What is an Attributive Tag? Definition and Examples for AP Lang

📚 Quick Study Guide

• 🏷️ An attributive tag identifies the speaker in a direct quote and comes *within* the quoted material.
• ✍️ The basic formula: "[Quoted Material]," he said, "[More Quoted Material]."
• 📍 Punctuation is key! The first part of the quote ends with a comma, question mark, or exclamation point, *inside* the quotation marks.
• 🗣️ Common attributive tag verbs include: said, stated, exclaimed, questioned, replied, and added.
• ⚠️ The second part of the quote starts with a lowercase letter unless it begins with a proper noun or the pronoun 'I'.
• 📝 Example: "I disagree," she said, "because the evidence is flawed."
• 💡 Attributive tags help you integrate quotes smoothly and clearly.

Practice Quiz

1. Which of the following sentences uses an attributive tag correctly?
   1. "I think," he said. "It's a good idea."
   2. "I think," he said, "it's a good idea."
   3. "I think," he said, "It's a good idea."
   4. "I think," he said "it's a good idea."
2. What is the primary function of an attributive tag?
   1. To add unnecessary words to a sentence.
   2. To confuse the reader.
   3. To identify the speaker of a quote.
   4. To replace the quote entirely.
3. Which punctuation mark typically follows the first part of a quote before an attributive tag?
   1. A period.
   2. A semicolon.
   3. A comma.
   4. A colon.
4. Which of the following is NOT a common verb used in attributive tags?
   1. Said.
   2. Exclaimed.
   3. Whispered.
   4. Implied.
5. In the sentence, "This is great," she shouted, "I love it!", is the attributive tag used correctly?
   1. Yes.
   2. No, the second part of the quote should start with a lowercase 'i'.
   3. No, the comma should be outside the quotation marks.
   4. No, "shouted" is not a proper attributive verb.
6. Choose the sentence with the correctly placed attributive tag.
   1. "The cake is a lie", he exclaimed, "it was never real!".
   2. "The cake is a lie," he exclaimed "it was never real!".
   3. "The cake is a lie," he exclaimed, "it was never real!".
   4. "The cake is a lie" he exclaimed "it was never real!".
7. Which of the following sentences demonstrates an incorrect use of capitalization after an attributive tag?
   1. "This is correct," she said, "I know it is."
   2. "This is correct," she said, "i know it is."
   3. "This is correct," she said, "it is."
   4. "This is correct," she said, "Maybe so."