KS1 Dialogue Tags | Writing Speech using Unusual Tags

English Quiz - Dialogue Tags (Whispered, Shouted, Exclaimed) (Questions)

This dialogue tags quiz helps KS1 children identify the difference between the words ‘whispered’, ‘shouted’ and ‘exclaimed’. These skills will aid their comprehension abilities as well as dialogue as outlined in the National Curriculum. In addition, it will improve their English and literacy repertoire.

When somebody in a story speaks, the writer tells us by using speech marks and writes ‘said Izzy.’ Sometimes, ‘said’ isn’t the best word to use as the character might be shouting, whispering or exclaiming. By writing a different verb for how the character is speaking, we can understand the story better.

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Which dialogue tag suggests the character is speaking quietly?

[ ]	exclaimed
[ ]	whispered
[ ]	shouted
[ ]	said

Which dialogue tag suggests the character is angry?

[ ]	shouted
[ ]	said
[ ]	whispered
[ ]	exclaimed

Which dialogue tag suggests the character is excited?

[ ]	exclaimed
[ ]	shouted
[ ]	said
[ ]	whispered

"Don't you dare do that!" Which tag should follow?

[ ]	whispered the teacher.
[ ]	said the teacher.
[ ]	exclaimed the teacher.
[ ]	shouted the teacher.

"That's hot!" Which tag should follow?

[ ]	whispered Tom.
[ ]	exclaimed Tom.
[ ]	answered Tom.
[ ]	replied Tom.

Why would we use 'whispered' for this picture?

[ ]	Because the character will be speaking loudly.
[ ]	Because she wants everyone to hear what she is going to say.
[ ]	Because she wants everyone to see her.
[ ]	Because the character will be speaking quietly.

Look at the picture. Which of these answers is correct?

[ ]	"Drive slower," he said.
[ ]	"Drive slower," he whispered.
[ ]	"Drive slower!" he shouted.
[ ]	"Drive slower," he exclaimed.

Which of these answers is correct?

[ ]	"You got me a gift!" shouted Rose.
[ ]	"You got me a gift!" replied Rose.
[ ]	"You got me a gift!" Rose.
[ ]	"You got me a gift!" exclaimed Rose.

Which answer is perfect?

[ ]	"I said I don't want it! shouted the woman.
[ ]	"I said I don't want it!" whispered the woman.
[ ]	I said I don't want it!" shouted the woman.
[ ]	"I said I don't want it!" shouted the woman.

10.

Look at the picture. Which answer is most fitting?

[ ]	"Don't tell anyone," whispered Tash.
[ ]	"I'm going to tell everyone!" exclaimed Peter.
[ ]	"I hate you!" shouted Louise.
[ ]	"You make me want to scream!" shouted Hayley.

English Quiz - Dialogue Tags (Whispered, Shouted, Exclaimed) (Answers)

Which dialogue tag suggests the character is speaking quietly?

[ ]	exclaimed
[x]	whispered
[ ]	shouted
[ ]	said

The word whispered tells us how the character is speaking. From this information, we know the character wants whatever is being said to be a secret.

Which dialogue tag suggests the character is angry?

[x]	shouted
[ ]	said
[ ]	whispered
[ ]	exclaimed

We tend to shout when we are angry, so the word 'said' wouldn't really be appropriate.

Which dialogue tag suggests the character is excited?

[x]	exclaimed
[ ]	shouted
[ ]	said
[ ]	whispered

The word 'exclaimed' means to shout out, this could be in joy, excitement or in pain.

"Don't you dare do that!" Which tag should follow?

[ ]	whispered the teacher.
[ ]	said the teacher.
[ ]	exclaimed the teacher.
[x]	shouted the teacher.

Often, if a character is shouting, we would end their speech with an exclamation mark.

"That's hot!" Which tag should follow?

[ ]	whispered Tom.
[x]	exclaimed Tom.
[ ]	answered Tom.
[ ]	replied Tom.

Tom wouldn't shout this because the word 'shout' sounds angry but he would say this loudly and in surprise, which is why 'exclaimed' is the best word.

Why would we use 'whispered' for this picture?

[ ]	Because the character will be speaking loudly.
[ ]	Because she wants everyone to hear what she is going to say.
[ ]	Because she wants everyone to see her.
[x]	Because the character will be speaking quietly.

If a character is hiding, we would use the tag 'whispered'.

Look at the picture. Which of these answers is correct?

[ ]	"Drive slower," he said.
[ ]	"Drive slower," he whispered.
[x]	"Drive slower!" he shouted.
[ ]	"Drive slower," he exclaimed.

The faster somebody drives, the less time they'll have to react in an emergency - that's why we drive to the speed limit.

Which of these answers is correct?

[ ]	"You got me a gift!" shouted Rose.
[ ]	"You got me a gift!" replied Rose.
[ ]	"You got me a gift!" Rose.
[x]	"You got me a gift!" exclaimed Rose.

When somebody speaks, we always use speech marks and often a dialogue tag. The tag will help you understand how they are saying it.

Which answer is perfect?

[ ]	"I said I don't want it! shouted the woman.
[ ]	"I said I don't want it!" whispered the woman.
[ ]	I said I don't want it!" shouted the woman.
[x]	"I said I don't want it!" shouted the woman.

Even if there is a dialogue tag, a character isn't considered to have spoken unless there are open and closed speech marks.

10.

Look at the picture. Which answer is most fitting?

[x]	"Don't tell anyone," whispered Tash.
[ ]	"I'm going to tell everyone!" exclaimed Peter.
[ ]	"I hate you!" shouted Louise.
[ ]	"You make me want to scream!" shouted Hayley.

We can use pictures as well as text to help us understand what is going on. We can see from this picture that there are two girls whispering so answer number two can't be true.