When to use a comma in direct speech. Direct speech: patterns and punctuation marks

In Russian, in order to convey someone’s words in a text, a syntactic structure such as direct speech is used. The diagrams (there are four of them) clearly display which signs are placed and where. To understand this, you need to understand the abbreviations indicated in them.

Difference between direct speech and indirect speech

You can report someone’s statements either on behalf of the person who pronounces them (this is direct speech), or from a third person, and then it will be indirect. In the article we will consider the first option in more detail. The patterns of direct and indirect speech are different, since they are designed and sounded differently in the text, for example:

• “I’ll be home from work late today,” my mother said.. reflects what the mother said, conveying information from her personally. In this case, the scheme of direct speech is divided into the one who speaks and the content itself.
• Mom said it would be late from work today. In this version, the words are not conveyed on behalf of the speaker. In writing, indirect speech is one in which the author's words come first and are its main part.

There are 4 schemes for transmitting direct speech, in which the following notations are used:

• P - indicates the capital letter with which direct speech begins.
• p - means starting speech with a small letter.
• A is the author's words starting with a capital letter.
• a is a lowercase letter.

Depending on what notations are used and where they appear in the diagram, a sentence can be constructed. Which will correspond to it or, conversely, the existing text will allow you to paint it schematically.

Direct speech at the beginning of the text

Schemes of direct speech, in which it precedes the words of the author, look like this:

• "P", - a.
• "P?" - A.
• "P!" - A.

If the author’s words are preceded by direct speech, the rules (the diagram shows this) require enclosing it in quotation marks, and placing a punctuation mark between them that corresponds to the emotional connotation of the statement. If it is narrative, then the parts are separated by a comma. When there is an interrogative or exclamatory emotion in speech, signs are placed that convey the given stylistic coloring of the sentence. For example:

• “We’re going to the sea in the summer,” said the girl.
• “Are we going to the sea in the summer?” - asked the girl.
• “We’re going to the sea in the summer!” - the girl shouted joyfully.

In these examples, the same content of direct speech is conveyed with different emotional connotations. The author's words also change according to these changes.

The author's words at the beginning of the speech

Direct speech patterns (with examples below), in which the author's words begin a syntactic construction, are used when it is important to indicate the speaker. They look like this:

• A: "P".
• A: “P?”
• A: “P!”

The diagrams show that the words of the author that begin with a capital letter, since they are at the beginning of the sentence, must be followed by a colon. Direct speech is covered on both sides by quotation marks and begins with a capital letter, as an independent syntactic construction. At the end there is a text corresponding to the emotional content of the text. For example:

• The boy came up and said in a quiet voice: “I need to go home to my sick mother.” In this example, direct speech is located after the words of the author and has a neutral coloring, so there is a period at the end.
• A cry of indignation escaped her lips: “How can you not notice this injustice!” The sentence has an emotionally expressive tone, conveying strong indignation. Therefore, direct speech, which stands behind the author’s words and is placed in quotation marks, ends with an exclamation mark.

• The girl looked at him in surprise: “Why don’t you want to go camping with us?” Although the author’s words indicate such an emotion as surprise, direct speech sounds in the form of a question, so at the end there is

It is important to remember: direct speech behind the author’s words is always written with a capital letter and separated from them by a colon.

Third scheme

• "P, - a, - p."
• “P, - a. - P".

The diagrams show that direct speech is divided into 2 parts by the words of the author. The punctuation in these sentences is such that they are always separated from direct speech on both sides by hyphens. If a comma is placed after the author’s words, the continuation of direct speech is written with a small letter, and if there is a period, then it begins as a new sentence with a capital letter. For example:

• “I’ll pick you up tomorrow,” Yegor said, getting into the car, “don’t oversleep.”
• “Mom arrives early in the morning,” dad reminded. “You need to order a taxi in advance.”
• "What are you doing here? - asked Maria. “Shouldn’t you be at the lecture?”
• “How stubborn you are! - Sveta exclaimed. “I don’t want to see you again!”

Important: although in the last two examples the initial part of direct speech ends not with a comma, but with question marks and exclamation marks, the author’s words are written with a small letter.

