Grade 5 English Punctuation – Use Of Double Quotation Marks Notes
English — Punctuation
Subtopic: Use of Double Quotation Marks
Double quotation marks ( " " ) are used in writing to show:
- Direct speech — the exact words someone says.
- Quoted words or short titles (poems, songs, short stories).
- A word used in a special or unusual way (but do not use them for normal emphasis).
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speech
Rule 1 — Direct speech: Put the exact words someone says inside double quotation marks.
Example: "I will come home at four o'clock," said Amina.
Rule 2 — Quotes within quotes:
If someone is quoting another person inside speech, use single quotation marks ( ' ' ) inside the double marks.
Example: Father said, "The teacher told us, 'Do your best,' before we left."
Rule 3 — Punctuation with quotation marks:
- Commas and full stops (periods) usually go inside the closing quotation mark in direct speech: "I'm hungry," she said.
- Question marks and exclamation marks go inside the quotation marks if they belong to the quoted words. If the whole sentence (not the quoted words) is the question, put the question mark outside.
Examples:
She asked, "Are you ready?" (question mark inside — part of the quote)
Did she say "I will come tomorrow"? (question mark outside — the whole sentence is a question)
"Wow!" he shouted. (exclamation inside — part of the quote)
Rule 4 — Quoting words or short titles:
Use double quotation marks for short poem or story titles and when naming a word you are talking about.
Examples:
Have you read "The Little Match Girl"?
The word "kind" has a gentle meaning.
Rule 5 — Do not use quotes for simple emphasis:
Quotation marks are not for normal emphasis. Use italics or underline when handwriting; do not put ordinary words in quotes to show stress.
Practice — Add quotation marks and punctuation
- mama said i will buy ugali for dinner
- who shouted stop the thief
- The teacher asked are you ready for the test
- John said my friend told me i like football
- Have you read the poem The Rain?
Answers
- "Mama said, 'I will buy ugali for dinner.'" — or "Mama said, 'I will buy ugali for dinner,'" if used inside a longer sentence with a reporting clause after.
- Who shouted, "Stop the thief"?
- The teacher asked, "Are you ready for the test?"
- John said, "My friend told me, 'I like football.'"
- Have you read the poem "The Rain"?
Tip: In Kenya you will read and write many conversations in stories. Always put the speaker's exact words inside " " and remember single quotes for a quote inside a quote. Practice by reading short stories and finding all the quotation marks.