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Punctuating Dialogue: Split Quotations and New Speakers — Answers

Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the 4th Grade punctuation worksheet.

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Success TutoringWorksheetsAnswer sheet4th Grade · English · Punctuation

Punctuating Dialogue: Split Quotations and New Speakers — Answers

Part A: Which one is right?

A speaker tag tells who is talking (said Mom, asked Jay). It can come before, after, or in the middle of the spoken words. Circle the correctly punctuated sentence.

1.Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
  1. A"If you hurry," said Coach, "you can still catch the bus."
  2. B"If you hurry" said Coach "you can still catch the bus."
  3. C"If you hurry," said Coach, "You can still catch the bus."
  4. D"If you hurry, said Coach, you can still catch the bus."

Answer: "If you hurry," said Coach, "you can still catch the bus."

The sentence is split in the middle, so a comma goes inside the first closing quotation mark, another after the speaker tag, and the second part starts with a lowercase letter because it continues the same sentence.

2.Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
  1. A"I finished my project", said Nadia.
  2. B"I finished my project," said Nadia.
  3. C"I finished my project." said Nadia.
  4. D"I finished my project," Said Nadia.

Answer: "I finished my project," said Nadia.

The comma goes inside the closing quotation mark, and said is lowercase because the sentence continues.

3.Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
  1. A"That was amazing!" shouted Eli. "Let's do it again!"
  2. B"That was amazing"! shouted Eli. "Let's do it again"!
  3. C"That was amazing!" shouted Eli, "let's do it again!"
  4. D"That was amazing!" Shouted Eli. "Let's do it again!"

Answer: "That was amazing!" shouted Eli. "Let's do it again!"

Two complete sentences are spoken. The exclamation points go inside the quotation marks, and the second sentence starts with a capital letter.

4.Where does the question mark go? Grandpa asked, "Who wants pancakes__"
  1. Ainside the closing quotation mark
  2. Boutside the closing quotation mark
  3. Cafter asked
  4. DThere is no question mark.

Answer: inside the closing quotation mark

Grandpa's words are the question, so the question mark goes inside: "Who wants pancakes?"

Part B: Punctuate the dialogue

Add quotation marks, commas, end marks, and capital letters. If the second part continues the same sentence, start it with a lowercase letter. If it is a new sentence, put a period after the speaker tag and start the second part with a capital letter.

5.We could plant tomatoes said Ms. Ortiz or maybe peppers.

Answer: "We could plant tomatoes," said Ms. Ortiz, "or maybe peppers."

This is one sentence split by the speaker tag, so "or" stays lowercase.

6.The library closes at six said Dad. We should leave now.

Answer: "The library closes at six," said Dad. "We should leave now."

Dad says two sentences, so a period follows the speaker tag and "We" starts with a capital letter.

7.Did you see the comet asked Priya.

Answer: "Did you see the comet?" asked Priya.

The question mark replaces the comma and goes inside the closing quotation mark.

8.When I grow up said Omar I want to be a pilot.

Answer: "When I grow up," said Omar, "I want to be a pilot."

"I" is always a capital letter, even in the middle of a sentence.

Part C: New speaker, new paragraph

9.The writer wants to show that a new person is speaking. What should the writer do?
  1. AKeep writing on the same line.
  2. BStart a new paragraph.
  3. CUse single quotation marks.
  4. DLeave out the speaker tag.

Answer: Start a new paragraph.

Each time the speaker changes, start a new paragraph (indent it) so readers can follow who is talking.

10.Rewrite as two paragraphs: "Is your dog friendly?" asked the girl. "Very friendly," said Mr. Hall. "His name is Rusty."

Answer: "Is your dog friendly?" asked the girl. "Very friendly," said Mr. Hall. "His name is Rusty."

The girl's words are one paragraph. Mr. Hall's words, both sentences, are a new paragraph.

Part D: True or false?

Circle True or False.

11.In American English, a comma at the end of spoken words goes inside the closing quotation mark.

Answer: True

12.In a split quotation that continues one sentence, the second part starts with a capital letter.

Answer: False

It starts with a lowercase letter unless the word is a name or I: "If you hurry," said Coach, "you can still catch the bus."

13.You start a new paragraph every time the speaker changes.

Answer: True

14.A question mark always goes outside the quotation marks.

Answer: False

When the spoken words are the question, the question mark goes inside.

Part E: Your turn

15.Write a short scene in which two characters find something surprising. Use at least four lines of dialogue, including one split quotation with the speaker tag in the middle. Start a new paragraph for each new speaker.

Model answer: "Look at this," whispered Jada. "There's a tiny door at the bottom of the tree." "Do you think," asked Mateo, "that something lives in there?" "Only one way to find out!" said Jada. "Wait," said Mateo. "Let's knock first."

Success criteria:

  • At least four lines of dialogue
  • One split quotation punctuated correctly (commas around the speaker tag, lowercase second part when the sentence continues)
  • Commas, periods, question marks, and exclamation points inside the closing quotation marks
  • A new paragraph for each new speaker
  • Speaker tags are varied (said, asked, whispered…)
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