4th Grade Punctuation

• 4th grade
• Common Core L.4.2
• 2 lessons

4th grade punctuation focuses on dialogue and quotations, and the comma that goes before and, but or so in a compound sentence. Every lesson below takes about 10 minutes and has a quiz and a free worksheet.

4th grade punctuation lessons, in order

Most schools teach these in roughly this order. Each builds on the one before, so start at the top if you're not sure where your child is.

1. 1. Quotation Marks in DialogueUsing commas and quotation marks in dialogue. L.3.2c, L.4.2b
2. 2. Commas Before And, But and SoUsing a comma before a coordinating conjunction in a compound sentence. L.4.2c

Review from earlier grades: Commas in Addresses, Capitalizing Titles.

What the standards say

These are the Common Core 4th grade punctuation standards the lessons on this page cover. Most US states use the same or very similar goals.

• L.4.2b: Use commas and quotation marks to mark direct speech and quotations from a text.
• L.4.2c: Use a comma before a coordinating conjunction in a compound sentence.

Mixed review quiz

Ten questions drawn from the 4th grade lessons: quotation marks in dialogue, commas before and, but and so. Tap the speaker to hear a question read aloud. Use it as a quick check before a test or at the end of a unit; any question your child misses points to the lesson to revisit.

1. 1.Which is correct?

   🔈
   Leo said, "I'm hungry." Leo said, "I'm hungry". Leo said "I'm hungry."
   Show answer

   Leo said, "I'm hungry."

2. 2.Does this need a comma? Mia ran and jumped.

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   no yes
   Show answer

   No. Ran and jumped share one subject.

3. 3.When should you start a new paragraph in dialogue?

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   every time the speaker changes after every sentence
   Show answer

   every time the speaker changes.

4. 4.Which is correct?

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   I was tired but happy. I was tired, but happy.
   Show answer

   I was tired but happy.

5. 5.Where does the comma go? Mom asked "Are you ready?"

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   after asked after ready
   Show answer

   Mom asked, "Are you ready?"

6. 6.Does this need a comma? Sam picked up his bag and left.

   🔈
   no yes
   Show answer

   No.

7. 7.Which needs quotation marks?

   🔈
   Leo said that he was tired. Leo said, I'm tired.
   Show answer

   Leo said, "I'm tired." Those are his exact words.

8. 8.Which is correct?

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   It rained, so we stayed in. It rained so, we stayed in. It rained so we stayed in.
   Show answer

   It rained, so we stayed in.

9. 9.Which is correct?

   🔈
   Dad said, "Dinner is ready." Dad said, "dinner is ready."
   Show answer

   Dad said, "Dinner is ready."

10. 10.Does this need a comma? Mia ran and Leo jumped.

    🔈
    yes no
    Show answer

    Yes: Mia ran, and Leo jumped.

4th grade punctuation worksheets

• Quotation Marks in DialogueAdd quotation marks and commas, fix punctuation in dialogue, flip the speaker and write a short conversation.
• Commas Before And, But and SoDecide comma or no comma, add commas to compound sentences, fix run-ons and combine sentences.

Practicing punctuation at home

Read the writing aloud.

Where your child stops, a period probably belongs. Where they pause, maybe a comma.

Hunt in real books.

Find a comma in a list, a question mark or quotation marks, and ask why it's there.

Write real things.

Thank-you notes, lists and comic strips practice letters, commas and quotation marks with a real reader.

One mark a week.

Focus on one rule this week. Fixing everything at once turns writing into a page of corrections.

More 4th grade practice

See every reading and writing skill for the year on the 4th grade page, or the 4th grade grammar lessons. Other grades: 3rd grade punctuation and 5th grade punctuation. All lessons: punctuation.

Last reviewed: November 11, 2026

Questions parents ask