Direct speech between the author's words

The fourth diagram of direct speech explains what signs are placed when it stands between the words of the author.

• A: “P” - a.
• A: “P?” - A.
• A: “P!” - A.

For example:

• The announcer said, “Today on the news,” and for some reason he faltered.
• An echo came from afar: “Where are you?” - and it became quiet again.
• The brother rudely replied: “It’s none of your business!” - and quickly walked out the door.

You cannot limit yourself only to the schemes listed above, since direct speech can consist of any number of sentences, for example:

“How good! - Grandma exclaimed, “I thought we’d never get home.” I'm dead tired". The scheme of this syntactic construction is as follows:

"P! - a, - p. P.”

The Russian language is very expressive and there is more in writing than fits into 4 classical schemes. Knowing the basic concepts of direct speech and its use, you can compose a sentence of any complexity.

Someone else's speech- these are statements of other persons included in the author's narrative. Words that introduce someone else's speech are called author's words or author's words.

Methods of transmitting someone else's speech

To transmit someone else's speech, there are the following methods:

1) sentences with direct speech to convey it without changes.

For example: Misha asked: “ Vitya, please give me this book».

2) complex sentences with indirect speech to convey someone else’s speech with changes.

For example: Misha asked so that Vitya gives him a book .

3) simple sentences with an addition naming the topic of someone else’s speech.

For example: And for a long, long time grandfather about the plowman's bitter lot he spoke sadly.(N. Nekrasov.)

4) sentences with introductory words and introductory sentences to convey the source of the message.

For example: As the poets say, the autumn of life has begun.(K. Paustovsky.)

Different ways of transmitting someone else's speech are syntactic synonyms and can replace each other.

Sentences with direct speech

Direct speech- this is a verbatim reproduction of a statement by a person or group of people included in the author’s text.

In direct speech, the features of someone else's speech are preserved, therefore it can contain verbs in the form of the 1st and 2nd persons of the indicative and imperative mood, 1st and 2nd person pronouns, addresses, incomplete sentences, interjections and particles.

Direct speech can include not one, but several sentences.

The grammatical connection between the author's statement and direct speech is expressed by intonation. In addition, this connection is made with the help of verbs that introduce direct speech: spoke, noticed, shouted, etc. These are verbs with the lexical meaning of speaking and thinking. Here are some of them: speak, tell, say, repeat, order, notice, ask, whisper, ask, answer, exclaim, shout, think, assume, decide, dream.

Often the work of words that introduce direct speech is performed by verbs that denote the way a message is conveyed or the feelings that accompany speech.

For example: telegraph, signal, be offended, rejoice, laugh, receive a telegram: A fire was flashing on the shore: “Sail here! » (Flashing accompanies the action called).

Verbs that introduce direct speech in the composition of the author's speech can be located before direct speech, or after it, or in the middle of it.

For example: The water in the streams sang: “Spring is coming!” “Will the ice on the river break soon?” - Vova asked. “We need to prepare,” the guys decided, “birdhouses for the arrival of starlings.”

Sometimes verbs introducing direct speech may be missing.

For example: But Griboyedov is easy-going, he waves his hand carelessly:- Let's not worry about it too much. Time will take care of itself. (Yu. Tynyanov.)

Direct speech diverse. It could be:

1. People's speech:

a) people’s statements are the usual composition of direct speech.

For example: “Well, guys,” said the commandant, - now open the gate, beat the drum. Guys! Forward, on a sortie, follow me! (A. Pushkin.)

It was cold, I didn’t sleep for three nights, I was exhausted and started to get angry. " Lead me somewhere, robber! To hell with it, just to the point!- I shouted.(M. Lermontov.)

And mom clasped her hands and said: “ Don't be upset, Denis, about the mice. No and no need! Let's go buy you some fish! Which one do you want, huh?» (V. Dragunsky.)

The owner of the beast wiped his wet face with his palm and suggested to the owner in a dull and menacing voice: - Buy the skin, manager. (K. Paustovsky.)

b) verbatim transmission of another person’s statement as part of direct speech.

