Name: _______________________________________________________________

Date: _____________________

QUOTATION MARKS
Use double quotation marks
1. to set off quoted material: In the play, Hamlet inquires, To be or not to be.
2. to set off dialogue: I do, Alice hastily replied.
3. to stress or identify words: She said this area was her bread and butter.
4. to imply sarcasm: The conversation resulted in a black-eye.
5. to identify TV Episodes, Poems, Stories, Essays, Chapters: I love the poem, A Dream Deferred.
Use double quotation marks
6. to identify a quote within a quote: I said, I never want to speak to you again! Juan explained.
Punctuation * * * * * * * * * * * *
1.
2.
3.

Put commas/periods before quotation marks, except when parenthetical follows: Hamlet inquires, To be or not to be (31).
Place colons/semicolons outside closed quotation marks: He described it as "a definitive step forward"; others disagreed.
Place a question mark or exclamation point within closing quotation marks if the punctuation applies to the quotation itself.
Place the punctuation outside the closing quotation marks if the punctuation applies to the whole sentence.
Phillip asked, "Do you need this book?" / Does Dr. Lim always say to her students, "You must work harder"?

Choose the sentence in which the quotation is correctly punctuated.

1.

a. Well, she said, you certainly didnt waste any time.

b. Well, she said, you certainly didnt waste any time.
c. Well, she said, you certainly didnt waste any time.

2.

a. Is it almost over? he asked.

b. Is it almost over, he asked?
c. Is it almost over, he asked?

3.

a. She screamed, Ive had it up to here!.

b. She screamed, Ive had it up to here!
c. She screamed, Ive had it up to here!

4.

a. Do you believe the saying, A penny saved is a penny earned?

b. Do you believe the saying, A penny saved is a penny earned?
c. Do you believe the saying, A penny saved is a penny earned.?

5.

a. The song asks, Would you like to swing on a star?.

b. The song asks, Would you like to swing on a star?
c. The song asks, Would you like to swing on a star?

6.

a. Carmen said, I think Ring the Alarm is a great song.

b. Carmen said, I think Ring the Alarm is a great song.
c. Carmen said, I think Ring the Alarm is a great song.

7.

a. May I have a rain check on that lunch, I asked?

b. May I have a rain check on that lunch, I asked?
c. May I have a rain check on that lunch? I asked.

8.

a. "Do you want to play baseball during recess," Bob asked.

b. "Do you want to play baseball during recess?" Bob asked.
c. "Do you want to play baseball during recess? Bob asked.

9.

a. "Our neighbor reported I watched a fascinating program on sharks."

b. Our neighbor reported, "I watched a fascinating program on sharks."
c. Our neighbor reported "I watched a fascinating program on sharks."

10. a. "This movie," Robin said "is really exciting."

b. "This movie" Robin said, "is really exciting."
c. "This movie, "Robin said, "is really exciting."
11. a. "When can I see your science project?" Steve asked.
b. "When can I see your science project," Steve asked.
c. "When can I see your science project" Steve asked.
12. a. "This building is a city landmark" Jeff explained.
b. "This building is a city landmark," Jeff explained.
c. "This building is a city landmark," Jeff explained
13. a. "Do not," the museum guide warned, "touch the displays."
b. Do not the museum guide warned, "touch the displays."
c. "Do not" the museum guide warned, "touch the displays."
14. a. Captain Lee said, "My next voyage will be to the Bahamas."
b. Captain Lee said, "my next voyage will be to the Bahamas."
c. Captain Lee said "My next voyage will be to the Bahamas."
15. a. Simone asked, "Did you just get home?"
b. Simone asked "Did you just get home?"
c. Simone asked, "did you just get home?"
16. a. "What activities have been planned," Emily inquired.
b. "What activities have been planned" Emily inquired?
c. "What activities have been planned?" Emily inquired.
17. a. "The new schedule," announced Marilyn, "will begin tomorrow."
b. The new schedule, announced Marilyn, "Will begin tomorrow."
c. "The new schedule," announced Marilyn "will begin tomorrow."
18. a. "I can", Stephen volunteered "come an hour early to help."
b. "I can," Stephen volunteered, "come an hour early to help."
c. "I can," Stephen volunteered, "Come an hour early to help."
19. a. Michael announced, "I think I'll run for class president."
b. Michael announced "I think I'll run for class president".
c. Michael announced "I think I'll run for class president."
20. a. "How," asked Michael's sister, "can I help you campaign"?
b. "How," asked Michael's sister, "Can I help you campaign?"
c. "How," asked Michael's sister, "can I help you campaign?"
21. a. "I'll need to create several large posters," answered Michael.
b. "I'll need to create several large posters", answered Michael.
c. I'll need to create several large posters, answered Michael.
22. a. Perhaps suggested Michael's dad, "we can all help."
b. "Perhaps," suggested Michael's dad "we can all help."
c. "Perhaps," suggested Michael's dad, "we can all help."
23. a. "Let's get started this evening" said Michael's mom.
b. "Let's get started this evening," said Michael's mom.
c. "Let's get sarted this evening?" said Michael's mom.
24. a. Simone asked, "Did you just get home?"
b. Simone asked "Did you just get home?"
c. Simone asked, "Did you just get home"?

