Skip to content
Oak National Academy
Oak National Academy
Teachers
Pupils
New
New
Year 6

Speech three ways

I can accurately punctuate a speech first, speech second or speech interrupted sentence.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils
New
New
Year 6

Speech three ways

I can accurately punctuate a speech first, speech second or speech interrupted sentence.

Download all resources
Share activities with pupils

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Direct speech is the term used for a character speaking out loud in a text.
  2. Inverted commas are the punctuation that signal direct speech to the reader.
  3. A speech first sentence begins with a character's spoken words.
  4. A speech second sentence begins with the reporting clause followed by a character's spoken words.
  5. A speech interrupted sentence begins with a character's spoken words and they are interrupted by the reporting clause.

Common misconception

Pupils may struggle to choose a position in which to interrupt a speech sentence.

Encourage pupils to think of the complete sentence they want to say and interrupt it at a comma.

Keywords

  • Direct speech - the term used for a character speaking out loud in a text

  • Inverted commas - a pair of punctuation marks that signal direct speech to the reader

  • Speech sentence - a sentence that includes direct speech

  • Reporting clause - a clause that tells the reader who said the speech sentence and how

Model using the full range of features in reporting clauses - synonyms for 'said', adverbs, actions, adverbial clauses, non-finite (-ing) clauses and others.
Teacher tip

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Video

Skip video

Loading...

Starter quiz

Download starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
Which punctuation marks have been used in the following detailed list? 'I bought a number of items: soft, white bread; thick, creamy butter; and fresh, brown eggs.'
Correct answer: colon
Correct answer: commas
Correct answer: semi-colons
exclamation marks
Q2.
When does a list need semi-colons?
when the items are very long
when the items don't contain commas
Correct answer: when the items contain commas
when the items contain adjectives
Q3.
Which of these items might have come from a detailed list that uses semi-colons?
bread
Correct answer: warm, crusty bread
Correct answer: warm bread, dripping with melted butter
Correct answer: warm bread, which is coated in butter
Q4.
For what reasons are there commas in the following list? 'She saw incredible creatures: tiny ants, scuttling around; huge, hairy insects; and small, fast-moving bats.'
Correct answer: to demarcate a non-finite (-ing) clause
to demarcate a relative clause
Correct answer: between two adjectives in an expanded noun phrase
to introduce the list
Q5.
What are the problems in the following detailed list? 'He saw some beautiful creatures: tiny, bright birds, flying around, big, lumbering wombats, and enormous, colourful butterflies.'
there are no commas
Correct answer: there are no semi-colons
it is clear what the list items are
Correct answer: it is not clear what the list items are
Q6.
Which language features are used in the following list item? 'a vast, snow-covered iceberg, which bobbed in the ocean'
Correct answer: an expanded noun phrase with two listed adjectives
Correct answer: a relative clause
a non-finite (-ing) clause
an adverbial clause

Exit quiz

Download exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.
What is the purpose of a reporting clause?
Correct answer: to say who spoke
Correct answer: to say how they spoke
to say what they said
Correct answer: to say what they were doing as they spoke
Q2.
Which of the following can we see in this reporting clause? 'muttered Alex coldly, pushing his hair away from his eyes'
Correct answer: a synonym for said
Correct answer: an adverb
Correct answer: a non-finite (-ing) clause
an adverbial clause
Q3.
Which speech second sentence is punctuated correctly?
The woman enquired angrily, "Is no-one working here today"?
The woman enquired angrily "Is no-one working here today?"
Correct answer: The woman enquired angrily, "Is no-one working here today?"
Q4.
Which speech first sentence is punctuated correctly?
"What's the problem" Aisha demanded crossly with her arms folded.
Correct answer: "What's the problem?" Aisha demanded crossly with her arms folded.
"what's the problem?" Aisha demanded crossly with her arms folded.
Q5.
Match the type of speech sentence to the example.
Correct Answer:speech first,"Now, let's get moving!" bellowed Mr Martinez.

"Now, let's get moving!" bellowed Mr Martinez.

Correct Answer:speech second,Mr Martinez bellowed, "Now, let's get moving!"

Mr Martinez bellowed, "Now, let's get moving!"

Correct Answer:speech interrupted,"Now," bellowed Mr Martinez, "let's get moving!"

"Now," bellowed Mr Martinez, "let's get moving!"

Q6.
Which speech interrupted sentence is punctuated correctly?
"You have to come" whined Jacob, "or I'll be the only one there!"
Correct answer: "You have to come," whined Jacob, "or I'll be the only one there!"
"You have to come," whined Jacob, "Or I'll be the only one there!"