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    Punctuating Direct Speech

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    Sabah Suleman
    "I'm really sorry," said Oscar sadly, "but I can't come tomorrow."

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Punctuating Direct Speech

    Uploaded by

    Sabah Suleman
    209 views26 pages
    "I'm really sorry," said Oscar sadly, "but I can't come tomorrow."

    Original Description:

    Direct Speech

    Original Title

    Inverted-Commas

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    "I'm really sorry," said Oscar sadly, "but I can't come tomorrow."

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    209 views26 pages

    Punctuating Direct Speech

    Uploaded by

    Sabah Suleman
    "I'm really sorry," said Oscar sadly, "but I can't come tomorrow."

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pptx, pdf, or txt
    of 26

    Punctuating Direct Speech

    Inverted Commas
    Inverted Commas
    Inverted commas are also known as speech marks.
    They are used to show when someone is speaking.
    Although it may look complicated, by following just a
    few simple rules you can become an expert at punctuating
    direct speech.
    Rules for Punctuating Direct Speech
    1. Place “ ” around the words which are spoken.
    2. Use a capital letter at the start of a speech sentence (even if
    it is in the middle of another sentence).
    3. Before you close your inverted commas use a comma,
    question mark or exclamation mark to separate what was
    said from the speaker.
    4. If a new person speaks, start a new line.
    For example:
    “Should we tell the
    humans we can speak
    Kevin replied,
    English?” asked Stuart.
    “No, definitely
    not.”

    The punctuation
    ‘No’ is capitalised placed before
    because it is the start closing the
    of the speech inverted commas is
    sentence. a ? as Stuart asked
    a question
    For example:
    “You’ll win then,”
    murmured Emery,
    “you’re much faster
    “I’ll race you
    than I am.”
    there!” said Isla.

    ‘you’re’
    Despite coming doesn’t need
    after an ! , said is a capital letter
    not capitalised. because it is
    not the start
    of the speech
    sentence.
    Punctuating Direct Speech
    Can you punctuate the speech in these sentences correctly?
    What time are we going out asked Zoe.

    “What time are we going out?” asked Zoe.


    Yasmin shouted look out

    Yasmin shouted, “Look out!”


    Besides said Sam thoughtfully what was she doing there
    anyway
    “Besides,” said Sam thoughtfully, “what was she doing
    there anyway?”
    Remember: Put inverted commas around what the speaker says, start each speech sentence with a capital
    letter and place a piece of punctuation before closing your inverted commas.
    Punctuating Direct Speech
    Can you rewrite this section of text using the correct
    punctuation?
     
    did you eat the last doughnut Hannah asked her little brother. no I
    had carrot sticks for my snack replied Zac innocently. then where
    questioned Hannah did the sugar all around your mouth come from.
    smiling mischievously, Zac responded I’m not sure, but it definitely
    wasn’t from your doughnut
    Punctuating Direct Speech
    Can you rewrite this section of text using the correct
    punctuation?
     
    “Did you eat the last doughnut?” Hannah asked her little brother.

    “No, I had carrot sticks for my snack,” replied Zac innocently.

    “Then where,” questioned Hannah, “did the sugar all around your
    mouth come from?”

    Smiling mischievously, Zac responded, “I’m not sure, but it


    definitely wasn’t from your doughnut!”
    Remember: New speaker, new line.
    Reporting Clause
    Reporting Clause
    Direct speech will almost always need a reporting
    clause.
    A reporting clause tells the reader who the speaker was
    and how they spoke.
    For example:

    “I came 1st!” shouted Frank


    excitedly.
    This is a reporting clause – it tells you that
    Frank was our speaker and he was shouting
    excitedly.
    Reporting Clause
    A reporting clause can come before, after or split the
    direct speech. For example:
    Location Sentence
    Dan asked hungrily, “Do you know what time lunch
    Before
    is?”
    “Do you know what time is lunch is?” Dan asked
    After
    hungrily.
    “Do you know,” Dan asked hungrily, “what time
    Embedded
    lunch is?”

    Varying the location of the reporting clause keeps your


    writing interesting for the reader.
    Reporting Clause
    Can you change the position of the reporting clause?

    Location Sentence
    quietly, “I think we should hid
    Darcey whispered quietly, hidee
    Before
    upstairs.”
    upstairs.
    “I think we should hide upstairs,” whispered
    After
    Darcey quietly.
    “I
    “I think ,”
    ,” Darcey whispered quietly
    think,”
    think quietly,, “we
    “we should
    should
    Embedded
    upstairs.”
    hide upstairs.

    ***CAREFUL***
    You may have to add, remove or change some punctuation when you move the
    reporting clause.
    Synonyms for Said
    Synonyms for Said
    Repeatedly using the word ‘said’ after every speech
    sentence is a quick way of making your writing very
    boring for others to read.
    Keep a thesaurus handy and refer to it when writing
    dialogue to keep your writing interesting.
    Quiz
    Which is correct?

    “Can I have lemonade to drink?” Asked Vivian.

    “Can I have lemonade to drink?” asked Vivian.

    “Can I have lemonade to drink,” asked Vivian.


    Which is correct?

    “Can I have lemonade to drink?” Asked Vivian.

    “Can I have lemonade to drink?” asked Vivian.

    “Can I have lemonade to drink,” asked Vivian.


    Which is correct?

    Flynn replied, “He said he was going to the park”.

    Flynn replied, “he said he was going to the park.”

    Flynn replied, “He said he was going to the park.”


    Which is correct?

    Flynn replied, “He said he was going to the park”.

    Flynn replied, “he said he was going to the park.”

    Flynn replied, “He said he was going to the park.”


    Which is correct?

    “I think” said mum, “that we’ll go to the zoo today”

    “I think,” said mum, “That we’ll go to the zoo today.”

    “I think,” said mum, “that we’ll go to the zoo today.”


    Which is correct?

    “I think” said mum, “that we’ll go to the zoo today”

    “I think,” said mum, “That we’ll go to the zoo today.”

    “I think,” said mum, “that we’ll go to the zoo today.”


    Which is correct?

    “I love vanilla ice cream” exclaimed Zara excitedly.

    “I love vanilla ice cream!” exclaimed Zara excitedly.

    “I love vanilla ice cream!” Exclaimed Zara excitedly.


    Which is correct?

    “I love vanilla ice cream” exclaimed Zara excitedly.

    “I love vanilla ice cream!” exclaimed Zara excitedly.

    “I love vanilla ice cream!” Exclaimed Zara excitedly.


    Which is correct?

    “I’m really sorry ,” said Oscar sadly, “but I can’t


    come tomorrow.”

    “I’m really sorry ,” said Oscar sadly, “But I can’t


    come tomorrow.”

    “I’m really sorry ” said Oscar sadly, “but I can’t


    come tomorrow.”
    Which is correct?

    “I’m really sorry ,” said Oscar sadly, “but I can’t


    come tomorrow.”

    “I’m really sorry ,” said Oscar sadly, “But I can’t


    come tomorrow.”

    “I’m really sorry ” said Oscar sadly, “but I can’t


    come tomorrow.”

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