The task is to add missing punctuation — specifically, inverted commas (quotation marks) and full stops — to a paragraph that has had them removed. The story involves Robin Hood trying on a costume while Hassan helps him.
Let’s go step by step:
1. First, identify where people are speaking. In English, when someone says something out loud, we put their words in quotation marks (“ ”). Also, each sentence should end with a period (full stop), even if it’s inside the quotes.
2. Look at the first line:
“Give me a minute, Hassan, I said” → This is what the narrator is saying. So we need to wrap this in quotes and add a comma before “I said”, then a period after “said”. But wait — actually, “I said” is not part of the spoken words; it’s the narrator reporting speech. So correct format:
“Give me a minute, Hassan,” I said.
3. Next: “Can’t seem to get my costume on.” → This is also spoken by the narrator. Add quotes and a period inside.
4. Then: “I reached over my shoulders to try to fasten the Velcro on my Robin Hood top.” → This is action, not speech. No quotes needed. End with a period.
5. “You’re doing it up all wrong,” Hassan replied. → Hassan is speaking. Put his words in quotes, add comma before “Hassan replied”, and period after “replied”.
6. “Before I could stop him, he ripped the Velcro apart.” → Action again. Period at end.
7. “Oops, he muttered, nearly too quietly for me to hear.” → “Oops” is what he muttered — so it should be in quotes. Format: “Oops,” he muttered, nearly too quietly for me to hear.
8. “What?” → Someone is asking this — likely the narrator reacting. Since it’s short and standalone, treat as dialogue: “What?”
9. Last line: “Nothing, he said, in a high-pitched voice which meant that he was definitely lying.” → Again, “Nothing” is what he said. So: “Nothing,” he said, in a high-pitched voice which meant that he was definitely lying.
Now let’s assemble the whole corrected version carefully:
“Give me a minute, Hassan,” I said. “Can’t seem to get my costume on.” I reached over my shoulders to try to fasten the Velcro on my Robin Hood top. “You’re doing it up all wrong,” Hassan replied. Before I could stop him, he ripped the Velcro apart. “Oops,” he muttered, nearly too quietly for me to hear. “What?” “Nothing,” he said, in a high-pitched voice which meant that he was definitely lying.
Double-check:
- All spoken parts have opening and closing quotation marks.
- Commas and periods are placed correctly inside or outside quotes according to standard rules (in American/UK school style, commas and periods go inside the quotes).
- Each sentence ends with proper punctuation.
- Dialogue tags like “I said”, “he replied”, etc., are properly separated from the quoted speech.
This looks accurate.
Final Answer:
“Give me a minute, Hassan,” I said. “Can’t seem to get my costume on.” I reached over my shoulders to try to fasten the Velcro on my Robin Hood top. “You’re doing it up all wrong,” Hassan replied. Before I could stop him, he ripped the Velcro apart. “Oops,” he muttered, nearly too quietly for me to hear. “What?” “Nothing,” he said, in a high-pitched voice which meant that he was definitely lying.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of worksheet for speech.