For example: ... Lyubochka herself wanted to write to you, but she already tore up the third sheet of paper and said: “ I know what a mocker dad is: if you make even one mistake, he will show everyone" Katya is still sweet, Mimi is still kind and boring. (L. Tolstoy.)

2. Inner speech that is, people's thoughts.

For example: It used to be that you stand in the corner, so that your knees and back hurt, and you think: “ Karl Ivanovich forgot about me; It must be calm for him to sit on an easy chair and read his hydrostatics - but what does it feel like for me?» (L. Tolstoy.) Lord, how much I expected from this journey! " I may not see anything in detail, I thought, but I have seen everything, been everywhere; but from everything seen, something whole will be formed, some kind of general panorama...» (F. Dostoevsky.)

3. Various inscriptions, quoting someone else's text.

For example: “My dear old man,” read by Tatyana Petrovna, - I’ve been in the hospital for a month now. The wound is not very severe - and in general it is healing. For God's sake, don't worry and don't smoke cigarette after cigarette. I beg you! (K. Paustovsky.) K. Chukovsky writes: “ The imagery of Nekrasov's poetry was its greatest strength».

4. Statements of various creatures and objects , which human fantasy gives the ability to think and speak: statements of animals and their inner speech, statements of mythical creatures, plants, objects of inanimate nature.

For example: When it became completely dark, Kashtanka was overcome by despair and horror. She pressed herself against some entrance and began to cry bitterly.<...>If she were a person, she would probably think: “ No, it’s impossible to live like that! You need to shoot yourself!» (A. Chekhov.)

Sadko entered the white stone room:
The king of the sea sits in his chamber,
The king's head is like a hay heap.
The king says these words:
- Oh, you, Sadko the merchant, a rich guest!
For a century you, Sadko, traveled on the sea,
He did not pay tribute to me, the king.

(Bylina "Sadko".)

PUNCTION MARKS FOR DIRECT SPEECH

In the text, direct speech is highlighted using quotation marks or dashes.

Direct speech is highlighted in quotation marks if it is in a line, without a paragraph (it can appear after the author’s words, before them, or inside them).

We present punctuation marks in sentences with direct speech in the table:

The scheme is proposed by me with direct speech	Example
"P", - a. "P?" - A. "P!" - A. “P...” - ah.	« Flattery and cowardice are the worst vices", Asya said loudly. « Don't you write poetry?“Pyotr Ivanovich suddenly asked. « Oh, it's deep here!“- she said with a laugh. « Don't scare me...“- she asked indifferently.
A: "P". A: “P?” A: “P!” A: “P...”	Here Mishka says: “ No need to argue. I'll try now». Alyonka says: “ I bet it won't work?» The bear shouts: “ It's working out great!» The hostess very often addressed Chichikov with the words: “ You took very little...».
III. Direct speech is broken by the words of the author: If there is no sign at the break site or there is a comma, semicolon, colon or dash, then the author’s words are highlighted on both sides by a comma and a dash, after which the first word is written with a lowercase letter; If there should be a period at the place of the break, then a comma and a dash are placed before the author’s words, after them - a period and a dash, and the second part of direct speech begins with a capital letter; If there is a question or exclamation mark, or an ellipsis at the break in direct speech, then these marks are preserved before the author’s words and a dash is placed after the corresponding mark. After the author's words there is a dot and a dash, the second part of direct speech begins with a capital letter. If the author's words contain two verbs of speech or thought, one of which refers to the first part of direct speech, and the other to the second, a colon and a dash are placed before the second part of direct speech and it begins with a capital letter.
"P, - a, - p." “P, - a. - P". "P? - A. - P". "P! - A. - P". “P... - ah. - P".	« Today, - said my sister, - we need to leave». « We will have to spend the night here,” he said. - You can’t cross the mountains in such a snowstorm». « What are you saying? - exclaimed Marya Gavrilovna.- How strange it is!» « Hello comrades! - he shouted to them. - Great». « No need... - said Vershinin. - No need, guy». « Let's go, it's cold, - Makarov said and asked gloomily: - Why are you keeping silent?» « What should I do? - he thought, and said out loud:- Okay, I'll go with you.».
A: “P” - a. A: “P?” - A. A: “P!” - A.	He said over his shoulder: “Follow me,” and without looking back he walked down the corridor. To my question: “Is the old caretaker alive?” - no one could give me a clear answer. They order him: “Shoot!” - and he shoots.

