Dialogue Punctuation Skills Quiz

Which of the following sentences correctly uses quotation marks and a dialogue tag?

• "I can't believe it!" exclaimed Sarah

• "I can't believe it!" Exclaimed Sarah.

• "I can't believe it!" exclaimed Sarah.

• I can't believe it! exclaimed Sarah.

Answer explanation

The correct sentence uses quotation marks around the spoken words and a dialogue tag with a lowercase 'e' for 'exclaimed'. Therefore, the correct choice is: "I can't believe it!" exclaimed Sarah.

Tags

CCSS.W.6.3B

Where should the comma be placed in the following sentence? "I can't wait to go to the park" said Tom.

• After "park" and before "said"

• After "said"

• Before "I"

• After "go"

Answer explanation

The comma should be placed after 'park' and before 'said' to correctly punctuate the sentence.

Tags

CCSS.W.6.3B

CCSS.L.6.2A

Which option correctly capitalizes the first word in dialogue?

• He said, "be careful when you go outside."

• He said, "Be careful when you go outside."

• he said, "be careful when you go outside."

• He Said, "Be careful when you go outside."

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'He said, "Be careful when you go outside."' as the first word in dialogue should be capitalized.

Tags

CCSS.W.6.3B

CCSS.L.6.6

How should you indent dialogue when a new speaker talks?

• Use a comma before the new speaker's dialogue.

• Start a new line with no indentation.

• Start a new line and indent the first line of dialogue.

• Keep writing on the same line.

Answer explanation

To indent dialogue when a new speaker talks, start a new line and indent the first line of dialogue.

Which sentence avoids overuse of dialogue tags?

• "I'm not sure," she said, "if I can make it," she added.

• "I'm not sure if I can make it," she said.

• "I'm not sure," she said. "If I can make it," she continued.

• "I'm not sure," she said. "Can I make it?" she wondered.

Answer explanation

The correct sentence avoids overuse of dialogue tags by only using 'she said' once after the dialogue, maintaining clarity and flow.

Tags

CCSS.W.6.3B

Choose the sentence that correctly punctuates dialogue with commas.

• "Will you join us for dinner?" She asked.

• "Will you join us for dinner?" she asked.

• "Will you join us for dinner", she asked.

• "Will you join us for dinner." she asked.

Answer explanation

The correct choice is "Will you join us for dinner?" she asked. Commas are used to separate the dialogue from the dialogue tag.

Tags

CCSS.W.6.3B

Identify the dialogue tag in the following sentence: "Can we go now?" he whispered.

• Can we go now?

• he whispered

• now

• whispered

Answer explanation

The correct dialogue tag in the sentence is 'he whispered' as it attributes the speech to the character speaking, indicating how the words were said.

Which option correctly uses quotation marks for a quote within dialogue?

• "And then she said, 'You can't be serious!'" he laughed.

• "And then she said, "You can't be serious!" he laughed.

• "And then she said, 'You can't be serious!" he laughed.

• "And then she said, You can't be serious!" he laughed.

Answer explanation

The correct option uses single quotation marks for the quote within dialogue, while double quotation marks are used for the overall dialogue. Therefore, the correct choice is: "And then she said, 'You can't be serious!'" he laughed.

Tags

CCSS.W.6.3B

How do you correctly format a question within dialogue?

• "What time will you be home?" she asked.

• "What time will you be home", she asked?

• "What time will you be home?" She asked.

• "What time will you be home?" she asked?

Answer explanation

The correct choice is "What time will you be home?" she asked. The question mark should be inside the quotation marks, and the dialogue tag should be lowercase.

Tags

CCSS.W.6.3B

CCSS.L.6.2A

CCSS.L.6.6

Choose the sentence that correctly capitalizes and punctuates dialogue.

• "i'm not sure," he said, "that's a good idea."

• "I'm not sure," he said, "that's a good idea."

• "I'm not sure," He said, "that's a good idea."

• "I'm not sure," he said "that's a good idea."

Answer explanation

The correct choice capitalizes the first letter of the dialogue and uses commas and quotation marks correctly for dialogue punctuation.

Tags

CCSS.W.6.3B