Speech Punctuation

Before we look at speech and punctuation, watch this short video to refresh your memory with regards to speech marks and how they are used to punctuate speech.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/clips/zvftsbk

Speech marks

Speech marks go around the bits of a sentence actually

being said.

“Hello!”

Every time we open a set of speech marks we need to

use a capital letter.

“Hi!”

We also need to put some form of punctuation into

each piece of dialogue before we close the speech

marks. !?,.

“Yo dude!”

We also need to start a new line every time a different character

speaks.

“Hello, Matthew!” said James.

“Hi!” replied Sophie.

“How are you?” he asked.

“I am fine and dandy, thanks!”

Where do the speech marks go?

Tom said, would you like a sweet?

Tom said, “Would you like a sweet?”

I like playing football said Patrick.

“I like playing football,” said Patrick.

Are you coming to my birthday party Sarah asked.

“Are you coming to my birthday party?” Sarah asked.

Correctly punctuate these sentences:

How are you asked Connor I’m fine thanks said Jack did you have a nice holiday yes I did replied Connor Did you Yes I

went to meet David Beckham wow Connor shouted.

“How are you?” asked Connor.

“I’m fine thanks,” said Jack “Did you have a nice holiday?”

“Yes I did,” replied Connor “Did you?”

“Yes I went to meet David Beckham!”

“Wow!” Connor shouted.

We need to remember:1. To put speech marks around the

words being said.2. To start each piece of speech with a

capital letter.3. To punctuate the speech before we

close it.4. To start a new line for each new

speaker.

Activity:Can you put speech marks in the correct place in the below sentences? Write the newly punctuated sentences on a piece of paper.

1) Hello, said my mum when I came home from school.

2) What time is it? asked Ajmal. 3) Stop talking, shouted the teacher. 4) The man in the shop said, Do you need any help? 5) Can you go to the shop? asked Dad. Yes, I replied.

6) The old lady said, Can you help me cross the road?

Direct and Indirect Speech

Reporting speech

There are two ways of reporting what somebody says;

• direct speech

• indirect (or reported) speech.

Direct Speech

In direct speech we use the speaker’s own words.

“In text we put speech marks around the words spoken”

“Speech marks are also called inverted commas”

Indirect speech

In indirect speech (sometimes called reported speech) we do not use the exact words of the speaker.

Instead we report what was said.

We sometimes need to change pronouns and verb tenses. We don’t use speech marks.

“I am going home.”

Helen said she was going home.

Punctuating Direct Speech.

When using direct speech in your writing you need to use the correct punctuation.

• The exact words spoken must be enclosed in speech marks.

• The first word of the speech must begin with a capital letter.

• The words in the speech marks must be separated from the rest of the sentence by a comma.

• You must use a new line when a new speaker begins to speak.

Using Speech in Your Writing

Using speech in fiction and non-fiction writing adds variety.

However, writing out long pieces of direct speech can make your writing confusing. It also slows down the action.

Reported speech can summarise what the speaker has said so that the action moves along more quickly.

Reported speech is useful when you want a contrast between what a character says and what he or she is thinking. (e.g. Lady Macbeth)

Advantages and disadvantages of each type of speech.• Direct speech can show what a

character is like.

• Long speeches can be boring.

• Too many speakers can confuse the reader.

• Direct speech can add variety to writing.

• Indirect speech can be summarised briefly so that it does not slow down the pace of the action.

• It can show a contrast between what a character is saying and what he or she is thinking.

Summary

• In your writing use mainly reported speech. Use direct speech only to emphasise the main points your characters make.

• Don’t bore and confuse your readers by writing out long conversations between your characters.

• Direct speech should be used sparingly.

• It is most effective when only the most forceful statements are put into direct speech.

Literacy Task – Direct and Indirect Speech

Read these sentences carefully. They are all examples of indirect speech. You must copy the sentences neatly onto paper using speech marks like in the below examples.

The chef told his staff to work faster. “Work faster!” shouted the chef. The farmer said one of his cows was going to have a calf. “One of the cows is going to have a calf,” said the farmer to his wife.

Now you must do the same for these sentences. 1. The policeman said the car was going too fast. 2. My brother Bob told me he was feeling sick.3. Peter could hear Jenny shouting her name from the woods. 4. Mr Cockcroft told the class that if they behaved they would be going on a trip next week. 5. Mr Pitchford explained that if the fire alarm sounds there was no need to worry because it was only a test.6. Mum told Shane to turn the heater on at 11 o’clock. 7. Bill was told to sit down or get out by the teacher. 8. Grandma whispered that she was really hungry to Tom. 9. Peter Rabbit told Harry Hare to be careful as he had seen Freddy Fox hanging around the vegetable patch.

Extension: Choose a book and look for examples of indirect speech. Can you list down as many words as you can that give you the clues so you know someone is talking.

Use speech bubbles to write dialogue

Read through this presentation before writing

your own dialogue

What to do: Write some dialogue between any two characters of your choice.

It could be a question and answer or different statements.

Remember it will be a conversation between two people, so make sure your questions/statements don’t give one word

answers.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………………………………………………………………..………………………………………………………………….

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..……………………………………………………………………..………………………………………………………………….