DIALOGUE. PUNCTION MARKS IN DIALOGUE

Transmitting someone else’s thought while preserving its form and content is also characteristic of dialogue

Dialogue is a conversation between two or more persons.

Dialogue(from Greek dialogos- “conversation, conversation”) is a natural form of direct communication.

The words of each person participating in the conversation are called replicas. The author's words may accompany the remark, or they may be absent. Each line of dialogue usually begins on a new line, is preceded by a dash, and no quotation marks are placed.

The dialogue consists of several replicas (of several, but not less than two). Here is the dialogue between the children, conveyed by M. Prishvin:

This spring, there was still snow in the dense spruce forests at the end of April, but in the swamps it is always much warmer: there was no snow there at that time at all. Having learned about this from people, Mitrasha and Nastya began to gather for cranberries.

Nastya, starting to get ready, hung a large basket over her shoulder on a towel.

- Why do you need a towel? - asked Mitrasha.

- What about it? - Nastya answered. - Don’t you remember how mom went to pick mushrooms?

- For mushrooms? You understand a lot: there are a lot of mushrooms, so it hurts your shoulder.

- And maybe we’ll have even more cranberries.

You see how the dialogue is structured: for every statement contained in a replica of one person, there is necessarily an answer in a replica of another person. The replicas are related to each other in content: they seem to cling to each other. And each of the replicas is constructed as a sentence of direct speech. Punctuation marks are placed in them according to generally accepted rules.

The dialogue is formatted in two ways:

1. Replies each begin in a new paragraph, are not enclosed in quotation marks, and each is preceded by a dash.

For example:

- Will you come?

- Don't know.

2. Replies follow in a line.

For example:

“So are you married? I didn't know before! How long ago?” - "About two years". - "On whom?" - “On Larina.” - “Tatyana?” - “Do you know them?” - “I’m their neighbor”(A.S. Pushkin).

If there are no author’s words between the lines of the dialogue when transmitting it in writing, and the lines themselves are enclosed in quotation marks, then a dash is placed between these lines.

For example: <...>The clerk could not come to his senses. “Well,” the general continued, “tell me: where did you meet Dubrovsky?” - “At two pines, father, at two pines.” - “What did he tell you?” - “He asked me, whose are you, where are you going and why?” - “Well, what about after?” - “And then he demanded a letter and money.” - "Well". - “I gave him the letter and the money.” - “And he?.. Well, what about him?” - “Father, it’s my fault.” - “Well, what did he do?..” - “He returned the money to me and the letter and said: go with God, give it to the post office.”(A. Pushkin.)

In the text nearby there may be sentences of direct speech in quotation marks and sentences - lines of dialogue, highlighted with a dash.

For example:

Spring has come... The bees have woken up from their winter sleep...

The bees flew to the cherry: “ Sweet cherry! Do you have a flower for the hungry bees?“Come see me tomorrow, my dear,” the cherry tree answers them. - Today I still don’t have a single open flower on me.(K. Ushinsky.)

This text contains two sentences of direct speech. The first comes immediately after the sentence of the author's speech, adjacent to it. A dash is placed before the second sentence of direct speech, since this sentence begins a paragraph.

SENTENCES WITH INDIRECT SPEECH

Sentences with indirect speech serve to convey someone else's speech on behalf of the speaker, and not the one who actually said it. Unlike sentences with direct speech, they convey only the content of someone else's speech, but cannot convey all the features of its form and intonation.

Sentences with indirect speech are complex sentences consisting of two parts (the words of the author and indirect speech), which are connected by conjunctions that, as if, so that, or pronouns and adverbs who, what, which, how, where, when, why, etc. , or a particle.

Direct speech can take any position in relation to the author’s words, indirect speech always follows after the author’s words.

For example: I was told, that it was my brother.... (A. Pushkin.) She demanded so that I would look into her eyes and ask if I remember the minnows, our little quarrels, picnics. (A. Chekhov.) We talked about How do the birds I caught live? (M. Gorky.)

