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Inside or Outside the Quotation Marks? is a free printable Grade 5 English worksheet on where each punctuation mark goes around a quotation in US style, aligned to Common Core standard L.5.2. It prints 8 questions with an answer key on its own sheet of paper, in 25 versions that each ask different questions, so no two students in the class work from the same page. Print it from the browser or download it as a PDF — no account, no email.

Set 13 of 25 · the same problems every time you open this link.

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Set 1 has all 25 in a single PDF. All 25 sets ask different questions.

Inside or Outside the Quotation Marks?

L.5.2

NameDate

Circle the right answer.

1.In "I can carry that," said Omar. "It is not heavy," why does It begin with a capital?
  • A.It is a name
  • B.Every quoted word takes a capital
  • C.It begins a new sentence
2."Stop" yelled Jo — Jo's word is shouted. Where does the exclamation point go?
  • A.Outside the closing quotation mark
  • B.At the very end, after Jo
  • C.Inside the closing quotation mark
3.Ben asked, "Is it raining" — Ben's words are the question. Where does the question mark go?
  • A.Inside the closing quotation mark
  • B.Outside the closing quotation mark
  • C.After the word asked
4.In US style, where do a comma and a period go when they meet a closing quotation mark?
  • A.Always outside it
  • B.Inside only if the quotation is a question
  • C.Always inside it
5.In "After lunch," said Mrs. Park, "we will start," why does we begin with a small letter?
  • A.Quotations never begin with a capital
  • B.The second part carries on the same sentence
  • C.It is not a name
6.The words "Look out" are followed by "shouted Sam" and the sentence ends. What goes after Sam?
  • A.A period
  • B.A comma
  • C.An exclamation point
7.Did the coach say "two more laps" — the whole sentence is a question, but the coach's words are not. Where does the question mark go?
  • A.Inside the closing quotation mark
  • B.Outside the closing quotation mark
  • C.Before the opening quotation mark
8.Mia said, "The bus is here" — the sentence ends after here. Where does the period go?
  • A.Outside the closing quotation mark
  • B.Inside the closing quotation mark
  • C.After the word said

LessonPrint · L.5.2 · Set 13 · free to copy for classroom use

Answer key — Inside or Outside the Quotation Marks?

Set 13. Prints on its own sheet.

  1. 1.It begins a new sentence
  2. 2.Inside the closing quotation mark
  3. 3.Inside the closing quotation mark
  4. 4.Always inside it
  5. 5.The second part carries on the same sentence
  6. 6.A period
  7. 7.Outside the closing quotation mark
  8. 8.Inside the closing quotation mark

Last reviewed 2026-09-05. Aligned to L.5.2 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.