New
New
Year 3
Speech first: punctuation rules
I can punctuate a speech first sentence.
New
New
Year 3
Speech first: punctuation rules
I can punctuate a speech first sentence.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Direct speech is the term used for a character speaking out loud in a text.
- There is a set of rules for how to accurately punctuate direct speech.
- Inverted commas are the punctuation marks that signal direct speech to the reader.
- The speech sentence spoken by a character must start with a capital letter.
- If direct speech comes first in a sentence with the reporting clause second, it can be called a speech first sentence.
Keywords
Direct speech - the term used for a character speaking out loud in a text
Reporting clause - a clause that tells the reader who said the speech and how
Clause - a group of words that contains a verb
Speech first sentence - a sentence that includes direct speech first before the reporting clause
Inverted commas - a pair of punctuation marks that signals direct speech to the reader
Common misconception
Pupils may not know what 'speech first' means.
Explain that if the direct speech opens or comes first in the sentence with the reporting clause afterwards or second, this can be referred to as a speech first sentence.
Ensure that you use the same graphic representation of the speech first sentence (as shown in the slides) consistently in all grammar and writing lessons to support retention.
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).Lesson video
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Starter quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
When a character speaks out loud in a text, what is it called?
reported speech
character speech
dialogue
Q2.
Which part of the following sentence is the direct speech? '"I'm frightened" the little boy nervously told his mum.'
I'm
frightened
nervously told his mum
Q3.
Which word instead of 'said' has been used in the following sentence? '"Don't worry" his mum replied kindly.'
Don't
worry
kindly
Q4.
What are these " " punctuation marks called?
apostrophes
speech marks
66 and 99
Q5.
Why are inverted commas useful?
to distract the reader with symbols
to tell the reader the synonym for 'said' that the writer used
to mark the end of a sentence
Q6.
Which is the best explanation as to why direct speech can be useful to include in writing?
Direct speech helps us understand less about a character's feelings & behaviour.
Direct speech helps us understand how a character moves.
Direct speech helps us understand where a story is set.
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
Which part of the following sentence is the direct speech? '"Let me go!" Jerry called out dramatically.'
Let me
Jerry called
Jerry called out
Q2.
Which part of the following sentence is the reporting clause? '"Let me go!" Jerry called out dramatically.'
Let me go
Jerry called
Jerry called out
Q3.
Which word instead of 'said' has been used in the following reporting clause? '"So you want to leave, do you?" the menacing man muttered sinisterly.'
menacing
sinisterly
Q4.
Which adverb has been used in the following reporting clause? '"Instantly!" the boy responded urgently.'
boy
responded
Q5.
Which punctuation is missing before the closing inverted commas in the following sentence? '"Where do you want to go " the villain asked.'
,
!
.
Q6.
What is missing in the following speech first sentence? '"anywhere you aren't!" Jerry shouted back with more courage than he had ever found before.'
a question mark
a synonym for 'said'
a pair of inverted commas