Direct speech can be replaced with indirect speech.

Indirect speech with conjunctions that seem to express the content of narrative sentences in someone else's speech.

For example: The hunter said what he saw on the lake of swans. The hunter said as if he saw swans on the lake. Hydrologists reported that in search of new sources of fresh water they explored hundreds of lakes in the steppes.

Compare: « I'll be waiting for you somewhere nearby"- said Valya.(A. Fadeev.) - Valya said, that she will be waiting for me somewhere nearby.

Indirect speech with conjunction to expresses the content of incentive sentences in someone else's speech.

For example: The captain ordered for the boats to be launched. The pike can barely breathe and asks Ivan Tsarevich, so that he would take pity on her and throw her into the blue sea.

Compare: Ivan Fedorovich... asked: “ Name, Lyuba, all the members of the headquarters and describe each of them». (A. Fadeev.) - Ivan Fedorovich asked, for Lyuba to name all the members of the headquarters and describe each of them.

Indirect speech with pronouns and adverbs what, who, which, how, where, where, when, why etc. or whether a particle expresses the content of interrogative sentences in someone else’s speech.

For example: I asked what time it was. We asked those we met where they were going. I asked my friend did he solve this problem?.

Compare: « Are you thinking of playing hide and seek with me?“- said Vanya with annoyance.(A. Fadeev.) - Vanya said with annoyance, Am I thinking about playing hide and seek with him?.

A question conveyed in indirect speech is called an indirect question. There is no question mark after an indirect question.

When replacing sentences with direct speech with sentences with indirect speech, special attention should be paid to the correct use of personal and possessive pronouns, since in indirect speech we convey other people's words on our own behalf. It is also important to understand that not all features of someone else's speech can be conveyed indirectly.

For example, in indirect speech there cannot be appeals, interjections, forms of the imperative mood and many other forms characteristic of oral speech. When translating direct speech into indirect speech, such words and forms are either omitted altogether or replaced by others.

For example: The teacher said: " Alyosha, go get some chalk" - The teacher told Alyosha, so he can go get some chalk.

When transmitted in writing, it requires special punctuation. It depends on the position of direct speech and the author’s words relative to each other.
The following cases are possible:

“It’s good that you came,” said the neighbor.
"I'm so glad to see you!" - said the neighbor.
“Will you come by tomorrow?” - asked the neighbor.

The neighbor said: “It’s good that you came in.”
The neighbor said: “I’m so glad to see you!”
The neighbor asked: “Will you come by tomorrow?”

Scheme:
r.a.: “P.r.”
r.a.: “P.r.!”
r.a.: “P.r.?”

“It’s good,” said the neighbor, “that you came in.”
“Olenka! - said the neighbor. - I'm so glad to see you!"
“Olenka,” the neighbor asked, “will you come in tomorrow?”

Scheme:
“P.r., - r.a., - p.r.”
"Etc.! - r.a. - Etc.!"
“P.r., - r.a., - p.r.?”

Note:

If the first part of direct speech ends with a period, question mark or exclamation mark, then the second part of direct speech begins with a capital letter.
If the first part of direct speech ends with a comma, semicolon, dash, colon, ellipsis, i.e. if the sentence is not complete, then the second part begins with a lowercase (small) letter.

For example:
“Paris is the capital of France,” he corrected his younger sister. “And not Italy.”

“Paris,” he corrected his younger sister, “is the capital of France, not Italy.”

He immediately corrected his younger sister: “Paris is the capital of France, not Italy” - and left the room so as not to interfere with the girls’ communication.

Having said: “Goodbye!”, he left the room so as not to interfere with the girls’ communication.

§2. Punctuation of dialogue

Dialogues and polylogues (conversation between several persons) in fiction, journalism, and more precisely, in printed publications are formatted without the use of quotation marks.

A dash is placed at the beginning of dialogue lines, for example:

“The crowd was noisy, everyone was talking loudly, shouting, cursing, but nothing really could be heard. The doctor approached a young woman holding a fat gray cat in her arms and asked:

Please, explain what is happening here? Why are there so many people, what is the reason for their excitement, and why are the city gates closed?
- The guards are not letting people out of the city...
- Why aren’t they released?
- So that they do not help those who have already left the city...
The woman dropped the fat cat. The cat plopped down like raw dough. The crowd roared."

