Year 4 - English
Speech first: inverted commas and punctuation rules
Apostrophes and speech punctuation
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
In this unit, pupils review rules for apostrophes for contraction, singular possession and plural possession and punctuation conventions for speech first sentences. The new learning is around the rules for punctuating direct speech when it comes second after a reporting clause in a sentence.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to accurately punctuate a speech first sentence.
Key Notes
- Direct speech is the term used for a character speaking out loud in a text.
- A speech first sentence begins with a character's spoken words.
- 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.
- The reporting clause comes after the speech to show who said the speech and how.
Vocabulary To Learn
- direct speech: the term used for a character speaking out loud in a text
- speech first sentence: a sentence that includes direct speech first before the reporting clause
- inverted commas: a pair of punctuation marks that signal direct speech to the reader
- capital letter: the upper case formation of a letter
- reporting clause: a clause that tells the reader who said the speech sentence and how
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Pupils may believe that both the reporting clause and the direct speech begin with a capital letter.
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. A speech first sentence begins with a character's spoken words.
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 believe that both the reporting clause and the direct speech begin with a capital letter. Correction: Emphasise that when the speech comes first, the reporting clause has no capital.
More Lessons In This Unit
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