Quotation Marks in Dialogue and Possessive Apostrophes — Answers
Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the 3rd Grade punctuation worksheet.
Success TutoringWorksheetsAnswer sheet3rd Grade · English · PunctuationQuotation Marks in Dialogue and Possessive Apostrophes — Answers
Part A: Which one is right?
Quotation marks (" ") go around the exact words someone says. Circle the sentence that is punctuated correctly.
- A"Pass the salt, please," said Dad.
- B"Pass the salt, please" said Dad.
- C"Pass the salt, please", said Dad.
- DPass the salt, please, "said Dad."
Answer: "Pass the salt, please," said Dad.
The quotation marks go around the spoken words, and the comma goes inside the closing quotation mark.
- AMia shouted, "wait for me!"
- BMia shouted, "Wait for me!"
- CMia shouted "Wait for me"!
- DMia shouted, Wait for me!
Answer: Mia shouted, "Wait for me!"
A comma comes after "shouted," the first spoken word has a capital letter, and the exclamation point is inside the quotation marks.
- A"Is it raining?" asked Zack.
- B"Is it raining"? asked Zack.
- C"Is it raining," asked Zack?
- DIs it raining? "asked Zack."
Answer: "Is it raining?" asked Zack.
The question mark belongs to the spoken words, so it goes inside the quotation marks.
- AThe teacher said, "Open your books".
- BThe teacher said, "Open your books."
- CThe teacher said "open your books."
- DThe teacher said, 'Open your books.'
Answer: The teacher said, "Open your books."
In American English, use double quotation marks, and put the period inside the closing quotation mark.
Part B: Add the quotation marks
Rewrite each sentence with quotation marks around the spoken words. Keep the comma, question mark, or exclamation point inside the closing quotation mark.
Answer: "I love the beach," said Ava.
Answer: Mr. Lopez asked, "Who can help me?"
Answer: "Hurry up!" called Mom.
Answer: "The bus is late again," said Liam.
Part C: Show who owns it
For one owner, add 's (the dog's bone). For more than one owner ending in s, add only ' (the dogs' bowls). Write each one the short way.
- Athe cats bowl
- Bthe cat's bowl
- Cthe cats' bowl
- Dthe cat,s bowl
Answer: the cat's bowl
For one owner, add an apostrophe and s: cat's.
Answer: the dog's toy
Answer: my sister's room
Answer: the girls' hats
Girls already ends in s, so add only an apostrophe.
Answer: the birds' nest
Birds already ends in s, so add only an apostrophe.
Answer: the children's books
Children does not end in s, so add an apostrophe and s.
Part D: True or false?
Circle True or False.
Answer: True
Answer: False
It goes inside: "Open your books."
Answer: True
Answer: False
Two dogs is plural and ends in s, so write the dogs' bowl.
Part E: Write a conversation
Model answer: "Do you want to play kickball?" asked Ruby. "I'd rather play tag," said Noah. "Let's play kickball first and tag after," Ruby said. "Deal!" said Noah.
Success criteria:
- At least four lines of speech
- Double quotation marks around every spoken part
- A capital letter at the start of each piece of speech
- A comma, period, question mark, or exclamation point inside the closing quotation mark
- A new line for each new speaker
Marking tips
- Give credit for correct method even when the final answer slips — the working shows where the thinking went right.
- For open-ended tasks, use the success criteria as a checklist rather than looking for one "right" answer.
- Celebrate what went well first, then pick one thing to work on next.