1. How to use commas with quotations. By Drew 8G

2. So, how do you use commas? 0 Commas are used with quotations to set off any explanatory words of a direct quotation, i.e.: Josh said, Adam persuaded, Grace answered, Etc.

3. So, how does that fit in? 0 In a sentence with the direct quotation at the end, it would be written like this: Tyler asked, “What are we having for supper?” 0 The explanatory word would have a comma at the end of it, and the quote would begin with a capital letter.

4. That can’t be it. 0 No, to add sentence variety, writers will add the explanatory at the end of the sentence, like this: “I walked home today,” said Trina. 0 In this case, the period in the quote is replaced with a comma.

5. But what if it’s a question? 0 If the explanatory word is at the end of the quote, and the quote is a question or an exclamation, it doesn’t end with a comma, like this: “Honey, why is the baby on fire?” asked Jim. 0 In this case, the explanatory word would be lower cased, even if the quotation ends with something other than a comma.

6. Are there any more rules? 0 Yes, sometimes the writer inserts divided quotations. These are used to add more sentence varieties. “Orlando,” Jim said, “is a beautiful place.” 0 The two quotations is one sentence split by the explanatory word. The first quotation would end with a comma, and the explanatory word would also end with a comma. The next quotation would also begin un-capitalized.

7. Is there something I’m forgetting? 0 Yes, a writer should never mix up direct quotations with indirect quotations. Indirect quotations do not have commas in between the explanatory word and the quote, like this: Charlie said he wasn’t going to the party due to his curfew. 0 You can see that it isn’t a direct quotation, therefore it doesn’t involve a comma.

8. Can we play a game? 0 Sure! We can play to help learn a few of the tricks for the tactile learners. You get a point for the right answer, and you don’t get a point for getting it wrong. Let’s begin!

9. What is the correct use of a comma? a) “Let’s go,” Bob exclaimed, “I don’t want to miss the bus,” “Let’s go,” Bob exclaimed, “I don’t want to miss the bus,” b) “Let’s go,” Bob exclaimed, “I don’t want to miss the bus!” “Let’s go,” Bob exclaimed, “I don’t want to miss the bus!” c) “Let’s go I don’t want to miss the bus!” Bob exclaimed, “Let’s go I don’t want to miss the bus!” Bob exclaimed, d) “Let’s go,” Bob exclaimed. “I don’t want to miss the bus!” “Let’s go,” Bob exclaimed. “I don’t want to miss the bus!”

10. Wrong! The correct answer is B, “Let’s go,” Bob exclaimed, “I don’t want to miss the bus!” NEXT

11. You’re right! That’s the right answer! NEXT

12. What is the correct use of a comma? a) Joe said, “I love you,” Joe said, “I love you,” b) Joe said. “I love you.” Joe said. “I love you.” c) Joe said, “I love you.” Joe said, “I love you.” d) Joe said! “I love you!” Joe said! “I love you!”

13. Wrong! The correct answer is C, Joe said, “I love you.” NEXT

14. You’re right! NEXT

15. What is the correct use of a comma? a) Joe said, “I love you,” Joe said, “I love you,” b) Joe said. “I love you.” Joe said. “I love you.” c) Joe said, “I love you.” Joe said, “I love you.” d) Joe said! “I love you!” Joe said! “I love you!”

16. Wrong! The correct answer is C, Joe said, “I love you.” NEXT

17. You’re right! NEXT

18. What is the correct use of a comma? a) “Oh my gosh,” I said, “Oh my gosh,” I said, b) “Oh my gosh!” I said, “Oh my gosh!” I said, c) “Oh my gosh.” I said. “Oh my gosh.” I said. d) “Oh my gosh,” I said. “Oh my gosh,” I said.

19. Wrong! The correct answer is D, “Oh my gosh,” I said. NEXT

20. You’re right! NEXT

21. What is the correct use of a comma? a) “Oh my gosh,” I said, “Oh my gosh,” I said, b) “Oh my gosh!” I said, “Oh my gosh!” I said, c) “Oh my gosh.” I said. “Oh my gosh.” I said. d) “Oh my gosh,” I said. “Oh my gosh,” I said.

