Direct Quotes

True or False:

Direct quotations or direct quotes tell the exact words that somebody said or wrote. They are always enclosed with quotation marks.

• True

• False

Which direct quotation is not correctly written?

• Daffy Duck said, "I missed the bus. I'll be late."

• "I missed the bus," Daffy Duck said. "I'll be late."

• "I missed the bus. I'll be late," Daffy Duck said.

• Daffy Duck said "I missed the bus." "I'll be late."

Answer explanation

If a quote is uninterrupted (and is stringed together like this quote), you do not need to put quotation marks before and after every sentence stated.

Also, there should be a comma before the quote is introduced or when it abruptly ends.

Which choice correctly expresses a direct quotation of SpongeBob?

• SpongeBob asked "isn't Gary just the cutest?"

• SpongeBob asked, "Isn't Gary just the cutest?"

• "Isn't Gary really cute?" said SpongeBob.

• SpongeBob said that Gary is the cutest pet he's ever had.

Which is the correctly-written direct quote?

• "Revenge will be sweet," said Ash. "It will be mine."

• Ash said that revenge will be sweet, and it will be his.

• "Revenge will be sweet." "It will be mine," said Ash.

• Ash said, "revenge will be sweet. It will be mine."

Why would you want to use a direct quote in your writing?

• As evidence to answer a question about the text

• To emphasize an important fact to your reader

• It's easier than thinking of your own information

• As evidence to answer a question about the text OR to emphasize an important fact to the reader

Which of the following sentences uses a direct quotation correctly?

• "What time is the meeting?" she inquired.

• She inquired, what time is the meeting?

• She inquired "What time is the meeting?"

• "She inquired, what time is the meeting?"

Which choice is correctly written and states what Starfire said between her two sentences?

• "The boys were right." "Who knew?" said Starfire.

• The boys were right, "Said Starfire." Who knew?

• "The boys were right" said Starfire. Who knew?

• "The boys were right," said Starfire. "Who knew?"

Change the given direct quote into an indirect quote.

Kyven said, "I do not like watching cartoons."

• Kyven said that he enjoys watching cartoons.

• Kyven said, "he doesn't like watching cartoons."

• Kyven said that he doesn't enjoy watching cartoons.

• Kyven said that cartoons are really dumb.

Choose the correctly-written direct quote that states who said what in the middle of the quote.

• "I know he's strong," Krillin said, "but I don't think he can do it."

• "I know he's strong," Krillin said, "But I don't think he can do it."

• I know he's strong, "Krillin said," but I don't think he can do it.

• "I know he's strong" Krillin said "but I don't think he can do it."

Answer explanation

Because the quote continues the sentence, the word "but" does not need to be capitalized. A new sentence did not begin.

What punctuation is missing in this direct quotation?

Mrs. Emmanuel asked "Where is your homework, Talen?"

• a comma after "Emmanuel"

• a comma after "asked"

• an open quotation mark before "Mrs."

• a closed quotation mark after "Emmanuel"