Tag: inverted commas/quotation marks

Questions Related to inverted commas/quotation marks

Choose the option which correctly punctuates the sentence:

Be still, she said, "and let me help you climb back up."

inverted commas/quotation marks punctuation english

  1. Be still, she said, and let me help you climb back up.

  2. "Be still, she said, and let me help you climb back up."

  3. "Be still," she said, "and let me help you climb back up."

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:
Quotation marks are used to indicate material that is being reproduced word for word. Thus, the correct answer should be Option C.
Option A is incorrect because the speech is not enclosed within quotation marks.
Option B is incorrect because quotation marks end when the direct speech ends and restart when the direct speech begins.
Option D does not include all of the direct speech within quotation marks.

"Let me go!" she screamed, fighting off her mother.

Choose the option that best corrects the underlined words.

inverted commas/quotation marks punctuation english

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. Let me go, she screamed, fighting off her mother.

  3. "Let me go!" she screamed, "fighting off her mother."

  4. Let me go, she screamed, "fighting off her mother."

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:
Quotation marks are used to indicate material that is being reproduced word for word. In the given sentence, only the first part of the sentence is in direct form of speech and it should be enclosed within quotations. Thus, according to the rules, the correct answer is Option A, no change.
Option B does not enclose the direct speech within quotation marks.
Option C and D are incorrect because the part of the sentence that is not direct is also enclosed within quotation marks.

The phrase, lovely, dark and deep, suggests a change in the poem.

Choose the option that best corrects the underlined words.

inverted commas/quotation marks punctuation english

  1. phrase - lovely, dark and deep,

  2. phrase, "lovely, dark and deep,"

  3. phrase ... lovely, dark and deep ...

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: B
Explanation:
Quotation marks are used when we want to use someone else's words in our writing. In the given sentence, a particular phrase has been taken from a poem. This phrase must be enclosed within quotation marks while citing in any sentence. Thus, the correct form of writing the phrase will be, as given in Option B.
Option A - An en dash is used to represent a range of numbers or compound adjectives.
Option C - An ellipsis is generally used to indicate trailing off thought.
Option D is incorrect, a comma is used to set off dependent clauses in a sentence.

I wrote, After I got to shore and escaped drowning, I ran about the shore wringing my hands and beating my head and face, exclaiming at my misery, and crying out, 'I was undone, undone!' till, tired and faint, I was forced to lie down on the ground.

Choose the option that best corrects the underlined words.

inverted commas/quotation marks punctuation english

  1. I wrote, "After I got to shore and escaped drowning, I ran about the shore wringing my hands and beating my head and face, exclaiming at my misery, and crying out, 'I was undone, undone!' till, tired and faint, I was forced to lie down on the ground."

  2. I wrote, "After I got to shore and escaped drowning, I ran about the shore wringing my hands and beating my head and face, exclaiming at my misery, and crying out, I was undone, undone, till, tired and faint, I was forced to lie down on the ground."

  3. I wrote, After I got to shore and escaped drowning, I ran about the shore wringing my hands and beating my head and face, exclaiming at my misery, and crying out, I was undone, undone, till, tired and faint, I was forced to lie down on the ground.

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:
The given sentence is in direct speech and cites the exact words of the speaker. According to rules of punctuation, we use quotation marks with direct quotes. Single quotes are used for quotes within quotes. Thus, according to the rules, the correct answer will be Option A.
Option B is incorrect, as the quote within the quote also must be set off within single quotes.
Option C is also incorrect, as the direct speech of the subject is not put within double quotations.

Choose the option that best corrects the underlined words.

"I shall miss you when you depart for your own country, said he."

inverted commas/quotation marks punctuation english

  1. "I shall miss you when you depart for your own country," said he.

  2. I shall miss you when you depart for your own country, said he.

  3. "I shall miss you when you depart for your own country?" said he.

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: A
Explanation:
Quotation marks are used to indicate material that is being reproduced word for word. Quotation marks must begin and end with the direct speech. 
According to these rules, Option D can be termed wrong, as it encloses the whole sentence within quotes. 
Option B is incorrect, the direct speech is not enclosed within quotation marks.
Option C is incorrect as, the given sentence does not require a question mark at the end of the direct speech.
The correct answer is Option A.

