Speech Marks Worksheet for Students

To add speech marks (also called quotation marks) correctly, we need to find the exact words that a person is saying. We put opening speech marks `“` before the first word they say and closing speech marks `”` after the last word they say.

Here is the step-by-step solution for each sentence:

1. Sentence: Oops! I spilt the juice. Could you please get me a wipe? asked Jason.
* Who is speaking? Jason.
* What did he say? Everything from "Oops" to "wipe?".
* Action: Put speech marks around that whole section.
* Result: “Oops! I spilt the juice. Could you please get me a wipe?” asked Jason.

2. Sentence: Help! Alexia shouted. I'm trapped under the tree, she continued.
* Who is speaking? Alexia.
* Part 1: She shouts "Help!". So, we put speech marks around it: “Help!”
* Part 2: She continues speaking, saying "I'm trapped under the tree". We put speech marks around this part too: “I'm trapped under the tree,”
* Result: “Help!” Alexia shouted. “I'm trapped under the tree,” she continued.

3. Sentence: Jim asked, have you seen my puppy? he was playing in the backyard.
* Who is speaking? Jim.
* What did he say? "have you seen my puppy?"
* Note: The part "he was playing in the backyard" is not spoken; it describes what the puppy was doing.
* Action: Put speech marks only around Jim's question. Also, capitalize the first letter "Have" because it starts the spoken sentence.
* Result: Jim asked, “Have you seen my puppy? He was playing in the backyard.” *(Wait, looking closely at the original text structure: "Jim asked, have you seen my puppy? he was playing in the backyard." Usually, if "he was playing..." refers to the puppy, it might be part of the question or a separate statement. Let's look at standard grammar for these worksheets. Often, if the tag is in the middle like "Jim asked," the speech follows. If the second part "he was playing..." is narration, it shouldn't be in quotes. However, sometimes kids include the whole thought. Let's look at sentence 4 for a clue. Sentence 4 has two distinct spoken parts. Sentence 3 looks like one continuous quote interrupted by the tag "Jim asked," OR the tag is at the start. Actually, "Jim asked," is the tag. The speech is "Have you seen my puppy? He was playing in the backyard." It makes sense as one full quote.)*
* Correction/Refinement: Let's re-read carefully. "Jim asked, [speech]". The speech is likely just the question. But "he was playing in the backyard" explains *why* he's asking or gives context. If "he" refers to the puppy, it's likely part of what Jim said. "Have you seen my puppy? He was playing in the backyard." This flows as one speaker's dialogue.
* Result: Jim asked, “Have you seen my puppy? He was playing in the backyard.”

4. Sentence: Today is my lucky day! shouted Cameron. I've found myself a beautiful hat! he added.
* Who is speaking? Cameron.
* Part 1: "Today is my lucky day!" -> “Today is my lucky day!”
* Part 2: "I've found myself a beautiful hat!" -> “I've found myself a beautiful hat!”
* Result: “Today is my lucky day!” shouted Cameron. “I've found myself a beautiful hat!” he added.

5. Sentence: Can someone help me, please? I can't get down, yelled George.
* Who is speaking? George.
* What did he say? "Can someone help me, please? I can't get down,"
* Action: Put speech marks around the entire plea.
* Result: “Can someone help me, please? I can't get down,” yelled George.

6. Sentence: That is surprising! The bear has superpowers, said Madeline.
* Who is speaking? Madeline.
* What did she say? "That is surprising! The bear has superpowers,"
* Action: Put speech marks around her statement.
* Result: “That is surprising! The bear has superpowers,” said Madeline.

7. Sentence: Shhh, the baby is asleep. You should keep your voice down, whispered Larry.
* Who is speaking? Larry.
* What did he say? "Shhh, the baby is asleep. You should keep your voice down,"
* Action: Put speech marks around his whisper.
* Result: “Shhh, the baby is asleep. You should keep your voice down,” whispered Larry.

Final Answer:
1. “Oops! I spilt the juice. Could you please get me a wipe?” asked Jason.
2. “Help!” Alexia shouted. “I'm trapped under the tree,” she continued.
3. Jim asked, “Have you seen my puppy? He was playing in the backyard.”
4. “Today is my lucky day!” shouted Cameron. “I've found myself a beautiful hat!” he added.
5. “Can someone help me, please? I can't get down,” yelled George.
6. “That is surprising! The bear has superpowers,” said Madeline.
7. “Shhh, the baby is asleep. You should keep your voice down,” whispered Larry.