Study Hub

Study Guides

This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.

Back to Study HubBrowse Year 4 English Guides

Year 4 - English

Speech second: inverted commas and punctuation rules

Apostrophes and speech punctuation

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 second sentence.

Key Notes

  • Direct speech is the term used for a character speaking out loud in a text.
  • A speech second sentence begins with the reporting clause followed by a character's spoken words.
  • The reporting clause comes before the speech to show who said the speech and how.
  • The speech sentence spoken by a character must start with a capital letter.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • direct speech: the term used for a character speaking out loud in a text
  • speech second sentence: a sentence that includes direct speech second after the reporting clause
  • inverted commas: a pair of punctuation marks that signal direct speech to the reader
  • reporting clause: a clause that tells the reader who said the speech sentence and how
  • speech first sentence: a sentence that includes direct speech first before the reporting clause

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • Pupils may omit the comma after the reporting clause, or they may use a comma to end the sentence.

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 second sentence begins with the reporting clause followed by 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 omit the comma after the reporting clause, or they may use a comma to end the sentence. Correction: Reinforce the point that commas are never used to close a sentence, even in speech second sentences.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 4 English guide library.