Direct speech: inverted commas
I can identify inverted commas in a speech sentence.
Lesson details
Key learning points.
- Writers can use speech sentences to show a character speaking in a text.
- If a character speaks, the writer must signal this with specific punctuation.
- Inverted commas are the punctuation marks that signal direct speech to the reader.
- Direct speech is the term used for a character speaking out loud in a text.
- Direct speech helps us learn more about characters in a text.
Common misconception
Pupils may use the informal term 'speech marks'.
'speech marks' is a term that signals the same thing as 'inverted commas' i.e. the dialogue in a sentence, but it is better to use the grammatical term 'inverted commas'.
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
Signal - show or direct attention to
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).
Starter quiz
6 questions.
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- Direct Speech And Indirect Speech Resources And Worksheets Ks2
Direct speech and indirect speech – 9 of the best resources and worksheets for KS2 SPaG
Help children know when and how to use speech marks in direct speech, and why not to use them in indirect speech, with these lessons, activities, worksheets and more for Key Stage 2 grammar…
What is direct speech?
Direct speech in writing is where you are writing down a direct quotation of someone’s actual words, and these are marked by inverted commas eg “I’ll meet you at the library tomorrow morning,” Sharon said.
What is indirect speech?
Indirect speech (or reported speech), on the other hand, is where you are given a rough approximation of what someone said, not their exact words, and doesn’t require quotation/speech marks, eg ‘Sharon told them she’d see them in the library tomorrow.’
What are inverted commas?
Inverted commas go before and after direct speech, surrounding what was said.
Direct speech examples
- “I’m tired,” she yawned.
- “What’s that sound?” he asked. “It’s coming from under the floorboards!” Elle replied.
- The police officer shouted, “There they are!”
Indirect speech examples
- Mrs Weismann asked you to go see her in her office.
- My dad told me to clear up my room.
- Jerry said he found the book out in the playground.
1 | Getting speech punctuation right at KS2 guide
Perfectly punctuating dialogue is something that can trip up even experienced editors – but this quick guide should help pupils get it right, from the start.
Read it here.
2 | Punctuating direct speech resource pack
This powerful KS2 grammar resources pack provides everything you need to teach a series of five lessons on punctuating direct speech, culminating in an extended writing task where children can use their grammatical understanding in context.
Get this resource pack here.
3 | Direct speech challenge worksheets
Similarly, this bright, appealing grammar worksheet is an excellent way to practise and revise using direct speech in Year 4.
It is divided into five sections: understand, challenge, test, explain and apply.
Activities include SATs style questions and opportunities for creative writing responses, with eye-catching images as prompts.
Find this one here.
4 | Learn speech conventions through knock, knock jokes worksheet
This resource sheet from Rachel Clarke uses a small-steps approach to slowly scaffold children through the rules and conventions of dialogue. In the first instance pupils are simply asked to rewrite knock, knock jokes in speech bubbles.
Once they’ve got the hang of this, they should then be encouraged to write the name of the speaker and ‘said’ before each speech bubble. The second level asks pupils write each line of the knock, knock joke using inverted commas.
Each example on this sheet starts with the reporting clause before the dialogue, which enables pupils to practise adding a comma after the reporting clause.
Download it here.
5 | Speech marks washing line
This handy idea was created by Clarice Morley, an English teacher in a Pupil Referral Unit, who found her boys were struggling with the use of speech marks.
They invented three characters – male, female and a rabbit – and produced some labels such as “Rory exclaimed” and “Brenda whispered”. Clarice then stretched a washing line across the board, and had two pegs with the speech marks on.
The boys would write something someone would say onto a piece of paper, then they matched one of the labels with one of their speeches, and hung the speech on the washing line.
They soon grasped it is only the reported speech that hangs on the line, and the pegs (speech marks) keep it in place.
Print out the worksheet for this resource here.
6 | How to use inverted commas video guide
For a nice little introduction or recap to inverted commas, watch this video of Mr Thorne take you through their uses.
It’s clearly explained with large captions across the bottom so that children can see his examples written out with the correct punctuation.
7 | Speech mark rules
There are many “rules” of speech marks, but no definitive list, and you don’t want to overwhelm children with too many while they’re just learning.
So this Rising Stars list of five rules is a nice size for children to read and take in.
Check it out here.
