Punctuating Direct Speech Check-Up

Year 4 EnglishGrammar and Punctuation4 pages

About this worksheet

Eleven questions on direct speech fill this four-page knowledge check for Year 4 English. Pupils tick the correctly punctuated sentence in three groups. Then they name the one missing mark in three more, such as the closing inverted commas after pen. Next they punctuate three sentences from scratch, including 'mr smith announced it is time for lunch'. Finally, they turn two reported sentences into direct speech. The answer key accepts reasonable variations for the last two. Linked to the England National Curriculum objective on direct speech.

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Page 1 of 4

Punctuating Direct Speech Check-Up: Grammar and Punctuation - page 1
Punctuating Direct Speech Check-Up: Grammar and Punctuation - page 2
Punctuating Direct Speech Check-Up: Grammar and Punctuation - page 3
Punctuating Direct Speech Check-Up: Grammar and Punctuation - page 4

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Curriculum objectives covered

Writing - vocabulary, grammar and punctuation

“Using and punctuating direct speech”

All 11 questions, moving from spotting correct speech to punctuating it and then writing it.

What's inside this worksheet

Section 1: Spot the Correct Speech

Three groups of three sentences, from Leo going to the park to Sarah and the huge dog.

Section 2: What's Missing?

Three sentences with one mistake each. Pupils write what is missing, such as a full stop at the end.

Section 3: Punctuate It

Three sentences with no inverted commas, capital letters or punctuation, spoken by a baker, Mr Smith and Lily.

Section 4: Be the Author

Two reported sentences, about peas or carrots and opening books, to rewrite as direct speech.

Answer Key

Correct versions for all 11 questions, with accepted variations for questions 10 and 11.

How teachers use it

Before and after

Set sections 1 and 2 before teaching and sections 3 and 4 after, to see the progress.

Quick check

Read out the three options in section 1 and ask pupils to hold up one, two or three fingers.

Reported speech link

Use section 4 to open a lesson on changing reported speech into direct speech.

More Year 4 English worksheets

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