Speech second: inverted commas and punctuation rules
I can accurately punctuate a speech second sentence.
Speech second: inverted commas and punctuation rules
I can accurately punctuate a speech second sentence.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- Direct speech is the term used for a character speaking out loud in a text.
- A speech second sentence begins with the reporting clause followed by a character's spoken words.
- The reporting clause comes before the speech to show who said the speech and how.
- The speech sentence spoken by a character must start with a capital letter.
Keywords
Direct speech - the term used for a character speaking out loud in a text
Speech second sentence - a sentence that includes direct speech second after the reporting clause
Inverted commas - a pair of punctuation marks that signal direct speech to the reader
Reporting clause - a clause that tells the reader who said the speech sentence and how
Speech first sentence - a sentence that includes direct speech first before the reporting clause
Common misconception
Pupils may omit the comma after the reporting clause, or they may use a comma to end the sentence.
Reinforce the point that commas are never used to close a sentence, even in speech second sentences.
To help you plan your year 4 english lesson on: Speech second: inverted commas and punctuation rules, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 4 english lesson on: Speech second: inverted commas and punctuation rules, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 english lessons from the Apostrophes and speech punctuation unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
asked Andeep kindly.
Alex shouted in anger.
offered Sam with a smile.
used at the end of a question
used to show strong emotions
not used in a speech first sentence
used when there is no strong emotion