Commas and Quotation Marks in Dialogue and Direct Quotations

Question 1

What mistake appears in this sentence? Mom said "Dinner is ready."

Accepted Answer

There should be a comma after the word said.

Answer

The quoted sentence must begin with a capital letter.

Answer

The period must sit outside the closing quotation mark.

Answer

The word said should begin with a capital letter.

Question 2

What mistake appears in this sentence? "Dinner is ready." said Mom.

Accepted Answer

The period after ready should be a comma so the sentence can continue into said Mom.

Answer

The comma must sit outside the quotation mark instead of inside the quotation.

Answer

The word said must begin with a capital letter because it starts the speaker tag.

Answer

The quoted sentence must begin with a capital letter instead of a lowercase one.

Question 3

What mistake appears in this sentence? "The dog," she said, "Ran away."

Accepted Answer

The word Ran should not be capitalized because it continues the same sentence.

Answer

The word Ran needs a capital letter because it starts a new sentence.

Answer

The comma after dog must sit outside the quotation mark.

Answer

The word she must begin with a capital letter.

Question 4

What mistake appears in this sentence? According to the article "the bridge was built in 1932."

Accepted Answer

There should be a comma after the word article.

Answer

The word the should be capitalized.

Answer

The period should sit outside the quotation marks.

Answer

The sentence should not use quotation marks at all.

Question 5

In dialogue, the comma before a speaker tag goes ___ the closing quotation mark.

Accepted Answer

inside

Answer

outside

Answer

above

Answer

after

Question 6

Read this sentence: Mom said that dinner was ready. Why does this sentence NOT need quotation marks?

Accepted Answer

It does not use Mom's exact spoken words.

Answer

It names the speaker before the words.

Answer

It tells about something in the past.

Answer

It is a statement, not a question.

Question 7

What mistake appears in this sentence? "Are you ready," asked Dad.

Accepted Answer

The comma should be a question mark because Dad's exact words are a question.

Answer

The word asked should begin with a capital letter.

Answer

The question mark should sit outside the quotation marks.

Answer

A comma is also needed after the word Dad.

Question 8

Rosa speaks two complete sentences. What mistake appears here? "I finished my homework," said Rosa, "Now I can play."

Accepted Answer

The comma after Rosa should be a period because a new sentence begins with Now.

Answer

The word said should begin with a capital letter.

Answer

The comma after homework should be a period.

Answer

The quotation marks around now I can play should be removed.

Question 9

What mistake appears in this sentence? Ben said, "i lost my glove."

Accepted Answer

The quoted sentence must begin with a capital letter.

Answer

The speaker tag must come after the quotation.

Answer

The period must sit outside the quotation marks.

Answer

The comma must sit outside the quotation marks.

Question 10

What correction does this sentence need? "I'm coming", said Lily.

Accepted Answer

Move the comma inside the closing quotation mark.

Answer

Change the comma to a period.

Answer

Add a comma after the word said.

Answer

Begin the word said with a capital letter.

Question 11

What mistake appears in this sentence? The coach explained "practice starts at four o'clock."

Accepted Answer

There should be a comma after the word explained.

Answer

The word practice should be capitalized.

Answer

The period should sit outside the quotation marks.

Answer

The quotation marks should be removed.

Question 12

Ana said, "I lost my key." What do the quotation marks show?

Accepted Answer

Ana's exact spoken words

Answer

A summary of what Ana said

Answer

The title of something Ana wrote

Answer

A made-up story instead of what really happened

Question 13

Which sentence uses capital letters correctly?

Accepted Answer

Jo said, "My bike is fast."

Answer

Jo said, "my bike is fast."

Answer

Jo Said, "My bike is fast."

Answer

Jo said, "My Bike Is Fast."

Question 14

What mistake appears in this sentence? "Watch out for the puddle!" Yelled Sam.

Accepted Answer

The word Yelled should not be capitalized because it continues the sentence.

Answer

The exclamation point should sit outside the quotation marks.

Answer

There should be a comma after the word puddle.

Answer

The exclamation point should be a comma.

Question 15

What mistake appears in this sentence? Mr. Patel said "The fire drill starts at ten."