Active and Passive Verbs

Verbs

• Verbs are the most important words in a sentence

• Every sentence must have at least one verb

• Verbs can change in several ways

• They can be in the past, present or future tense

• I run, I will run, I ran, I am running, I was running, I will be running

• They can also change depending on who is doing the action

I run

You run

He runs

I am

You are

He is

We are

Active and passive verbs

• This is another way in which verbs can change.

• They can be in the active or the passive voice.

• Many verbs can be used in both forms.

Sentences containing active verbs are clear and easy to understand.

In these sentences the verb is active.

• The dog bit the man.

• The family watched Coronation Street.

• David telephoned Emily.

In these sentences the subject of the sentence performs an action.

The dog bit the man.

In this sentence the dog is the subject. The sentence is about him.

The verb is bit.

The man is the person who has the action done to him. This is called the object of the sentence.

The man was bitten by the dog.

• This sentence is in the passive voice.

• The person who has the action done to him becomes the subject.

• He does not do the action (Man bites dog would be rather unusual).

• The action is done to him.

Clues to help you spot a passive verb.

• Look for the words by or by the in the sentence.

• Here are some more passive sentences.

• Coronation Street was watched by the family.

• Emily was phoned by David.

• The computer was repaired by the engineer.

To change sentences from passive to active

The computer was repaired by the engineer.

Look for the verb

Find the person or thing doing the action (the word by gives

you a clue)

Make that person or thing the subject of the sentence.

Describe what he or she does.

Finish the sentence by saying who or what they do it to.

The engineer repaired

the computer.

Passive to Active.

• The disco was organised by the parents.

The parents organised the disco.

The goldfish was eaten

by the cat.

The cat ate the goldfish.

Active sentences are usually shorter and easier to

understand.

To change sentences from active to passive

Goldilocks ate the

porridge.

Find the verb.

Find the person or thing having the action done to it

Make that person or thing the subject of your sentence.

Change the verb so that the subject is having the action done to it.

Use by or by the to finish the sentence.

The porridge was eaten by

Goldilocks.

Active and Passive Sentences

A sentence is written in active voice when the subject of the sentence performs the action in the sentence. e.g. The girl was washing the dog.

A sentence is written in passive voice when the subject of the sentence has an action done to it by someone or something else. e.g. The dog was being washed by the girl.

Task OneCopy out each of these sentences and then write whether it is in active or passive voice. (Hint: In these sentences look for the person who is carrying out the action).

1. Mark was eating an apple. 2. The picture was painted by Bob. 3. Tina opened the present. 4. The phone was being used by Mr Thomas. 5. The card was made by Fred. 6. James hit the tree with his stick. 7. The man jumped off the step. 8. Daniel was watching the birds.

Task Two

Copy out each of these sentences and then write whether it is in active or passive voice.

1. The key was used to open the door. 2. The crisp packet was thrown away. 3. James couldn’t see the man. 4. The boy picked up the coin. 5. The egg was laid by the bird. 6. Susan found her car keys. 7. The policeman chased after Fred. ***Think carefully about this one*** 8. The car was fixed. ***Think carefully about this one*** 9. The pencil had been lost. ***Think carefully about this one*** 10.Mark was given a warning. ***Think carefully about this one***

Singular and Plural Nouns

Singular and Plural

One and More

A noun is a name of a person, place or thing.

Shoe Leaf

Ball

Car

StoryClock

Brush

Nouns can be more than one.

Brushes

Doors

Balloons

Monkeys

Cups

Adding s to make plurals.

Shoe

Ball

Car

ClockShoes

Balls

Cars

Clocks

Singular SingularPlural Plural

Cup Cups

Spoon Spoons

Match singulars and plurals.

Ball Car

Clock

Balls

Cars ClocksCup

Cups Spoon

Spoons

Doors

Door

Adding es to make plurals.

Box

Brush

Fish

Boxes

Brushes

Fishes

Singular Plural

When nouns end with sh, ch, s or x

we add es to make plurals.

Match singulars and plurals.

Box

BrushFish Boxes

Brushes

Fishes

Foxes

Fox

Bunch

BunchesGlasses

Glass

Adding ies to make plurals.

Bunny

Pony

Story

Bunnies

Ponies

Stories

Singular Plural When nouns end with y we add iesto make plurals.

If there is a vowel before the y then s

is added.

Monkey Monkeys

Match singulars and plurals.

Bunny Pony

StoryBunniesPonies

Stories

Monkey

Monkeys

Toys Toy

Boy

Boys

Some nouns have different plurals.

Child

Man

Tooth

Children

Men

Teeth

Singular Plural

Foot

Woman

Mouse

Feet

Women

Mice

Singular Plural

Match singulars and plurals.

Child

Man

Tooth

ChildrenMen

TeethFoot

WomanMouse

Feet

WomenMice

Some singular and plurals are the same.

Sheep

Deer

Salmon

Sheep

Deer

Salmon

Singular Plural

Match singulars and plurals.

Sheep

Deer Salmon

Sheep

DeerSalmon

On a piece of paper write if the below are either an example of singular or plural form.

mice

bag

brush

foxes

donkey

cow

sheep

door

teeth

kid

glass

children

spider

ponies

flower

lady

toys

tail

box

hats

pot

lunch

salmon

cake

dish

baby

windows

fish

chair

cars

can

balloons

On a piece of paper write if the below are either an example of singular or plural form.

Great Work!!!