Identifying Speaker Direct Speech Quiz

1. What is a speaker tag in a sentence with direct speech?

The exact words someone says inside quotation marks

The name of the story’s main character

The part that tells who is speaking and how, like "he said" or "Maria asked"

The punctuation at the end of the sentence

A speaker tag tells us who is talking and sometimes how they say the words.

Explanation

A speaker tag tells us who is talking and sometimes how they say the words.

2. In the sentence "This is fun," Sam said, who is the speaker?

This

Fun

Sam

Said

The tag Sam said shows that Sam is the one speaking.

Explanation

The tag Sam said shows that Sam is the one speaking.

3. In the sentence Sam said, "This is fun," which words are the speaker tag?

Sam

Said

Sam said

This is fun

Sam said is the part that tells who is speaking and introduces the quote.

Explanation

Sam said is the part that tells who is speaking and introduces the quote.

4. In direct speech, the speaker tag is the part of the sentence that tells who is talking.

True

False

The speaker tag always connects the spoken words to the person who says them.

Explanation

The speaker tag always connects the spoken words to the person who says them.

5. A speaker tag can come before, after, or in the middle of the quoted words.

True

False

Writers can place the tag in different positions as long as the sentence is clear and correctly punctuated.

Explanation

Writers can place the tag in different positions as long as the sentence is clear and correctly punctuated.

6. In which sentences does the speaker tag come at the end of the direct speech?

"Let’s go now," Maya said.

Maya said, "Let’s go now."

"Let’s go," said Maya, "before it gets dark."

"Let’s go now," said Maya.

Maya asked, "Can we go now?"

In A and D the quoted words come first and the tag (Maya said / said Maya) comes after them.

Explanation

In A and D the quoted words come first and the tag (Maya said / said Maya) comes after them.

Submit

7. In which sentences does the speaker tag come before the direct speech?

Leo shouted, "Watch out!"

"Watch out!" Leo shouted.

Leo shouted, Watch out!

"Watch out," shouted Leo.

“Watch out!” shouted Leo.

Only A has the tag Leo shouted before the quoted words inside quotation marks.

Explanation

Only A has the tag Leo shouted before the quoted words inside quotation marks.

Submit

9. The words like "he said" or "they asked" that show who is speaking are called the speaker __________.

Speaker tags link the quoted words to the person who says them.

Explanation

Speaker tags link the quoted words to the person who says them.

Submit

10. In the sentence "I can’t wait," said Lily, "for the trip," where is the speaker tag?

At the very beginning

At the very end

In the middle of the spoken words

There is no speaker tag

The tag said Lily is placed between the two parts of the quote.

Explanation

The tag said Lily is placed between the two parts of the quote.

11. The speaker tag helps the reader know which character is talking in a story.

True

False

Without the tag, it would often be hard to tell who is speaking.

Explanation

Without the tag, it would often be hard to tell who is speaking.

12. In "Where are my keys?" Dad asked, which part is the direct speech?

"Where are my keys?"

Dad asked

"Where are my"

Keys

The words inside the quotation marks show exactly what Dad says.

Explanation

The words inside the quotation marks show exactly what Dad says.

13. Who is the speaker in each of these sentences? Select all that name a speaker correctly.

“Hurry up,” my brother said. (speaker: my brother)

“Hurry up,” my brother said. (speaker: I)

"I’m so tired," complained Jenna. (speaker: Jenna)

"I’m so tired," complained Jenna. (speaker: I)

“We won!” they shouted. (speaker: they)

In A, C, and E the guessed speaker matches the person named in the speaker tag.

Explanation

In A, C, and E the guessed speaker matches the person named in the speaker tag.

Submit

14. Which sentence correctly uses a speaker tag and direct speech?

Said Max, "This is easy."

"This is easy," said Max.

Max, said "This is easy."

Max said "This is easy".

B places the tag after the quote with proper punctuation and quotation marks.

Explanation

B places the tag after the quote with proper punctuation and quotation marks.

15. In a long conversation, we usually need speaker tags so the reader knows who is talking.

True

False

Tags help readers follow which character is speaking each line of dialogue.

Explanation

Tags help readers follow which character is speaking each line of dialogue.

16. In the sentence "That was amazing," Carlos shouted, the name of the speaker is __________.

The speaker tag Carlos shouted shows that Carlos is the one talking.

Explanation

The speaker tag Carlos shouted shows that Carlos is the one talking.

Submit

17. Who is the speaker in this sentence: "Turn the page," the teacher said.

The page

The teacher

Turn

The

The tag the teacher said tells us that the teacher is speaking.

Explanation

The tag the teacher said tells us that the teacher is speaking.

18. Which sentences have the speaker tag at the beginning of the sentence?

Mom said, "Time for dinner."

"Time for dinner," Mom said.

“Time for dinner,” said Mom.

“Time for dinner,” Mom said.

Mom said “Time for dinner”.

Only A places the tag Mom said first, before the quotation marks and spoken words.

Explanation

Only A places the tag Mom said first, before the quotation marks and spoken words.

19. The speaker tag is usually not inside the quotation marks because it is not part of the words being spoken.

True

False

The quoted words show what is said; the tag comes outside the quotation marks.

Explanation

The quoted words show what is said; the tag comes outside the quotation marks.

20. Why is it important to notice the speaker tag when reading direct speech?

So you can ignore the quotation marks

So you know how long the story is

So you can tell who is talking and follow the conversation

So you can remove the speaker’s name

Knowing who is speaking helps you follow the story and understand the dialogue.

Explanation

Knowing who is speaking helps you follow the story and understand the dialogue.

Who Said It?: Identifying Speaker Direct Speech Quiz