(Yu. Olesha, Three fat men)

Individual lines can also be styled with dashes:

“When he came to his senses, it was already evening. The doctor looked around:
- What a shame! The glasses, of course, broke. When I look without glasses, I probably see as a non-nearsighted person sees if he wears glasses. It's very unpleasant."

(Yu. Olesha, Three Fat Men)

Note:

If direct speech is combined with the author’s speech, then different punctuation schemes can be used. Punctuation will vary depending on the relationship between direct speech and the author's speech. But quotes are not needed. Direct speech is separated with a dash.

1) R.a.: - P.r. For example:

Then he grumbled about the broken heels:
“I’m already short in stature, and now I’ll be an inch shorter.” Or maybe two inches, because two heels broke off? No, of course, only one inch... (Yu. Olesha, Three Fat Men)

2) - P.r., - r.a. For example:

- Guard! - the seller shouted, not hoping for anything and kicking his legs (Yu. Olesha, Three Fat Men).

3) R.a.: - P.r.! - r.a. For example:

And suddenly the guardsman with a broken nose said:
- Stop! - and raised the torch high (Y. Olesha, Three Fat Men).

4) -P.r., - r.a. - Etc. For example:

- Stop screaming! - he got angry. - Is it possible to scream so loudly! (Yu. Olesha, Three fat men)

That is, the logic of the design of direct speech and the author’s speech is preserved, but quotation marks are not used. Instead, a dash is always placed at the beginning of direct speech.

In contact with

The Russian language is characterized by the complexity of its syntax when using direct speech. Therefore, the role of punctuation marks in it is very great. They must ensure that the reader understands what is written correctly.

To illustrate this fact, the famous phrase “You can’t execute, you can’t have mercy” is often cited. If you move the comma, the meaning of the phrase will change to the opposite.

Punctuation marks and direct speech

Direct speech in this regard is distinguished by a complex combination of highlighting and separating punctuation marks, performing the function of conveying someone else's statement. The colon plays a special role here.

Let's consider several options for presenting direct speech with the correct placement of punctuation marks. When expressing direct speech in writing, the following punctuation marks are used:

• colon;
• dot;
• comma;
• dash;
• question mark;
• Exclamation point;
• quotes.

Direct speech after the author's words

After the author’s words, a colon is placed before direct speech, and the first word of direct speech is written with a capital letter. Direct speech itself is enclosed in quotation marks if it is in a line.

He rushed to him with the question: “Why did you come? What do you need here?

In the middle of a crowded street, he pointedly pushed him with his shoulder and said: “Boy, I’ve seen you somewhere.”

However, a colon is not placed if direct speech is between two sentences, and the second of them contains words introducing direct speech.

He quickly wrote a few lines on a piece of paper and handed it to me.

“Go to Professor Sergeev and talk to him about this topic,” he said in a commanding voice.

Direct speech before the author's words

1 When direct speech is given within a narrative text, it is placed in quotation marks, and a comma and a dash are placed before the author’s words.

“Now, Anton, now” , - Galina Fedorovna responds touched.

2 If we are talking about dialogue, then direct speech is highlighted with a dash on one side and a comma with a dash on the other.

“Now, Anton, now,” Galina Fedorovna answers touchingly.

Read more about this below in the section “Punctuation marks in dialogue”

3 When, after direct speech, there is an author’s remark that begins with the words:

• "so they say"
• "so he says"
• "it should be so"
• "that's how it looks"

then after the quotation marks only a dash is placed.

“They laid down their heads honestly” - this is what they say about those killed in the war.

The same rule applies to the connecting construction at the end of a sentence.

“Every cricket know its nest” - weak people follow this rule.

Direct speech within the author's words

1 When direct speech occurs within the author’s words, a colon is placed before it, and after it a comma or a dash (optional). Usually, if there is a question or exclamation mark at the end of direct speech, then a dash is added. In other cases - a comma.

Galina gently warned her husband: “Look, don’t go there for long.” , and went back to the kitchen to tinker with dinner.

