Punctuating Direct Speech
PROCEDURALPunctuate direct speech using inverted commas (speech marks), understanding that direct speech records the exact words spoken and must be enclosed in punctuation marks
Mastery Evidence
- Place inverted commas around the spoken words in a sentence (e.g., "Let's go!" shouted Tom.)
- Write a sentence containing direct speech with correct punctuation including a reporting clause (e.g., Mum said, "Time for bed.")
- Identify direct speech in a text and explain what the inverted commas show
Assessment Prompt
“When [child] writes down something a character said in a story, do they put speech marks around the exact words — like "Come here," she called — and use the correct punctuation inside?”
Curriculum Standards5 alignments
L.3.2cCommon Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical SubjectsUse commas and quotation marks in dialogue.
L.4.2bCommon Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical SubjectsUse commas and quotation marks to mark direct speech and quotations from a text.
Eng.App2.Y3.Punc.1The national curriculum in EnglandIntroduction to inverted commas to punctuate direct speech
Eng.App2.Y4.Punc.1The national curriculum in EnglandUse of inverted commas and other punctuation to indicate direct speech [for example, a comma after the reporting clause; end punctuation within inverted commas: The conductor shouted, “Sit down!”]
Eng_LKS2_Write_VGP_9The national curriculum in EnglandIndicate grammatical and other features by using and punctuating direct speech
Prerequisites3
- Rehearsing and Varying SentencessoftAges 7—8
- Starting and Ending SentenceshardAges 5—8
- Four Types of SentencessoftAges 6—7
Show full prerequisite tree
- Rehearsing and Varying Sentences soft
Advanced spoken language skill builds on earlier speaking concepts
- Writing Process Vocabulary soft
Rehearsing sentences orally draws on 'compose', 'sentence', and 'vocabulary' as process vocabulary
- Saying Sentences Before Writing Them hard
Oral rehearsal with dialogue and varied structures builds on basic oral sentence composition
- Expressing & Justifying Opinions soft
Oral expression skills support understanding formality in speech
- Exploring Ideas Through Talk soft
Conversational skills provide foundation for evaluating viewpoints
- Feeling of not understanding soft
Using talk to explore ideas and speculate requires noticing what you don't yet understand — the comprehension-monitoring habit in a spoken register
- Asking for Help hard
Noticing confusion and acting on it requires already knowing that asking for help is a valid response to being stuck
- Writing Process Vocabulary hard
Oral composition requires vocabulary like 'compose', 'sentence', and 'sequence' to participate meaningfully in the exercise
Unlocks3
- Commas with yes, no, and namessoftAges 10—11
- Brackets and dashes for parenthesissoftAges 9—10
- Punctuating Titles of WorkssoftAges 10—11