25. a. "What if," my father worried, "I can't find the car keys?"
b. What if my father worred, "I can't find the car keys?"
c. "What if," my father worried "I can't find the car keys."
26. a. "Is it easier," I asked, "for me to come to your house?"
b. "Is it easier" I asked, "for me to come to your house?"
c. Is it easier, I asked, "for me to come to your house?"
27. a. "Do you want to play baseball during recess," Bob asked.
b. "Do you want to play baseball during recess?" Bob asked.
c. "Do you want to play baseball during recess? Bob asked.
28. a. "This movie," Robin said "is really exciting."
b. "This movie" Robin said, "is really exciting."
c. "This movie," Robin said, "is really exciting."
29. a. "Do not," the museum guide warned, "touch the displays."
b. Do not the museum guide warned, "touch the displays."
c. "Do not" the museum guide warned, "Touch the displays."
30. a. Captain Lee said, "My next voyage will be to the Bahamas."
b. Captain Lee said, "my next voyage will be to the Bahamas."
c. Captain Lee said "My next voyage will be to the Bahamas."
In the following sentences, put in commas and quotation marks wherever they are needed. Some sentences may be correct.
1. Mary is trying hard in school this semester her father said.
2. No the taxi driver said curtly I cannot get you to the airport in fifteen minutes.
3. I believe Jack remarked that the best time of year to visit Europe is in the spring.
4. My French professor told me that my accent is abominable.
5. She asked Is Time a magazine you read regularly?
6. Flannery O'Connor probably got the title of one of her stories from the old popular song A Good Man Is Hard to Find.
7. When did Roosevelt say We have nothing to fear but fear itself?
8. Yesterday John said This afternoon I'll bring back your book Conflict in the Middle East; however he did not return it.
9. Can you believe Jim asked me that it has been almost five years since we've seen each other?
10. A Perfect Day for Bananafish is I believe J. D. Salinger's best short story.
11. Certainly Mr. Martin said I shall explain the whole situation to him. I know that he will understand.

Name: _______________________________________________________________

Date: _____________________

QUOTATION MARKS (ANSWER KEY)

Use double quotation marks
1. to set off quoted material: In the play, Hamlet inquires, To be or not to be.
2. to set off dialogue: I do, Alice hastily replied.
3. to stress or identify words: She said this area was her bread and butter.
4. to imply sarcasm: The conversation resulted in a black-eye.
5. to identify TV Episodes, Poems, Stories, Essays, Chapters: I love the poem, A Dream Deferred.
Use double quotation marks
6. to identify a quote within a quote: I said, I never want to speak to you again! Juan explained.
Punctuation * * * * * * * * * * * *
1.
2.
3.

Put commas/periods before quotation marks, except when parenthetical follows: Hamlet inquires, To be or not to be (31).
Place colons/semicolons outside closed quotation marks: He described it as "a definitive step forward"; others disagreed.
Place a question mark or exclamation point within closing quotation marks if the punctuation applies to the quotation itself.
Place the punctuation outside the closing quotation marks if the punctuation applies to the whole sentence.
Phillip asked, "Do you need this book?" / Does Dr. Lim always say to her students, "You must work harder"?

Choose the sentence in which the quotation is correctly punctuated.

1.

a. Well, she said, you certainly didnt waste any time.

b. Well, she said, you certainly didnt waste any time.
c. Well, she said, you certainly didnt waste any time.

2.

a. Is it almost over? he asked.

b. Is it almost over, he asked?
c. Is it almost over, he asked?

3.

a. She screamed, Ive had it up to here!.

b. She screamed, Ive had it up to here!
c. She screamed, Ive had it up to here!

4.

a. Do you believe the saying, A penny saved is a penny earned?

b. Do you believe the saying, A penny saved is a penny earned?
c. Do you believe the saying, A penny saved is a penny earned.?

5.

a. The song asks, Would you like to swing on a star?.

b. The song asks, Would you like to swing on a star?
c. The song asks, Would you like to swing on a star?

6.

a. Carmen said, I think Ring the Alarm is a great song.

b. Carmen said, I think Ring the Alarm is a great song.
c. Carmen said, I think Ring the Alarm is a great song.

7.

a. May I have a rain check on that lunch, I asked?

b. May I have a rain check on that lunch, I asked?
c. May I have a rain check on that lunch? I asked.

8.

a. "Do you want to play baseball during recess," Bob asked.

b. "Do you want to play baseball during recess?" Bob asked.
c. "Do you want to play baseball during recess? Bob asked.