He wandered around the city for a long time before deciding to ask: “Where can I eat cheaply here?” - but no one knew.

2 Between two replicas of different persons located within the author’s text, a comma and a dash are placed.

Ivan often said: “It wouldn’t hurt to take a walk” - “Yes, take a walk, clear your head” , - answered Antonina.

Loud “Long live the revolution!” rushed through the streets.

Important! And again everything is not so simple. When a genuine expression is preceded by the words “sentence”, “inscription”, “thought” and so on, then in such cases a colon is still placed.

He stopped in front of a carelessly written sign: “Hardware and Other Household Supplies.”

Kuravin was always running around with the thought: “How about something to eat.”

Author's words inside direct speech

1 Quotation marks are placed only at the beginning and end of direct speech and are not placed between direct speech and the author’s words.

“How much does a room in this hotel cost? - Bobrov asked uncertainly, “My finances are tight.”

2 If there should be a colon where the author’s words break in direct speech, then the author’s words are highlighted on one side by a dash, and on the other by a comma and a dash, after which the first word is written with a lowercase letter.

“We will stand until the last bullet,” the captain reported, “we would have to stand for a day and hold out for the night. There is no other option."

The captain reported: “We will stand until the last bullet: we would have to stand for a day and hold out for the night. There is no other option."

3 If there are two verbs with the meaning of a statement inside the author’s text, one of which refers to the first part of direct speech, and the other to the second, then a colon is placed after the author’s words, while the second part of direct speech is written with a capital letter.

"Where have you been? - strictly asked father, then somehow his voice sank and almost painfully added : No matter how hard I tried, nothing good came out of you.”

“Well, you get ready for the table, and I’ll walk a little,” Boychuk said softly, put on his coat, took a stick and, already opening the front door, said: “I’ll be there in an hour.”

Paragraphs for direct speech

Direct speech can be in a line (this is called selection) or in a paragraph.

The first was more often used by writers of the past. In modern literature, writing direct speech in a line is used only in the case of a short, small phrase or when a character’s internal monologue is being stated.

“He walked and thought passionately: “Now I’ll find him, and let him try not to answer me frankly.” If he starts to play around, I will destroy him without any regret. Let it be discouraging for others to mock a weak person.”

Paragraphs in direct speech give the story a faster pace, greater expression, greater entertainment, and interrupt a tedious, long story.

Sasha spoke in a barely audible whisper :

- I do not feel good. Very.

Paragraphs are widely used in active dialogue.

Punctuation marks in dialogue

Dialogue in modern literature is formatted in the form of separate paragraphs, each of which is preceded by a dash.

- And here our uncle has arrived. We thought he had completely forgotten us.

Victor carefully opened the edge of the blanket and looked at the wrinkled face:

- How old is he?

- She is already two months old. But my uncle didn’t even send a postcard.

- You are good too. If they could have given me a telegram, I would have come right away.

“As luck would have it, I lost your address,” the mother explained guiltily.

If the remarks are nevertheless included in the selection, without indicating who they belong to, then each of them is enclosed in quotation marks and separated from the next dash.

“How long will you stay with us?” “I don’t know myself, everything will depend on the circumstances” - Oh, those circumstances. Spit on them and please us for at least a week.”

In Russian, any “foreign” speech expressed verbatim and included in the author’s text is called direct. In conversation, she stands out with pauses and intonation. And in a letter it can be highlighted in two ways: in one line “in selection” or by writing each remark from a paragraph. Direct speech, to form it correctly, is a rather difficult topic for children. Therefore, when studying rules alone, it is not enough; there must be clear examples of writing such sentences.

How to highlight dialogue in writing

Direct speech “dialogue”, punctuation marks and the formatting of conversations in writing is a rather complex topic that needs to be properly understood. Firstly, remarks belonging to different persons are most often recorded from a paragraph. For example:

- Look into that nest over there: is there anything there?

- There is nothing. Not a single egg!

- Are there any shells near the nest?

- There are no shells!

- What's happened!? It's not like some kind of animal is in the habit of stealing eggs - we need to trace it!

