Quotation Marks at the Quiz Bowl

Use commas and quotation marks to show what people say and to quote a text.

Show what people say

Put quotation marks around a speaker's exact words. When the speaker tag (such as Coach Ortiz said) comes first, put a comma after it. When the speaker tag comes last, put a comma inside the closing quotation marks. If the spoken words are a question, use a question mark instead of that comma. The end mark of the spoken words always goes inside the quotation marks.

The quiz bowl team at Cedar Hill School practices every Thursday. Coach Ortiz reads the questions, and Priya, Jamal and Wen race to answer them.

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

A. Coach Ortiz said "Hands on your buzzers."B. Coach Ortiz said, Hands on your buzzers."C. Coach Ortiz said, "Hands on your buzzers."D. Coach Ortiz said, "Hands on your buzzers".

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

A. "I know this one," said Wen.B. "I know this one" said Wen.C. "I know this one", said Wen.D. "I know this one." said Wen.

This sentence needs quotation marks. Underline the exact words that Jamal says.

Write the missing punctuation mark in each blank: a comma (,) or a question mark (?).

"Which planet is closest to the sun" asked Coach Ortiz.
Priya answered "Mercury is the closest planet."
"That is correct" said Coach Ortiz.

Some of these sentences tell a speaker's exact words. Sort the sentences: which ones need quotation marks?

Quote from a text

The team uses study cards to get ready. When you copy words from a text, put quotation marks around them and keep every word exactly as it is written. Put a comma after words such as The card says that come before the quotation.

Study Card: Monarch Butterflies
Monarch caterpillars eat the leaves of milkweed plants. Adult monarchs drink nectar from flowers. Each fall, many monarchs in eastern North America fly south to Mexico.

Which sentence quotes the study card correctly?

A. The card says, "Adult monarchs drink nectar from flowers".B. The card says "Adult monarchs drink nectar from flowers."C. The card says, "Adult monarchs drink water from flowers."D. The card says, "Adult monarchs drink nectar from flowers."

Write the missing punctuation mark in each blank: a comma (,) or a period (.).

Priya read from the card "Each fall, many monarchs in eastern North America fly south to Mexico"

Jamal copied this sentence into his notes.
The card says, "Monarch caterpillars eat milkweed."
What mistake did Jamal make?

A. He left out the comma after the word says.B. He did not copy the exact words from the card.C. He put the period outside the quotation marks.D. He forgot to put quotation marks around the words.

Put it all together

Use what you know about commas and quotation marks.

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

A. "Do monarchs really fly to Mexico," asked Wen.B. "Do monarchs really fly to Mexico"? asked Wen.C. "Do monarchs really fly to Mexico?" asked Wen.D. "Do monarchs really fly to Mexico?," asked Wen.

10.

Which sentence uses quotation marks correctly?

A. Priya said that "she liked the butterfly questions best."B. Priya said, "I liked the butterfly questions best."C. Priya said, "that she liked the butterfly questions best."D. Priya said, I liked the butterfly questions best."

11.

Jamal said these exact words: We make a great team. Write a sentence that shows what Jamal said. Use a comma and quotation marks.

12.

Write a sentence that quotes one sentence from the study card. Use a comma and quotation marks.