Let’s go through each sentence one by one and add quotation marks where someone is speaking.
Remember: Quotation marks go around the exact words a person says. We also need to make sure the speaker is clearly identified.
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1. Can I have a piece of cake? Asked Johnny.
→ Johnny is asking a question, so his words should be in quotes.
→ Also, “Asked” should start with a lowercase letter because it comes after the quote.
✔ Corrected:
“Can I have a piece of cake?” asked Johnny.
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2. John asked what we should bring to the party.
→ This is NOT direct speech — it’s telling us what John asked, not quoting his exact words.
→ So no quotation marks needed here.
✔ Leave as is:
John asked what we should bring to the party.
*(Note: If it were direct speech, it would be like: John asked, “What should we bring to the party?” But since it’s reported speech, no quotes.)*
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3. Clean your room, mom ordered.
→ Mom is giving an order — those are her exact words.
→ Put quotes around “Clean your room”.
→ Also, “mom ordered” should come after the quote, and “ordered” starts with lowercase.
✔ Corrected:
“Clean your room,” mom ordered.
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4. Where are my keys? Asked dad.
→ Dad is asking a question — put his words in quotes.
→ “Asked” should be lowercase.
✔ Corrected:
“Where are my keys?” asked dad.
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5. He said, don’t pluck the flowers.
→ He is saying something — put his exact words in quotes.
→ Add comma before the quote (already there), and capitalize the first word inside the quote if it’s a full sentence.
✔ Corrected:
He said, “Don’t pluck the flowers.”
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Final Answer:
1. “Can I have a piece of cake?” asked Johnny.
2. John asked what we should bring to the party.
3. “Clean your room,” mom ordered.
4. “Where are my keys?” asked dad.
5. He said, “Don’t pluck the flowers.”
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of quotation marks worksheet high school.