8 | Quotation marks worksheet
This two-page worksheet has six tasks and an extension all revolving around punctuating speech.
So it starts with putting speech marks into sentences, then putting speech marks and all other punctuation, before building up to punctuating longer passages.
Print it here.
9 | Inverted commas worksheet set
This resource set has three parts. One is ‘Witch and Tiger Conversation’, which shows ten pictures with blank speech bubbles. Children choose names for the witch and the tiger, then create the contents of the conversation.
Next they re-write this conversation in the form of a story by adding phrases such as ‘said Tom’ and ‘asked Joe’ as well as speech marks and other punctuation.
The second and third parts are ‘Missing Speech Marks’ worksheets, where children need to add speech marks to sentences.
Get all this here.
Browse more SPaG games .
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Direct and Reported Speech
Subject: English
Age range: 7-11
Resource type: Lesson (complete)
Last updated
18 July 2024
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This KS2 English resource explains how and when to use direct and reported speech in written work. Content includes:
- Editable PowerPoint teaching resource
- Activities to support the teaching of this objective with 2 accompanying worksheets
‘Direct and Reported Speech - KS2’ is fully editable so teachers are able to adapt the resource to meet the needs of each class they teach.
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Direct Speech - Year 3 and 4 Punctuating Speech
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Direct and Indirect Speech Worksheets
Sentence Swap
Speech Selector
Indirect Shift
Quote Conversion
Speech Facts
Punctuation Check
Quote Mastery
Dialogue Rewrite
Cartoon Quotes
Statement Shifts
Direct Conversion
Quote Formatter
Speech Shift
Winter Words
Dialogue Craft
About these 15 worksheets.
This series of worksheets is an invaluable resource for teachers and homeschooling parents looking to enhance their students’ understanding of reported speech. These worksheets are thoughtfully designed to be both engaging and educational, providing students with a comprehensive approach to mastering the differences between direct and indirect speech. The collection, available in easy-to-access PDF format, offers a variety of activities that cater to different learning styles, making it an excellent tool for reinforcing this essential grammar concept in a fun and interactive way.
One of the standout features of this collection is its clear and simple explanations that guide students through the nuances of direct and indirect speech. For example, one worksheet starts by introducing the basics of direct speech, where the exact words of a speaker are quoted, and indirect speech, where those words are paraphrased without quotation marks. This foundational knowledge is then applied through exercises that ask students to identify whether a sentence uses direct or indirect speech, providing immediate practice that solidifies their understanding.
The collection also includes worksheets that focus on the practical application of these concepts. In one activity, students are asked to convert direct speech into indirect speech. For instance, a sentence like “Let’s go swimming,” George suggested, would be rewritten as “George suggested that they go swimming.” This exercise not only reinforces the rules of changing pronouns, verb tenses, and time expressions but also encourages students to think critically about how to convey the same meaning without using the speaker’s exact words.
Another engaging activity in this collection involves dialogue rewriting. Students are presented with a short conversation and are tasked with transforming it from direct speech into indirect speech. This type of exercise helps students understand the flow of dialogue and how to maintain the original message while adapting it into a different grammatical structure. It also fosters creativity as students must carefully consider how to rephrase each line while preserving its intent.
The worksheets also include true or false questions that challenge students to test their knowledge of the rules governing direct and indirect speech. These questions cover essential points, such as whether direct speech requires quotation marks and whether indirect speech can change the tense of the original statement. This activity is particularly effective for reinforcing the theoretical aspects of the topic, ensuring that students grasp the underlying rules before moving on to more complex tasks.
In addition to these activities, the collection features worksheets that focus on punctuation, an often overlooked but crucial aspect of direct speech. Students are given sentences and asked to determine whether they are punctuated correctly. This exercise sharpens their attention to detail and reinforces the importance of proper punctuation in conveying clear and accurate speech. By mastering these skills, students gain confidence in their writing and communication abilities.
The visual appeal of these worksheets also deserves mention. Each worksheet is accompanied by engaging illustrations that make the learning process more enjoyable for younger students. For instance, a worksheet might feature a cartoon character speaking a line of dialogue, which students must then convert into indirect speech. These visuals not only make the exercises more fun but also help visual learners better understand and remember the concepts being taught.
