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Uses inverted commas and other punctuation to indicate direct speech

(e.g. The conductor shouted, “Sit down!”)

Year 4 Autumn Transition Therapy

Teacher Guidance

❑Children should already have experience of identifying and starting to use inverted commas (see Year 3 GPS resources).

❑Year 5 GPS resources which build on this are available on PrimaryWise.

Common misconceptions to be aware of:

❑Incorrect belief that a capital letter should only be used for the first word in the sentence. Reality: a capital should be used for the first word of the writer’s sentence and the speaker’s sentence, e.g. Tom said, “Hello.”

❑Incorrect belief that a capital letter should be used for the first word of the reporting clause (e.g. “How are you?” He asked). Reality: the reporting clause does not require a capital letter unless it begins with a proper noun or is at the start of the writer’s sentence, e.g. He asked, “How are you?”

Teacher Guidance

Common misconceptions to be aware of:

❑Assumption that a question mark or exclamation mark should go at the very end of the sentence. Reality: if a question mark or exclamation mark is required, it should go at the end of the speaker’s sentence; this may not be the end of the writer’s sentence, e.g. “What are you doing?” he asked.

❑Confusion about where to place inverted commas (before/after/above other punctuation). Reality: inverted commas should be placed before the first word of the speech and after the final sentence punctuation at the end of the speech, e.g. “That’s mine,” she announced.

Shades of meaningPut these words in order. Explain how you have ordered them.

yelled

shouted

shrieked

cried

boomed

Vocabulary

Inverted commas

Inverted commas

Inverted commas are also known as speech marks and quotation marks. Inverted commas show what is being said.

“ ”Sometimes, they might look like a small 66 and 99.

Sometimes, they might look like two small lines.

Inverted commas

Inverted commas go around the words that are being spoken.

“I am getting fed up of this,” grumbled Jack.

Jack grumbled, “I am getting fed up of this.”

words that are being spoken

words that are being spoken

Inverted commas

Inverted commas are always placed before the first word of the speech and after the end punctuation of the speech.

“Which one shall we choose?” asked Mr Aktar.

Mr Aktar asked, “Which one shall we choose?”

first word of speech end punctuation of the speech

first word of speech end punctuation of the speech

“Wait for me!” yelled Jakob.

Jakob yelled, “Wait for me!”

Inverted commas

The reporting clause tells us who is speaking. It is never punctuated with inverted commas. The ‘said’ verb is never capitalised.

reporting clause

reporting clause

Inverted commas

The speech sentence must contain the correct end punctuation.

If the end of the speech sentence is also the end of your sentence, this will usually be a full stop, question mark or exclamation mark.

Mila whispered, “I’m scared.” . at the end of sentence

Mila exclaimed, “This is fun!” ! to add emphasis

Mila asked, “What time is it?” ? as it is a question

Inverted commas

The speech sentence must contain the correct end punctuation.

If the end of the speech sentence is not the end of your sentence, this might be a comma but we can also use a question mark or exclamation mark.

“I’m scared,” whispered Mila. , at the end of the speech

“This is fun!” exclaimed Mila. ! to add emphasis

“What time is it?” asked Mila. ? as it is a question

Remember

If the reporting clause is at the beginning, use a comma before you start the speech to allow the reader to pause and change their voice, if needed.

Miss Sykes announced, “I declare the reading hut open.”

If the reporting clause is at the end, you will already have used a comma, exclamation mark or question mark at the end of the character’s sentence.

“I declare the reading hut open,” announced Miss Sykes.

Your turn

Rewrite the sentences below, inserting the correct punctuation.

Which have more than one option?

Kim asked, “Which direction is the museum in”

The wizard scolded, “Don’t touch my wand”

Jamil mumbled, “I’m sorry”

The crowd chanted, “Where’s the band”

How did you do?

Rewrite the sentences below, inserting the correct punctuation.

Kim asked, “Which direction is the museum in?”

The wizard scolded, “Don’t touch my wand!”

Jamil mumbled, “I’m sorry.”

The crowd chanted, “Where’s the band?”

Exclamation marks and full stops are often a matter of preference.

Your turn

Rewrite the sentences below, inserting the correct punctuation.

Which have more than one option?

“Why do I have to do this” he complained.

“I broke it” confessed Layla.

“Watch this” shouted Ramon.

“I do not agree at all” argued Mr Okoli.

How did you do it?

Rewrite the sentences below, inserting the correct punctuation.

“Why do I have to do this?” he complained.

“I broke it,” confessed Layla.

“Watch this!” shouted Ramon.

“I do not agree at all,” argued Mr Okoli.

Exclamation marks and full stops are often a matter of preference.

Your turn

Insert the missing commas.

Ali laughed “I’m only joking!”

James growled “Leave me alone.”

“Have fun” he grinned.

Miss Rajesh cautioned “The floor is slippery here.”

How did you do?

Insert the missing commas.

Ali laughed, “I’m only joking!”

James growled, “Leave me alone.”

“Have fun,” he grinned.

Miss Rajesh cautioned, “The floor is slippery here.”

Your turn

Tick two boxes to show where the inverted commas should be placed.

The band of goblins yelled , Attack !

A C

B E

D

Your turn

Tick two boxes to show where the inverted commas should be placed.

The band of goblins yelled , Attack !

A C

B E

D

Your turn

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

Which are not? Explain what is wrong.

“How will you record your results” questioned the teacher.

“How will you record your results?” questioned the teacher.

“How will you record your results” Questioned the teacher.

“How will you record your results,” questioned the teacher.

How did you do?

Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

Which are not? Explain what is wrong.

“How will you record your results” questioned the teacher.

“How will you record your results?” questioned the teacher.

“How will you record your results” Questioned the teacher.

“How will you record your results,” questioned the teacher.

Your turn

where shall we go after lunch asked milanna

hana answered we could go to the pond

Remember: inverted commas are used around the words that are being spoken.

Rewrite the speech sentences below using the correct punctuation.

How did you do?

“Where shall we go after lunch?” asked Milanna.

Hana answered, “We could go to the pond.”

Remember: inverted commas are used around the words that are being spoken.

Rewrite the speech sentences below using the correct punctuation.

Your turn

“Put that down.” Ordered Eli.

“Can you fix this” asked Becky?

Explain two mistakes with the way in which each sentence below has been punctuated.

How did you do?

“Put that down.” Ordered Eli.

There should be a comma or an exclamation mark after ‘down’ as it is not the end of the writer’s sentence. ‘Ordered’ should not have a capital letter as it is

not the start of the writer’s sentence or the speech sentence.

“Can you fix this” asked Becky?

The question mark should be after ‘this’ as this is the end of the question sentence. There should be a full stop after ‘Becky’.

Explain two mistakes with the way in which each sentence below has been punctuated.

Reflection

• Use inverted commas around the words that are being spoken.

• Both your sentence and the speech sentence must start with a capital letter.

• Make sure you use the correct end punctuation for your sentence as well as the speech sentence.

• If the reporting clause is at the beginning, use a comma before you start the speech.