Dialogue and Quotation Marks — Answer Key
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
"are you coming?" Maya asked.
Corrected: "Are you coming?" Maya asked.
The first word of a quoted sentence is capitalized just like any other sentence beginning.
2. Fix the sentence:
"Watch out"! shouted Dad.
Corrected: "Watch out!" shouted Dad.
The exclamation point belongs to the quoted shout, so it goes inside the quotes.
3. Fix the sentence:
She asked "where are you going?"
Corrected: She asked, "Where are you going?"
A comma separates the speaker tag from the quotation, and quoted sentences start with a capital.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. "Where is my book ?" Tara asked while searching her desk.
Question marks go inside the quotes when the quoted words form a question.
2. "Look out !" yelled the coach as the ball flew past.
Exclamation points show shouting and belong inside the closing quotation mark.
3. Ben asked , "Did you finish your homework yet?"
A comma separates a dialogue tag from the quoted sentence that follows it.
4. "How exciting!" cried Mia when she saw the puppy.
Quoted sentences begin with a capital just like any other sentence.
Part C: Short Answer
Answer each question in one or two complete sentences.
1. Why does the question mark go inside the quotation marks in: "Are you ready?" she asked.
Sample answer: The question is part of what she said, so the question mark belongs to the quoted words and goes inside the closing quotation mark.
End marks belong inside quotes when the quoted words themselves form the question or exclamation.
2. Rewrite this correctly: she shouted stop right there
Sample answer: She shouted, "Stop right there!"
Dialogue needs a tag comma, capitalization, quotation marks, and end punctuation inside the quotes.