Choose the option which correctly punctuates the sentence:

Peter said to John, Will you help me make dinner?"

inverted commas/quotation marks punctuation english

  1. "Peter said to John, will you help me make dinner?"

  2. Peter said to John, "Will you help me make dinner"?

  3. Peter said to John, "Will you help me make dinner?"

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:
Quotation marks are used to indicate material that is being reproduced word for word.  According to general rule, commas and periods that are part of the original sentence go inside the quotation marks, even though they are not part of the original quotation. Thus, the correct answer should be Option C.
Option A and D are incorrect. Quotation marks end when the direct speech ends and starts when the direct speech begins.
Option B is incorrect as, punctuations that are part of the speech go inside the quotation marks.

Choose the option which correctly punctuates the sentence:

"I want to buy some new shirts," Christina said to her mother.

inverted commas/quotation marks punctuation english

  1. "I want to buy some new shirts, Christina said to her mother."

  2. I want to buy some new shirts, Christina said to her mother.

  3. "I want to buy some new shirts", Christina said to her mother.

  4. NO CHANGE

Show answer
Correct Option: D
Explanation:
Quotation marks are used to indicate material that is being reproduced word for word.  According to general rule, commas and periods that are part of the original sentence go inside the quotation marks, even though they are not part of the original quotation. Thus, the correct answer should be Option D, no change.
Option B is incorrect because the speech is not enclosed within quotation marks.
Option A is incorrect because quotation marks end when the direct speech ends and starts when the direct speech begins.
Option C is incorrect as, the punctuation that are part of the original sentence go inside the quoted text.

Choose the option which correctly punctuates the sentence:

"Come into my parlour, said the spider to the fly."

inverted commas/quotation marks punctuation english

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. Come into my parlour, said the spider to the fly.

  3. "Come into my parlour," said the spider to the fly.

  4. "Come into my parlour" said the spider to the fly.

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:
Quotation marks are used to indicate material that is being reproduced word for word.  According to general rule, commas and periods that are part of the original sentence go inside the quotation marks, even though they are not part of the original quotation. Thus, the correct answer should be Option C.
Option A is incorrect because quotation marks end when the direct speech ends and starts when the direct speech begins.
Option B is incorrect because the speech is not enclosed within quotation marks.
Option D does not contain all the punctuations required in a quoted text.

Choose the option which correctly punctuates the sentence:

"I am coming to your party," Mary told Helen.

inverted commas/quotation marks punctuation english

  1. I am coming to your party, Mary told Helen.

  2. "I am coming to your party", Mary told Helen.

  3. I am coming to your party, "Mary told Helen."

  4. No Change

Show answer
Correct Option: D
Explanation:
Quotation marks are used to indicate material that is being reproduced word for word.  According to general rule, commas and periods that are part of the original sentence go inside the quotation marks, even though they are not part of the original quotation. Thus, the correct answer should be Option D, no change.
Option A is incorrect because the speech is not enclosed within quotation marks.
Option B is incorrect as, the punctuations that are part of the quoted text go inside the quotation marks.
Option C is incorrect as it includes the indirect speech within quotation marks in place of the direct speech.

Choose the option which correctly punctuates the sentence:

"Was your friend at school today? Rita asked her daughter."

inverted commas/quotation marks punctuation english

  1. NO CHANGE

  2. Was your friend at school today? Rita asked her daughter.

  3. "Was your friend at school today?" Rita asked her daughter.

  4. "Was your friend at school today," Rita asked her daughter.

Show answer
Correct Option: C
Explanation:
Quotation marks are used to indicate material that is being reproduced word for word.  According to general rule, commas and periods that are part of the original sentence go inside the quotation marks, even though they are not part of the original quotation. Thus, the correct answer should be Option C.
Option A is incorrect because quotation marks in a sentence when the direct speech begins and ends when the direct speech ends.
Option B is incorrect as, the speech is not enclosed within quotation marks.
Option D is incorrect because all the punctuations required in the given sentence are not included in the sentence.