Accepted Answer

There should be a comma after the word said.

Answer

The quoted sentence must begin with a capital letter.

Answer

The comma should come after the word Patel instead.

Answer

The period must sit outside the closing quotation mark.

Question 16

What mistake appears in this sentence? "The bus is late", said Jamal.

Accepted Answer

The comma must sit inside the closing quotation mark.

Answer

The word said should begin with a capital letter.

Answer

The comma should be a period instead.

Answer

A comma is needed after the word Jamal.

Question 17

What mistake appears in this sentence? "That truck," Grandpa said "still runs."

Accepted Answer

There should be a comma after the word said.

Answer

The word still should begin with a capital letter.

Answer

The comma after truck should be removed.

Answer

The period must sit outside the closing quotation mark.

Question 18

What mistake appears in this sentence? According to the article "penguins huddle to stay warm."

Accepted Answer

There should be a comma after the word article.

Answer

The word penguins should be capitalized.

Answer

The period should sit outside the quotation marks.

Answer

The opening quotation mark should be removed.

Question 19

What mistake appears in this sentence? "Is the soup hot," asked Nell.

Accepted Answer

The comma should be a question mark because Nell's exact words are a question.

Answer

The word asked should begin with a capital letter.

Answer

The question mark should sit outside the quotation marks.

Answer

A comma is also needed after the word Nell.

Question 20

What mistake appears in this sentence? "We scored"! shouted Sam.

Accepted Answer

The exclamation point must sit inside the closing quotation mark.

Answer

The word shouted should begin with a capital letter.

Answer

A comma is needed after the word scored.

Answer

The exclamation point should be a comma.

Question 21

What mistake appears in this sentence? "The field," Coach Diaz said "is too wet."

Accepted Answer

There should be a comma after the word said.

Answer

The word is should begin with a capital letter.

Answer

The comma after field must sit outside the quotation mark.

Answer

The period must sit outside the closing quotation mark.

Question 22

Read this sentence: Lena told her brother that she was tired. Does it report Lena's exact spoken words or a summary of what she said?

Accepted Answer

A summary of what she said, so no quotation marks are needed.

Answer

Her exact words, so quotation marks are needed.

Answer

Her exact words, but the comma is in the wrong place.

Answer

A summary, but it still needs quotation marks.

Question 23

What mistake appears in this sentence? Dr. Lee said "Rest your ankle today."

Accepted Answer

There should be a comma after the word said.

Answer

The quoted sentence should not begin with a capital letter.

Answer

The period must sit outside the closing quotation mark.

Answer

The word said should begin with a capital letter.

Question 24

What mistake appears in this sentence? "Hurry up" called Rosa.

Accepted Answer

A comma is needed after the word up, inside the quotation marks.

Answer

The word called should begin with a capital letter.

Answer

A comma is needed after the word Rosa.

Answer

The quotation marks should be removed.

Question 25

Wes speaks two complete sentences. Which version punctuates them correctly?

Accepted Answer

"I finished the book," said Wes. "Now I need another one."

Answer

"I finished the book," said Wes, "now I need another one."

Answer

"I finished the book," said Wes, "Now I need another one".

Answer

"I finished the book" said Wes. "Now I need another one."

Question 26

What mistake appears in this sentence? Mr. Okafor said "Open your notebooks."

Accepted Answer

There should be a comma after the word said.

Answer

The word open should not be capitalized.

Answer

The period should sit outside the quotation marks.

Answer

The quotation marks should be removed.

Question 27

Which punctuation mark belongs in the blank, before the closing quotation mark? "The path is icy___" said Ida calmly.

Accepted Answer

A comma

Answer

A period

Answer

A question mark

Answer

No mark is needed

Question 28

Why does the second quoted part begin with a lowercase letter? "The storm," said Marisol, "knocked out the power."

Accepted Answer

It continues the same sentence Marisol started.

Answer

It begins a brand-new sentence of its own.

Answer

It is part of the speaker tag that names Marisol.

Answer

It is copied word for word from a book.

Question 29

What mistake appears in this sentence? The textbook explains "rivers carry soil to the sea."