The worksheets include exercises that encourage students to think about the context in which direct and indirect speech is used. For example, students might be asked to rewrite a statement from a formal speech into indirect speech, considering the tone and formality required. This helps students understand how the context can influence the choice between direct and indirect speech, making them more versatile communicators.
This worksheet collection provides students with a thorough understanding of reported speech. By combining clear explanations with practical exercises, the worksheets help students grasp the rules of direct and indirect speech, apply them in various contexts, and develop strong communication skills. The variety of activities ensures that students remain engaged and challenged, making the learning process both effective and enjoyable. Whether used in the classroom or at home, these worksheets are an excellent resource for any teacher or parent looking to enhance their students’ grammar skills.
What Is Direct and Indirect Speech?
Direct and indirect speech are two ways of conveying what someone has said, with distinct differences and some similarities. Direct speech involves quoting the exact words of the speaker, typically enclosed in quotation marks, and it maintains the original tense, pronouns, and punctuation used by the speaker. For example, “I am going to the store,” she said. In contrast, indirect speech involves paraphrasing the speaker’s words without using quotation marks, often resulting in changes to pronouns, verb tenses, and time expressions to fit the context of the report. For instance, the previous example in indirect speech would be, “She said that she was going to the store.” Both forms of speech aim to convey the original message, but while direct speech preserves the speaker’s exact words, indirect speech focuses on the meaning and adjusts the language to fit the narrative context. Despite these differences, both forms are used to communicate what someone has said, making them essential tools for reporting speech in various contexts.
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Year 4 Direct Speech KS2 SPaG Worksheets
Resource Collection SPaG Gym
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This bright, appealing PDF grammar worksheet is an excellent way to practise and revise using direct speech in Year 4.
This primary resource is divided into five sections:
- Understand Change these examples of direct speech into reported speech
- Challenge Can you write a sentence about each picture which includes direct speech? Make sure to include all of the punctuation needed
- Test Tick the sentence which is punctuated correctly, add missing commas into sentences, and add missing punctuation into sentences
- Explain Using your own words, explain all of the punctuation that is needed when writing direct speech
- Apply What do your toys do when you’re not looking? Think about the games or toys you’ve left at home. Imagine if they could talk, and write the conversation they are having right now. Remember to use all of the correct punctuation
Activities include SATs-style questions and opportunities for creative writing responses, with eye-catching images as prompts.
What is direct speech?
Direct speech in writing is where you are directly quoting someone’s words, and these are marked by inverted commas eg “I’ll meet you at the library tomorrow morning,” Sharon said.
Indirect (or reported) speech, on the other hand, is where you are given a rough approximation of what someone said, and doesn’t require quotation/speech marks, eg ‘Sharon told them she’d see them in the library tomorrow.’
What are inverted commas KS2 ?
Inverted commas go before and after direct speech, surrounding what was said. These are also known as speech marks.
Direct speech examples
“I’m bored,” he complained.
“What’s that noise?” he asked. “Your sister!” his dad replied.
The conductor shouted, “Sit down!”
National Curriculum English programme of study links
Use of inverted commas and other punctuation to indicate direct speech
This resource is part of the SPaG Gym collection. View more from this collection
- Worksheets featuring five sections: understand challenge test explain and apply. Activities include SATs style questions and opportunities for creative writing responses with eye-catching images as prompts
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Three differentiated resources that focus on direct speech and being able to punctuate it accurately. These sheets are made with mastery in mind, taking elements of the mastery approach to Maths and applying these to English. Each sheet tells children what they need to do as well as having answers available. Sheet One: Practise.
Each of the following sentences should contain direct speech punctuation. Rewrite the sentences, adding inverted commas in the correct places to show the words being spoken. Can you also add any other missing punctuation such as full stops, question marks, exclamation marks or commas?
Are you looking for an effective way to teach punctuating direct speech? Our direct speech punctuation worksheets are teacher-made to ensure that your students have easy access to high-quality resources while saving you valuable planning time! This Under the Lights Direct Speech Punctuation Worksheet contains pages from Under the Lights by Twinkl. Click the green 'download' button to ...
Included is an inverted commas punctuation poster, speech sentence order cards and editable speech bubble cards. Ideal for Years 3-6 students, it features everything you need to get your KS2 students punctuating direct and indirect speech correctly. This punctuating speech KS2 teaching pack is teacher-made to ensure your students receive high ...
