Fill in the Blank
“I love pizza___” Mia said.
A comma
Correct sentence: “I love pizza,” Mia said.
Maya said, I am ready.
Quotation marks
Correct sentence: Maya said, “I am ready.”
What punctuation marks show the exact words a character says?
"Quotation marks"
Fix this sentence: “hello,” said Mia.
“Hello,” said Mia.
The first word of the spoken sentence needs a capital letter.
In the sentence “I don't care,” Mia muttered, which word tells us how Mia spoke?
“Muttered.”
“Where are you going___” asked Ben.
A question mark
Correct sentence: “Where are you going?” asked Ben.
“Come with me” Liam said.
A comma
Correct sentence: “Come with me,” Liam said.
What is a dialogue tag? Give one example.
Words that identify who is speaking, such as “she said,” “he asked,” or “they shouted.”
Fix this sentence: “I found the map”. Ben said.
“I found the map,” Ben said.
The period changes to a comma because the dialogue tag follows.
“Don't touch that!” Jay yelled. What does the exclamation point suggest?
Strong emotion, urgency, excitement, or a loud warning.
“Watch out___” yelled Ava.
An exclamation point
Correct sentence: “Watch out!” yelled Ava.
“Did you hear that.” Ava asked.
A question mark instead of a period
Correct sentence: “Did you hear that?” Ava asked.
When should you start a new paragraph during a conversation?
When a different character begins speaking.
Fix this sentence: “Why are you here,” asked Ava.
“Why are you here?” asked Ava.
A question mark belongs at the end of the question.
Read the dialogue:
“You came back,” Mia whispered.
“I promised I would,” Jay replied.
What might this conversation tell us about the characters' relationship?
They may have a close relationship, Jay made a promise, and Mia may have been worried he wouldn't return.
Noah said, ___I found the missing key.___
Quotation marks
Correct sentence: Noah said, “I found the missing key.”
“I found the map,” Ben said. “It was under the bed,” Ava replied.
Both characters' dialogue appears in the same paragraph. What is missing?
A paragraph break before Ava speaks.
Each time a different character speaks, start a new paragraph.
Where does the comma go in this sentence?
“I'm tired” Emma said.
Inside the closing quotation marks, before the dialogue tag.
Fix this sentence: “Stop”! Noah shouted.
“Stop!” Noah shouted.
The exclamation point belongs inside the quotation marks.
Which example makes you more curious about the story, and why?
A: “Hi,” said Mia.
“Hi,” said Jay.
B: “You opened it without me?” Sam asked.
“I thought you said you were scared,” Alex replied.
B, because it suggests conflict and raises questions about what was opened and why the characters disagree. Students should explain their reasoning.
“I can't believe we won___” shouted Lily.
An exclamation point
Correct sentence: “I can't believe we won!” shouted Lily.
“I found it! Mia shouted.
A closing quotation mark
Correct sentence: “I found it!” Mia shouted.
Name two reasons writers include dialogue in a narrative.
To reveal character, show feelings or relationships, share information, develop conflict, or move the plot forward.
Any two are correct.
Fix this passage: “I think we're lost” said Ava. “No we're not” replied Ben “I know the way”
“I think we're lost,” said Ava.
“No, we're not,” replied Ben. “I know the way.”
Students should identify the missing commas, quotation marks, and periods, and separate the speakers into different paragraphs.
Rewrite this sentence to make the dialogue more interesting by adding an action beat:
“I'm scared,” Liam said.
Liam gripped his flashlight. “I'm scared.”