Question

Choose the option which correctly punctuates the sentence:
"I am coming to your party," Mary told Helen.

• A. No Change
• B. "I am coming to your party", Mary told Helen.
• C. I am coming to your party, Mary told Helen.
• D. I am coming to your party, "Mary told Helen."

Answer 1

Answer: (A)

The correct option is D No Change

Quotation marks are used to indicate material that is being reproduced word for word. According to general rule, commas and periods that are part of the original sentence go inside the quotation marks, even though they are not part of the original quotation. Thus, the correct answer should be Option D, no change.

Option A is incorrect because the speech is not enclosed within quotation marks.

Option B is incorrect as, the punctuations that are part of the quoted text go inside the quotation marks.

Option C is incorrect as it includes the indirect speech within quotation marks in place of the direct speech.