Lesson 4 - The Interrupted Quotation

In this lesson you will learn how to write sentences when the source phrase, or the "who said" words, divides the quotation.

Study these examples.

"It was an important thing," she would say, "the thing that was lost."

"But," said Lina, "if you don't know what it was how will you know when you've found it?"

"No," said Granny, "I don't want her to keep me company."

Discussion

The Five Rules for Writing Direct Quotations

• Do the 5 Rules for Writing Direct Quotations apply to the sentences above?
• Notice that when the source phrase interrupts, or divides the quotation, it is set off by two commas from the words actually said. - One comma follows the first part of what the speaker actually said, and is placed before the closing set of quotation marks. The second comma immediately follows the source phrase.
• A period (.), question mark (?), or exclamation mark (!) is placed at the end of the sentence before the ending quotation mark.
• The first word of the direct quotation is capitalized, however, the first word of the second part of the direct quotation is not capitalized because it is not the first word of the quotation.

Rule 1 Find the direct quotation. Place quotation marks around ("  ") the quote.

What I wanted, said one voice, was some paint for my front door.

Yes, said the other voice wistfully, blue would be nice.

Rule 2 Separate the source phrase from the direct quotation. Remember when the source phrase interrupts, or divides the quotation, it is set off by two commas from the words actually said.

Practice Rules 1 and 2 by placing quotation marks and commas in the sentences below.

Gone mad Lina heard someone say yes, completely mad.

Hush, Poppy she said we mustn't stare.

Sometimes said Looper I have colored pencils for sale.

Rule 3 Capitalize the first word of the direct quotation. Most of the time the first word of the second part of the direct quotation is not capitalized because it is not the first word of the sentence. Exceptions to this are words that are always capitalized such as the word I, special nouns, etc.

Now practice Rules 1, 2, and 3 by adding quotation marks, commas, and capital letters in the following sentences. Show which letters should be capitalized by adding the three line editing mark () below each letter that should be capitalized.

all right Lina told the man i'll take one.

the blue one she said and the yellow one - no the . . . the . . .

no he shrugged I didn't notice.

no Lina said she wandered away before the lights went out.

Rule 4 Place a period (.), question mark (?), or exclamation mark (!) at the end of the sentence before the ending quotation mark.

Practice Rules 1, 2, 3, and 4 by placing quotation marks around ("  ") the quote, separating the source phrase from the direct quotation with commas, capitalizing the first word of the direct quotation(), and placing a period (.), question mark (?), or and exclamation mark (!) at the end of the sentence before the ending quotation mark.

yes said one of the women who'd been singing with the Believers babies need watching

oh someone else said a toddler

yes said Lina holding her tightly you're all right now

Rule 5 Remember all other capitalization and punctuation rules.

Proofread the following sentences of conversation. Put in editing marks() to show which letters should be capitalized. Insert all commas, apostrophes, periods, question marks, exclamation marks, and quotation marks where needed.

1.      sweetie lina said sweetly youre all right now

2.      no one knew who she belonged to he said so i took her into my fathers shop

3.      anyway lina told doon thank you so much for rescuing her

4.      well lina said thank you again

5.      hey the flute player added you shouldnt leave her alone

6.      yes said lina youre right

7.      people of ember the mayor said again need to stick together in such times

8.      slight difficulties someone said requires great patience from us all

9.      but i stand here today the mayor went on to reassure you

10.  solutions the people in front called to the people in back are being found

Practice what you have learned in Lessons 1, 2, and 3. Read the following sentences. Decide where to insert capitalization and punctuation.

1.      move fast his father said

2.      father said doon as they hurried along the mayor is a fool, dont you think

3.      not lie, at least doon said

4.      doons father smiled that would be a good start

5.      it makes me so angry said doon

6.      for good reason said doon

7.      hes just trying to keep us quiet said another

8.      granny said lina suddenly uneasy wheres the baby

9.      oh came grannys voice from the depths of the closet shes here

10.  poppy said lina let me see that

11.  lina asked was that in the box poppy

12.  yes the baby chortled

----------Key----------

Rule 1
 “What I wanted,” said one voice, “was some paint for my front door.”
“Yes,” said the other voice wistfully, “blue would be nice.”

Rule 2
“Gone mad,” Lina heard someone say, “yes, completely mad.”
“Hush, Poppy,” she said, “we mustn't stare.”
“Sometimes,” said Looper, “I have colored pencils for sale.”

Rule3
“All right,” Lina told the man, “I'll take one.”
“The blue one,” she said, “and the yellow one - no the . . . the . . .”
“No,” he shrugged, “I didn't notice.”
“No,” Lina said, “she wandered away before the lights went out.”

Rule 4
“Yes,” said one of the women who'd been singing with the Believers, “babies need watching.”
“Oh,” someone else said, “a toddler.”
“Yes,” said Lina holding her tight, “you're all right now.”

Rule 5

1.      “Sweetie,” Lina said sweetly, “you’re all right now.”

2.      “No one knew who she belonged to,” he said, “so I took her into my father’s shop.”

3.      “Anyway,” Lina told Doon, “thank you so much for rescuing her.”

4.      “Well,” Lina said, “thank you again.”

5.      “Hey,” the flute player added, “you shouldn’t leave her alone.”

6.      “Yes,” said lina, “youre right.”

7.      “People of Ember,” the mayor said again, “need to stick together in such times.”

8.      “Slight difficulties,” someone said, “requires great patience from us all.”

9.      “But I stand here today,” the mayor went on, “to reassure you.”

10.  “Solutions,” the people in front called to the people in back, “are being found.”

1.      “Move fast,” his father said.

2.      “Father,” said Doon as they hurried along, “the mayor is a fool, don’t you think?”

3.      “Not lie, at least, “Doon said.

4.      Doon’s father smiled, “That would be a good start.”

5.      “It makes me so angry,” said Doon.

6.      “For good reason,” said Doon.

7.      “He’s just trying to keep us quiet,” said another.

8.      “Granny,” said Lina suddenly uneasy, “where’s the baby?”

9.      “Oh,” came Granny’s voice from the depths of the closet, “she’s here.”

10.  “Poppy,” said Lina, “let me see that.”

11.  Lina asked, “Was that in the box, Poppy?”

12.  “Yes,” the baby chortled.