Two persons, designed using paragraph marking, in which each new paragraph with a remark from one of the interlocutors must always begin with a dash and a capital letter. Replies may consist of one or more exclamation or interrogative types.

Secondly, direct speech, after which punctuation marks are placed in a special order, can be written in one line. To format the dialogue in this way “in a selection” without indicating who exactly they belong to, each of them must be enclosed in quotation marks and highlighted with a dash. For example:

“Well, what are you doing?” - “I’m afraid, what if the ladder falls?” - “The ladder won’t fall, but you might drop the basket with eggs!”

If one of the statements is followed by author's notes, the dash before the next phrase is omitted. And a comma and a dash are placed before the author’s words.

“She’s sleeping,” Tanya said. “Show me where he sleeps!”

Direct speech before and after the author's text

If, in writing a conversation between several people, the author’s preliminary words are included, then a colon is placed after them. Moreover, it is also mandatory in cases where there is no verb that determines the continuation of the conversation, but direct speech is clearly visible. For example:

Mother smiled:

- You are my smart girl!

This phrase can also be written in one line, only then you need to use quotes: For example:

The mother smiled: “My good girl!”

It is worth noting that unspoken thoughts or inner speech of the author are always highlighted in quotation marks, regardless of where in the sentence it is located. Echo sounds are also placed in quotation marks in writing. For example:

“Now I’d like some hot tea,” he thought.

I stand and think: “Why is this rain?”

"Hey, people?" - the echo repeated loudly.

Before writing words of direct speech, always put a colon after the author’s words and open quotation marks. The remark always begins with a capital letter, an exclamation point is placed before the closing quotation marks, or a period is placed only after the quotation marks.

Special cases of formatting direct speech

There are some cases where after the words of the author there is direct speech, the punctuation marks in which are slightly different from those described above. Namely, if in the absence of a verb denoting the subsequent remark, it is impossible to put the words “and said”, “and thought”, “and exclaimed”, “and asked” and the like, in such cases a colon is not placed after the author’s notes. For example:

Nobody wanted to leave.

- Tell us another story!

My words confused everyone.

- So you don't trust us?

How to highlight a quote in an email

Quotations given in the text are distinguished using approximately the same rules. If it is not given in full, then an ellipsis is placed where the words are missing. As a rule, quotations are always separated by commas, even if they are similar to Before a quotation with the first words omitted, they begin to be written with an ellipsis and, if it is located in the middle of a sentence, then with a lowercase one. Here, as in the case of direct speech, colons and dashes are used, which are placed according to already known rules regarding the location of the quotation.

Author's notes inside direct speech

In the case where the author’s words need to be inserted into direct speech in the text, the statements are enclosed in quotation marks along with the author’s notes. For example:

“I’ll go to my grandmother,” the kid said, “and that’s all!”

There are cases when quotation marks are not used at all, commas are used instead:

• If there is no clear identification of the person to whom the remark belongs, or when a well-known proverb is used in the text.
• When it is difficult to determine whether we are talking directly or indirectly.
• If the statement includes the word “says”. For example: He says, I’ll show you again!
• If the statement contains an indication of the source. Most often this applies to periodicals. For example: The speech from the stage, the correspondent notes, blew up the hall with applause.

If, when breaking statements, direct speech should not have ended with any sign, or a comma, dash, colon or semicolon was provided, then a comma and a dash are placed before the author’s words, and a period and a dash are placed at the end. Then the rest of the replica is written in capital letters. For example:

“I’ll be gone for a few minutes,” said Helen. “I’ll be there soon.”

In cases where in the first part of direct speech there should have been a question or exclamation mark before the break, it is placed before the dash and the author's words, after which they put a period and then direct speech continues after the dash. The ellipsis with colon is also preserved.

Instead of a conclusion

Direct speech, which is not so difficult to learn, is found very often in literary works. Therefore, books can be a good visual aid for studying this topic. After all, visual perception, together with knowledge of the rules, can well consolidate knowledge on the topic “Direct Speech” in memory.

Punctuation marks, sentence patterns with the location of direct speech and quotations in the text are studied at school for many years, which is understandable, because this section of the Russian language is quite voluminous and has many subtleties. However, the basic rules that are most often used in writing are not that difficult to remember.