang of them.

• They are confusing me.

• I haven't really been paying attention at all.

Multiple Choice

Wrap Up Question 1

Which of the following is correct?

• Zane said, "I really want to eat Cheetos."

• Zane said "I really want to eat Cheetos."

• Zane said "I really want to eat Cheetos,"

• Zane, said "I really want to eat Cheetos."

Multiple Choice

Wrap Up Question 2

Which of the following is correct.

• "What time is it?," asked dad.

• "What time is it," asked dad?

• "What time is it?" asked dad.

• "What time is it", asked dad.

Multiple Choice

Wrap Up Question 3

Which of the following is correct?

• "My work is finished" said Lou.

• "My work is finished," said Lou.

• "My work is finished", said Lou.

• "My work is finished" said, Lou.