Commas in dialogue | Punctuation | Grammar | Khan Academy

The video says that commas in dialogue function as ________________.

• airplanes

• separaters

• runways

• functionairies

The comma divides the ____________ from the ______________.

• utterance, dialogue tag

• words, sentences

• dependent clause, independent clause

• first, second

The "dialogue tag" goes:

• around the quote

• after the reported speech

• at the beginning of the sentence

• at the end of the sentence

Why do we even use the comma?

• to separate between the reported speech and the dialogue tag

• to be confusing

• to set an example

• to slow the reader down

Dialogue = the spoken words

NOTICE: 

WHEN THE DIALOGUE TAG COMES FIRST:  The comma in the first example goes after the dialogue tag, but before the quote that begins the actual dialogue (or utterance).

WHEN THE DIALOGUE TAG COMES AFTER THE ACTUAL DIALOGUE:  The comma in the second example goes before the end quote of the dialogue (or spoken portion of the text).

If the second example was a question, what punctuation would you use in place of the comma?  EXAMPLE:  "Are they pirates" Roxane asked.

• period

• question mark

Using the example as a reference, which sentence below uses the correct form of punctuation for dialogue?

• "I believe in ghosts." Sam said.

• I believe in ghosts?" Sam said. 

• "I believe in ghosts," Sam said. 

Using the example as a reference, which sentence below uses the correct form of punctuation for dialogue?

• Mary asked "where is lamb?

• Mary asked, "Where is my lamb"?

• Mary asked, "Where is my lamb?"

Using the example as a reference, which sentence below uses the INCORRECT form of punctuation for dialogue?

• "I want to go snowboarding!" Pat exclaimed.

• "Do you want to go snowboarding?" Pat exclaimed.  

• "I want to go snowboarding." Pat exclaimed. 

• "I want to go snowboarding," Pat exclaimed.

If a statement in dialogue is going to end with a ___________, we use a comma. Otherwise we use the relevant punctuation marks.

• question mark

• exclamation mark

• parentheses

• period

Which of the below is punctuated correctly?

• "This video was a great review of how to use commas in dialogue!" exclaimed the students.

• "This video was a great review of how to use commas in dialogue" exclaimed the students!