22. Wrong! The correct answer is D, “Oh my gosh,” I said. NEXT

23. You’re right! NEXT

24. What is the correct use of a comma? a) “Oh my gosh,” I said, “Oh my gosh,” I said, b) “Oh my gosh!” I said, “Oh my gosh!” I said, c) “Oh my gosh.” I said. “Oh my gosh.” I said. d) “Oh my gosh,” I said. “Oh my gosh,” I said.

25. Wrong! The correct answer is D, “Oh my gosh,” I said. NEXT

26. You’re right! NEXT

27. What is the correct use of a comma? a) “Oh my gosh,” I said, “Oh my gosh,” I said, b) “Oh my gosh!” I said, “Oh my gosh!” I said, c) “Oh my gosh.” I said. “Oh my gosh.” I said. d) “Oh my gosh,” I said. “Oh my gosh,” I said.

28. Wrong! The correct answer is D, “Oh my gosh,” I said. NEXT

29. You’re right! NEXT

30. What is the correct use of the comma? a) George complained about the weather. George complained about the weather. b) George complained, “About the weather.” George complained, “About the weather.” c) George complained, about the weather. George complained, about the weather. d) George complained. “About the weather,” George complained. “About the weather,”

31. Wrong! The correct answer is A, George complained about the weather. NEXT

32. Your Mark!

33. You’re right! NEXT

34. Your Mark!

35. What is the correct use of the comma? a) George complained about the weather. George complained about the weather. b) George complained, “About the weather.” George complained, “About the weather.” c) George complained, about the weather. George complained, about the weather. d) George complained. “About the weather,” George complained. “About the weather,”

36. Wrong! The correct answer is A, George complained about the weather. NEXT

37. Your Mark!

38. You’re right! NEXT

39. Your Mark!

40. What is the correct use of the comma? a) George complained about the weather. George complained about the weather. b) George complained, “About the weather.” George complained, “About the weather.” c) George complained, about the weather. George complained, about the weather. d) George complained. “About the weather,” George complained. “About the weather,”

41. Wrong! The correct answer is A, George complained about the weather. NEXT

42. Your Mark!

43. You’re right! NEXT

44. Your Mark!

45. What is the correct use of the comma? a) George complained about the weather. George complained about the weather. b) George complained, “About the weather.” George complained, “About the weather.” c) George complained, about the weather. George complained, about the weather. d) George complained. “About the weather,” George complained. “About the weather,”

46. Wrong! The correct answer is A, George complained about the weather. NEXT

47. Your Mark!

48. You’re right! NEXT

49. Your Mark!

50. What is the correct use of the comma? a) George complained about the weather. George complained about the weather. b) George complained, “About the weather.” George complained, “About the weather.” c) George complained, about the weather. George complained, about the weather. d) George complained. “About the weather,” George complained. “About the weather,”

51. Wrong! The correct answer is A, George complained about the weather. NEXT

52. Your Mark!

53. You’re right! NEXT

54. Your Mark!

55. What is the correct use of the comma? a) George complained about the weather. George complained about the weather. b) George complained, “About the weather.” George complained, “About the weather.” c) George complained, about the weather. George complained, about the weather. d) George complained. “About the weather,” George complained. “About the weather,”

56. Wrong! The correct answer is A, George complained about the weather. NEXT

57. Your Mark!

58. You’re right! NEXT

59. Your Mark!

60. What is the correct use of the comma? a) George complained about the weather. George complained about the weather. b) George complained, “About the weather.” George complained, “About the weather.” c) George complained, about the weather. George complained, about the weather. d) George complained. “About the weather,” George complained. “About the weather,”

61. Wrong! The correct answer is A, George complained about the weather. NEXT

62. Your Mark!

63. You’re right! NEXT

64. Your Mark!

65. What is the correct use of the comma? a) George complained about the weather. George complained about the weather. b) George complained, “About the weather.” George complained, “About the weather.” c) George complained, about the weather. George complained, about the weather. d) George complained. “About the weather,” George complained. “About the weather,”

66. Wrong! The correct answer is A, George complained about the weather. NEXT

67. Your Mark! Sorry!

68. You’re right! NEXT

69. Your Mark!

70. Thank You!