Grammar and Language Workbook

Unit 12, Punctuation 241

Copyright © by Glencoe/McGraw-Hill

Mechanics

Lesson 75

Using Commas IV

Use a comma or a pair of commas to set off a direct quotation.

Brer Rabbit said, “I am the smartest animal on this earth.”

“There’s not a creature in this woods,” he went on, “who can outsmart me.”

Exercise 1 Add commas where needed to the sentences below.

“My favorite story,” said LaToya, “is called ‘The Moon in the Mill Pond.’”

1. “One night Brer Rabbit and Brer Terrapin were talking by the fire” LaToya said.,


2. “A terrapin is like a turtle,” she explained.


3. She went on,“They heard a sound in the woods behind them.”


4. “Brer Rabbit,” she said,“knew that Brer Fox and Brer Bear were sneaking up on them.”


5. She explained,“Those two wanted to catch Brer Rabbit and Brer Terrapin and eat them
   for dinner.”


6. “Brer Rabbit,” she said, “winked at Brer Terrapin and started fussing with the fire.”
   7. She continued,“He started talking about how hot the fire had to be to cook up their feast.”


7. “Just then,” she said,“Brer Fox and Brer Bear walked out of the woods.”


8. “Brer Rabbit welcomed them to the feast,” she said.


9. LaToya went on,“Brer Fox and Brer Bear asked what the feast was.”


10. “Brer Rabbit,” she explained,“said that the feast was at the mill pond.”


11. “He told them,” she said,“that the pond held a fine mess of fish.”


12. “Brer Rabbit said that all they had to do was reach out their paws and grab the fish
    from the water,” LaToya went on.


13. “Well,” LaToya continued,“they all walked down to the mill pond.”