what is quotation marks?
" . . . "
http://www.studyzone.org/testprep/ela4/j/quotationmarksl.cfm
what is a linking verb?
http://www.chompchomp.com/terms/linkingverb.htm
Quotation marks, also known as speech marks or quotes, are punctuation marks used to indicate direct speech, a quotation, or to highlight words or phrases that are being discussed or referred to. In written English, quotation marks are usually represented by a pair of double quotation marks (") or a pair of single quotation marks ('), depending on the style guide being used.
To understand the concept of quotation marks, it's helpful to see them in action. Consider the following example:
Direct speech:
John said, "I will be there tomorrow."
Quotation:
The article states, "According to recent research, laughter is the best medicine."
Highlighted words or phrases:
The word "happy" can have many different meanings depending on the context.
To use quotation marks correctly, follow these guidelines:
1. Start the quotation with an opening quotation mark (") or single quotation mark ('), placed before the first word of the quote.
2. End the quotation with a closing quotation mark (") or single quotation mark ('), placed after the last word of the quote.
3. Use double quotation marks (") as the standard choice for enclosing a quote or direct speech.
4. Use single quotation marks (') mainly when quoting within a quote or when indicating a special use, such as highlighting a word or phrase.
Remember to be consistent in your use of quotation marks and follow any specific style guidelines required by the publisher or organization you are writing for.