Punctuating Direct Speech · seed 1 · A4, ink-friendly. The answer key prints on its own page for grown-ups.

Speech Marks Show Exact Words

English · Grammar & Punctuation · ages 7-10
Name ______________________   Date ____________

  1. When a different person starts speaking, you start a new line.

    Circle one:   True   False

  2. In the sentence Ben whispered, "Come here," which words did Ben actually say?

    • Ben whispered
    • Come here
    • whispered

  3. Spoken words need a speech mark at the start and another at the end.

    Circle one:   True   False

  4. Which sentence shows direct speech?

    • Ben was in a hurry.
    • Ben called out to hurry up.
    • "Hurry up!" called Ben.

  5. Kofi wants to write the coach's words as direct speech: the coach shouted Keep running! What should he write first?

    • The speech marks around Keep running!
    • A full stop at the very end
    • The coach shouted, with a comma after it

  6. Which sentence punctuates the reporting clause correctly?

    • Dad whispered, "The baby is asleep."
    • Dad whispered "The baby is asleep."
    • Dad whispered, The baby is asleep.

  7. In he shouted, "watch out!" which word needs a capital letter?

    • watch
    • shouted
    • out

  8. Dad asked a question. Which sentence is punctuated correctly?

    • Dad asked "Where are you going?"
    • Dad asked, "Where are you going?"
    • Dad asked, "Where are you going"?

  9. Tara wrote: "Run fast! shouted Kim. What is wrong with her sentence?

    • The opening speech mark is missing
    • The closing speech mark is missing
    • The exclamation mark is in the wrong place

  10. Which of these sentences is punctuated correctly?

    • "Where is my coat"? asked Ben.
    • "Where is my coat," asked Ben.
    • "Where is my coat?" asked Ben.
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Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Speech Marks Show Exact Words W1-mt_-mw3JeIjhU-s1

  1. True · Each new speaker gets a fresh line, so the reader can follow the conversation turn by turn.
  2. Come here · Only Come here sits inside the speech marks, so those are the exact words Ben said.
  3. True · Speech marks work as a pair: one opens the speech and one closes it, so the reader sees exactly where the words begin and end.
  4. "Hurry up!" called Ben. · Direct speech gives the exact words spoken, wrapped in speech marks, and only "Hurry up!" called Ben does that.
  5. The coach shouted, with a comma after it · The reporting clause comes first in this sentence, so it goes down first, with its comma, before the speech marks open.
  6. Dad whispered, "The baby is asleep." · A comma follows whispered, then the speech marks open around the exact words.
  7. watch · Watch begins the spoken words, so it starts with a capital letter just like a new sentence.
  8. Dad asked, "Where are you going?" · The comma comes after asked, and the question mark belongs to the spoken words, so it sits inside the closing mark.
  9. The closing speech mark is missing · The speech never closes: there is an opening mark before Run but no closing mark after the exclamation mark.
  10. "Where is my coat?" asked Ben. · The spoken words are a question, so a question mark, not a comma, sits inside the closing speech mark.
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