Direct or Indirect Quotations

True or False:

Direct quotations or direct quotes tell the exact words that somebody said or wrote. They are always enclosed with quotation marks.

• True

• False

Indirect quotations or indirect quotes...

• use the exact words of what somebody said

• do not use the exact words of what somebody said but expresses the same idea

Change the given direct quote into an indirect quote.

Kyven said, "I do not like watching cartoons."

• Kyven said that he enjoys watching cartoons.

• Kyven said, "he doesn't like watching cartoons."

• Kyven said that he doesn't enjoy watching cartoons.

• Kyven said that cartoons are really dumb.

Which choice gives the best indirect quote for Jon?

• Jon said that he also loves to eat and sleep.

• Jon said, "I love to eat and sleep, too!"

• "I love to eat and sleep, too!" said Jon.

• Jon said that he will eat and sleep.

Which direct quotation is not correctly written?

• Daffy Duck said, "I missed the bus. I'll be late."

• "I missed the bus," Daffy Duck said. "I'll be late."

• "I missed the bus. I'll be late," Daffy Duck said.

• Daffy Duck said "I missed the bus." "I'll be late."

Answer explanation

If a quote is uninterrupted (and is stringed together like this quote), you do not need to put quotation marks before and after every sentence stated.

Also, there should be a comma before the quote is introduced or when it abruptly ends.

Which choice correctly expresses a direct quotation of SpongeBob?

• SpongeBob asked "isn't Gary just the cutest?"

• SpongeBob asked, "Isn't Gary just the cutest?"

• "Isn't Gary really cute?" said SpongeBob.

• SpongeBob said that Gary is the cutest pet he's ever had.

Which is the correctly-written direct quote?

• "Revenge will be sweet," said Ash. "It will be mine."

• Ash said that revenge will be sweet, and it will be his.

• "Revenge will be sweet." "It will be mine," said Ash.

• Ash said, "revenge will be sweet. It will be mine."

Which choice is correctly written and states what Starfire said between her two sentences?

• "The boys were right." "Who knew?" said Starfire.

• The boys were right, "Said Starfire." Who knew?

• "The boys were right" said Starfire. Who knew?

• "The boys were right," said Starfire. "Who knew?"

Choose the correctly-written direct quote that states who said what in the middle of the quote.

• "I know he's strong," Krillin said, "but I don't think he can do it."

• "I know he's strong," Krillin said, "But I don't think he can do it."

• I know he's strong, "Krillin said," but I don't think he can do it.

• "I know he's strong" Krillin said "but I don't think he can do it."

Answer explanation

Because the quote continues the sentence, the word "but" does not need to be capitalized. A new sentence did not begin.

What punctuation is missing in this direct quotation?

Mrs. Emmanuel asked "Where is your homework, Talen?"

• a comma after "Emmanuel"

• a comma after "asked"

• an open quotation mark before "Mrs."

• a closed quotation mark after "Emmanuel"