Accepted Answer

There should be a comma after the word explains.

Answer

The word rivers should be capitalized.

Answer

The period should sit outside the quotation marks.

Answer

The opening quotation mark should be removed.

Question 30

What mistake appears in this sentence? Tomás asked "Are we there yet?"

Accepted Answer

There should be a comma after the word asked.

Answer

The quoted sentence should not begin with a capital letter.

Answer

The question mark must sit outside the quotation marks.

Answer

The comma must sit outside the quotation marks.

Question 31

What mistake appears in this sentence? "Everyone hide", whispered Uncle Ray.

Accepted Answer

The comma must sit inside the closing quotation mark.

Answer

The word whispered should begin with a capital letter.

Answer

The comma should be a period instead.

Answer

A comma is needed after the word Ray.

Question 32

What mistake appears in this sentence? According to the guide "the whale skeleton is ninety feet long."

Accepted Answer

There should be a comma after the word guide.

Answer

The word the should be capitalized.

Answer

The period should sit outside the quotation marks.

Answer

The sentence should not use quotation marks at all.

Question 33

What mistake appears in this sentence? "Hana said," I can hold the ladder.

Accepted Answer

The quotation marks should surround only Hana's exact words, not the words Hana said.

Answer

The comma should be a period instead, placed right after the word said.

Answer

The word said should begin with a capital letter at the start of the tag.

Answer

A comma is needed after the word ladder at the very end of the sentence.

Question 34

Which mark belongs in the blank? Ms. Ruiz said___ "Line up quietly."

Accepted Answer

A comma

Answer

A period

Answer

A question mark

Answer

No mark is needed

Question 35

Which mark belongs in the blank at the end? "Let's go," said Tara___

Accepted Answer

A period

Answer

A comma

Answer

A question mark

Answer

No mark is needed

Question 36

The pair of marks placed around a speaker's exact words are called ___ marks.

Accepted Answer

quotation

Answer

question

Answer

exclamation

Answer

dialogue

Question 37

True or false? In the sentence Dad said "Come here." a comma is missing after the word said.

Accepted Answer

True

Answer

False

Question 38

True or false? In the sentence "I'm tired," said Omar. the word said is correctly written with a lowercase letter.

Accepted Answer

True

Answer

False

Question 39

True or false? In the sentence "The rain stopped", said Nico. the comma is correctly placed inside the closing quotation mark.

Accepted Answer

False

Answer

True

Question 40

What mistake appears in this sentence? The handbook says "students may borrow two books."

Accepted Answer

There should be a comma after the word says.

Answer

The word students should be capitalized.

Answer

The period should sit outside the quotation marks.

Answer

The opening quotation mark should be removed.

BLASTROOM

BLASTROOM

BLASTROOM

Commas and Quotation Marks in Dialogue and Direct Quotations

Ways to Play

Device Games: Students play on their phones

Blast Go

Board Games: Teacher-led, projected to the class

Like what you see?

Zombie Escape

Avalanche

Maze Blast

Cave Climb

Blast Out

Mystery Auction

Tour Guide

Food Truck Rush

Tug of War

Bug Blast

Alien Blast

Glacier Rush

BlastRace

BlastQuiz

BlastBoard

Seek & Destroy

Mystery Blast

Checkers

Texas Hold 'Em

Da Bomb

Castle Siege

Hot Potato

Market Mayhem

King of the Hill

Bank Heist

Top Corner

Commas and Quotation Marks in Dialogue and Direct Quotations

Ways to Play

Device Games: Students play on their phones

Blast Go

Board Games: Teacher-led, projected to the class

Like what you see?

More like this

Zombie Escape

Avalanche

Maze Blast

Cave Climb

Blast Out

Mystery Auction

Tour Guide

Food Truck Rush

Tug of War

Bug Blast

Alien Blast

Glacier Rush

BlastRace

BlastQuiz

BlastBoard

Seek & Destroy

Mystery Blast

Checkers

Texas Hold 'Em

Da Bomb

Castle Siege

Hot Potato

Market Mayhem

King of the Hill

Bank Heist

Top Corner