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Year 3 - English

Speech first: punctuation rules

Speech first punctuation and apostrophes

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils punctuate direct speech for the first time in a sentence where the direct speech comes first and the reporting clause comes second. They review learning around using apostrophes for contraction and singular possession; they also learn to use an apostrophe for plural possession.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to punctuate a speech first sentence.

Key Notes

  • 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.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • 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 Mistakes To Avoid

  • Pupils may not know what 'speech first' means.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain this English learning goal in two key 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.

2. Define this language term and use it in a sentence. 'direct speech'

the term used for a character speaking out loud in a text.

3. Correct this common English misunderstanding.

Mistake: Pupils may not know what 'speech first' means. Correction: 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.

More Lessons In This Unit

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