Worked example
Which sentence is punctuated as direct speech?
Answer & why
Answer: Mia said, “I found it.”
The speaker's words are inside quotation marks, with a comma after said.
Grade 4 · Reading & language
Punctuate direct speech
Use quotation marks and punctuation to distinguish spoken words from a speaker tag.
8 authored questions + worked example
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All questions
All 8 authored questions for this skill.
Question 1
Which sentence correctly shows a spoken question before its speaker?
- “Is it ready?” Nia asked.
- Mia said I found it.”
- “I can help, Ben said.
- Kim said “Please sit here.
A hint
Find the exact spoken words first, then put quotation marks around them.
Answer & why
Answer: “Is it ready?” Nia asked.
The question mark remains inside the quotation, followed by the speaker tag.
Question 2
Which sentence correctly uses quotation marks for spoken words?
- Kim said “Please sit here.
- Mia said I found it.”
- Ravi asked, “Where is the gate.
- “Thank you,” Sam said.
A hint
Find the exact spoken words first, then put quotation marks around them.
Answer & why
Answer: “Thank you,” Sam said.
The spoken words are enclosed by quotation marks.
Question 3
Which sentence is punctuated as direct speech?
- Mia said, “I found it.”
- Ravi asked, “Where is the gate.
- Mia said I found it.”
- “I can help, Ben said.
A hint
Find the exact spoken words first, then put quotation marks around them.
Answer & why
Answer: Mia said, “I found it.”
The speaker's words are inside quotation marks, with a comma after said.
Question 4
Which sentence correctly marks a spoken question?
- Kim said “Please sit here.
- Ravi asked, “Where is the gate.
- “I can help, Ben said.
- Ravi asked, “Where is the gate?”
A hint
Find the exact spoken words first, then put quotation marks around them.
Answer & why
Answer: Ravi asked, “Where is the gate?”
The question mark belongs inside the quotation because the spoken words ask a question.
Question 5
Which sentence correctly marks a spoken exclamation?
- “I can help, Ben said.
- Kim said “Please sit here.
- Mia said I found it.”
- Jo called, “Look up!”
A hint
Find the exact spoken words first, then put quotation marks around them.
Answer & why
Answer: Jo called, “Look up!”
The exclamation mark is part of the quoted words.
Question 6
Which sentence correctly marks spoken words?
- Ravi asked, “Where is the gate.
- Ari said, “The bus is here.”
- Kim said “Please sit here.
- Mia said I found it.”
A hint
Find the exact spoken words first, then put quotation marks around them.
Answer & why
Answer: Ari said, “The bus is here.”
Quotation marks enclose exactly what Ari says.
Question 7
Which sentence correctly shows a speaker before a quotation?
- Mia said I found it.”
- Kim said, “Please sit here.”
- “I can help, Ben said.
- Ravi asked, “Where is the gate.
A hint
Find the exact spoken words first, then put quotation marks around them.
Answer & why
Answer: Kim said, “Please sit here.”
The comma separates the reporting clause from the quoted words.
Question 8
Which sentence correctly shows a quotation before its speaker?
- Kim said “Please sit here.
- “I can help, Ben said.
- “I can help,” Ben said.
- Ravi asked, “Where is the gate.
A hint
Find the exact spoken words first, then put quotation marks around them.
Answer & why
Answer: “I can help,” Ben said.
The comma stays inside the closing quotation mark before the speaker tag.