Speech interrupted: inverted commas and punctuation rules
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can accurately punctuate a speech interrupted sentence.
Key learning points
- Inverted commas are the punctuation that signal direct speech to the reader.
- A speech interrupted sentence begins with a character's spoken words.
- The character's spoken words are interrupted by the reporting clause.
- The character's spoken words resume after the reporting clause and the speech interrupted sentence ends.
- A character's spoken words must be chosen carefully to include a natural break when punctuating speech interrupted.
Keywords
Direct speech - the term used for a character speaking out loud in a text
Speech interrupted sentence - a sentence in which a character's speech is interrupted by 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
Common misconception
Pupils may omit the commas from a speech interrupted sentence or include an extra capital letter.
Use the graphic included in the slides as a visual prompt for pupils when writing speech interrupted.
Teacher tip
All three types of speech sentence (speech first, speech second and speech interrupted) are included in this lesson. Review them frequently in modelled writing and display the visuals for pupils to refer to in writing tasks.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following pieces of punctuation can be used to end a sentence?
Q2.Match the sentence to the most likely ending punctuation.
You need to leave the room
Will you leave the room please
Leave the room right now
Q3.Which sentence is correctly punctuated?
Q4.What is the name for the punctuation used here: "Where are you?" she asked.
Q5.Which sentence contains inverted commas around the words the character has said?
Q6.Which part of this sentence was not said out loud: "Can I help?" said Mr McIntyre with a smile.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the purpose of direct speech?
Q2.Which of the following might we find in a reporting clause?
Q3.Which of these speech first sentences is correctly punctuated?
Q4.Which speech second sentence is punctuated correctly?
Q5.Match the type of speech sentence to the example.
"This time, I'm going to win!" bellowed Andeep.
Andeep muttered, "This time, I'm going to win."
"This time," Andeep scowled, "I'm going to win."
Q6.Which speech interrupted sentence is punctuated correctly?
To help you plan your 5 English lesson on: Speech interrupted: inverted commas and punctuation rules, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 5 English lesson on: Speech interrupted: inverted commas and punctuation rules, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 2 English lessons from the Speech punctuation, parenthesis and apostrophes unit, dive into the full primary English curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.