Direct and Reported Speech worksheets with optional powerpoint. This set of worksheets introduces the rules for direct and reported speech and gives exercises of converting dialogues each way. They are roughly graded from 1 (suitable for less advanced learners) to 7 (for the more advanced group). In a one-off lesson, you might want each child ...
Definition of Direct Speech. Speech is direct when it is written as it was said and punctuated correctly with inverted commas around the exact original words and is usually accompanied by a reporting clause ('he said', 'they said', 'said Julie'). In fictional narratives, direct speech is used to show dialogue between characters as ...
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. Signal - show or direct attention to. Ensure that you use the same graphics for speech punctuation (as shown in the slides) consistently in all grammar and writing lessons to support ...
Direct Speech (KS2) This lesson is part of my SPaG (Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar - sometimes abbrieviated to GPS) collection. This lesson focuses on Direct Speech, but also contains some further grammar practice. This lesson was created completely independently and was created purely to plug gaps in my pupils knowledge.
Direct speech and indirect speech - 9 of the best resources and worksheets for KS2 SPaG. Help children know when and how to use speech marks in direct speech, and why not to use them in indirect speech, with these lessons, activities, worksheets and more for Key Stage 2 grammar…. by Teachwire. DOWNLOAD A FREE RESOURCE!
This Speech Marks Worksheet contains pages from a Twinkl Originals story, ' Under the Lights '. Simply download and print these direct speech punctuation worksheets by clicking the green 'download' button to find the handy and easy-to-use PDF file. Alternatively, if you are planning direct speech lessons for the future, you can click the ...
Teach how to start punctuating speech KS2 From year 3, pupils will be taught how to punctuate direct and indirect speech. Learning how to start punctuating speech (KS2) will be simple, fun and easy with the help of this t eaching ideas and resource pack, jam-packed with engaging and inspirational ideas.
Marks.PDF. Direct Speech - Speech. Speech marks inverted (or ) show commas when someone You will see them "speech written " or 'sp '. ech in books. Task One. Copy these sentences into your correct Rememb places. r: The speech marks said. Copy all the other punctuation. 1. Hello, said the man. 2.
These handy writing direct speech KS2 worksheets feature a lovely set of differentiated activities in which children will need to add the correct punctuation as a fantastic starter activity and a stepping stone towards writing direct speech independently.
Parts of Speech Display Poster 27 reviews. Explore more than 554 "Direct Speech Worksheet" resources for teachers, parents, and students. Instantly access Twinkl's printable and digital K-12 teaching resources, including worksheets, eBooks, games, PowerPoints, Google Slides, and more!
A worksheet on direct and reported speech for upper KS2. Includes sample text for children to rewrite reported speech as directed speech and vice versa.
Use and Punctuate KS2 direct speech worksheets x3 - When it's time to put their knowledge to the test, these worksheets are a great way to demonstrate their progress.
This KS2 English resource explains how and when to use direct and reported speech in written work. Content includes: Editable PowerPoint teaching resource Activities to support the teaching of this objective with 2 accompanying worksheets
Cole's Kingdom Direct Speech Punctuation KS2 Differentiated Worksheet 4 reviews. History Hackers: Roman Rescue Direct Speech Punctuation Differentiated Worksheets 2 reviews. The Difference between Direct and Indirect Speech Differentiated Activity Pack 14 reviews. PlanIt Y3 SpaG Lesson Pack: Inverted Commas 13 reviews.
The worksheets also include true or false questions that challenge students to test their knowledge of the rules governing direct and indirect speech. These questions cover essential points, such as whether direct speech requires quotation marks and whether indirect speech can change the tense of the original statement.
Learn how to use and punctuate direct speech in this lovely literacy lesson. Great for KS2 grammar help and revision. Includes interactive tasks for practice.
A drama activity using everyday scenarios to help children start to devise and write direct speech. This resource is an ideal group activity and a creative introduction to writing direct speech. It is suitable for children in years 3 and 4.
Use this handy reported speech worksheet to support your children to know the difference between direct and indirect speech. Differentiated and teacher-made.
This bright, appealing PDF grammar worksheet is an excellent way to practise and revise using direct speech in Year 4. This primary resource is divided into five sections: Understand Change these examples of direct speech into reported speech Challenge Can you write a sentence about each picture which includes direct speech? Make sure to include all of the punctuation needed Test Tick the ...