9.

a. "Our neighbor reported I watched a fascinating program on sharks."

d. Our neighbor reported, "I watched a fascinating program on sharks."
e. Our neighbor reported "I watched a fascinating program on sharks."

10. a. "This movie," Robin said "is really exciting."

b. "This movie" Robin said, "is really exciting."
c. "This movie, "Robin said, "is really exciting."
11. a. "When can I see your science project?" Steve asked.
b. "When can I see your science project," Steve asked.
c. "When can I see your science project" Steve asked.
12. a. "This building is a city landmark" Jeff explained.
b. "This building is a city landmark," Jeff explained.
c. "This building is a city landmark," Jeff explained
13. a. "Do not," the museum guide warned, "touch the displays."
b. Do not the museum guide warned, "touch the displays."
c. "Do not" the museum guide warned, "touch the displays."
14. a. Captain Lee said, "My next voyage will be to the Bahamas."
b. Captain Lee said, "my next voyage will be to the Bahamas."
c. Captain Lee said "My next voyage will be to the Bahamas."
15. a. Simone asked, "Did you just get home?"
b. Simone asked "Did you just get home?"
c. Simone asked, "did you just get home?"
16. a. "What activities have been planned," Emily inquired.
b. "What activities have been planned" Emily inquired?
c. "What activities have been planned?" Emily inquired.
17. a. "The new schedule," announced Marilyn, "will begin tomorrow."
b. The new schedule, announced Marilyn, "Will begin tomorrow."
c. "The new schedule," announced Marilyn "will begin tomorrow."
18. a. "I can", Stephen volunteered "come an hour early to help."
b. "I can," Stephen volunteered, "come an hour early to help."
c. "I can," Stephen volunteered, "Come an hour early to help."
19. a. Michael announced, "I think I'll run for class president."
b. Michael announced "I think I'll run for class president".
c. Michael announced "I think I'll run for class president."
20. a. "How," asked Michael's sister, "can I help you campaign"?
b. "How," asked Michael's sister, "Can I help you campaign?"
c. "How," asked Michael's sister, "can I help you campaign?"
21. a. "I'll need to create several large posters," answered Michael.
b. "I'll need to create several large posters", answered Michael.
c. I'll need to create several large posters, answered Michael.
22. a. Perhaps suggested Michael's dad, "we can all help."
b. "Perhaps," suggested Michael's dad "we can all help."
c. "Perhaps," suggested Michael's dad, "we can all help."
23. a. "Let's get started this evening" said Michael's mom.
b. "Let's get started this evening," said Michael's mom.
c. "Let's get sarted this evening?" said Michael's mom.
24. a. Simone asked, "Did you just get home?"
b. Simone asked "Did you just get home?"
c. Simone asked, "Did you just get home"?

25. a. "What if," my father worried, "I can't find the car keys?"
b. What if my father worred, "I can't find the car keys?"
c. "What if," my father worried "I can't find the car keys."
26. a. "Is it easier," I asked, "for me to come to your house?"
b. "Is it easier" I asked, "for me to come to your house?"
c. Is it easier, I asked, "for me to come to your house?"
27. a. "Do you want to play baseball during recess," Bob asked.
b. "Do you want to play baseball during recess?" Bob asked.
c. "Do you want to play baseball during recess? Bob asked.
28. a. "This movie," Robin said "is really exciting."
b. "This movie" Robin said, "is really exciting."
c. "This movie," Robin said, "is really exciting."
29. a. "Do not," the museum guide warned, "touch the displays."
b. Do not the museum guide warned, "touch the displays."
c. "Do not" the museum guide warned, "Touch the displays."
30. a. Captain Lee said, "My next voyage will be to the Bahamas."
b. Captain Lee said, "my next voyage will be to the Bahamas."
c. Captain Lee said "My next voyage will be to the Bahamas."
In the following sentences, put in commas and quotation marks wherever they are needed. Some sentences may be correct.
1. "Mary is trying hard in school this semester," her father said.
2. "No," the taxi driver said curtly, "I cannot get you to the airport in fifteen minutes."
3. "I believe," Jack remarked, "that the best time of year to visit Europe is in the spring. At least that's what I read in
a book entitled Guide to Europe."
4. My French professor told me that my accent is abominable.
5. She asked, "Is Time a magazine you read regularly?"
6. Flannery O'Connor probably got the title of one of her stories from the words of the old popular song, "A Good
Man Is Hard to Find."
7. When did Roosevelt say, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself"?
8. Yesterday, John said, "This afternoon I'll bring back your book Conflict in the Middle East"; however, he did not
return it.
9. "Can you believe," Dot asked me, "that it has been almost five years since we've seen each other?"
10. "A Perfect Day for Bananafish" is, I believe, J. D. Salinger's best short story.
11. "Certainly," Mr. Martin said, "I shall explain the whole situation to him. I know that he will understand."