any teachers around just for a minute?

[cutekids]

I was always good at English but i'm obviously slowly losing it....If you were to punctuate the sentence:
Is it playtime yet asked Derek. ?
Am I right in thinking this is how it goes?...
"Is it playtime yet?",asked Derek.
(Do you put a comma after the punctuation marks?)

No, just the question mark (inside the speech marks)

so:
"Is it playtime yet?"asked Derek.
????

Yes, that's correct but obv with a space after you close the speech marks.

"It's time to go home",said Mr Smith.OR
"It's time to go home,"said Mr Smith.

Just to add that the reason you don't use the comma is because you are using a question mark which is, in effect, a full stop which demarcates to a question.

The second one because all the relevant punctuation should fall within the speech marks.

You do not actually need a comma, but if you were to put it in, it would be after the speech marks, as it's not part of the spoken words, but part of the sentence structure

"Is it playtime yet?" asked Derek. would be correct, IMHO (used to be a teacher!)

Although I'd use an exclamation mark instead!

thankyou both of you.
So CC, If I had the sentence,
It's time to go home.said Mr Smith
would it be....
"It's time to go home,"said Mr.Smith.
???SORRY ABOUT THIS.

Hmm... I disagree AMM. Though happy to admit I'm wrong.

Yes, but I wouldn't use a comma because he has finished his sentence. Use an exclamation mark or a full stop.

oh!!!Everyone answered all at once then.Sorry about that and Thanks everyone.Can't believe i've forgotten so much!