Using Speech Marks

1. UsingSpeech Marks Some key words! Dialogue = a conversation between two or more people

2. Hello, Blab! Speech marks go around the bits of a sentence actually being spoken. Hello, Blob! What a surprise seeing you here! “Hello, Blab!” exclaimed Blob. “Hello, Blob!” replied Blab. “What a surprise seeing you here!”

3. Where do the speech marks go in these sentences? • We are very grateful my parents said. • “We are very grateful,” my parents said. • Jim jumped up from his chair there’s an enormous spider! he shrieked. • Jim jumped up from his chair and shouted “There’s an enormous spider!” • I’m scared Lucy whispered I don’t like this. • “I’m scared,” Lucy whispered. “I don’t like this.”

4. You need to use a capital letter whenever a new person begins to speak. “I can’t believe you just did that!” Laura screeched. The author said, “In this book, you will find much useful information.” “Is this a joke,” asked his mother, ‘or are you serious?” Why is there not a capital letter here?

5. Where do the capital letters go in these sentences? • “your hair is too long,” said the teacher. • “Your hair is too long,” teacher. • Darren said, “is there a rule about it?” • Darren said, “Is there a rule about it?” • “get it cut, Mr Grim growled, “as soon as possible!” • “Get it cut, Mr Grim growled, “as soon as possible!”

6. We also need to put some punctuation at the end of each piece of dialogue before we close the speech marks - ! ? , . “Do you believe it?” Charlie asked. “I don’t believe it!” cried Kate. “Believe it or not,” Ben shrugged, “it’s true.” Amy nodded. “I believe it.”

7. Where should the speech marks and closing punctuation go in these sentences? a. Would you like a sweet Tom asked. “Would you like a sweet?” Tom asked. b. I’d love to come to your party Sam exclaimed. “I’d love to come to your party!” Sam exclaimed. c. That was a really sad story sniffed John. “That was a really sad story,” sniffed John. d. If you’d like it Alice murmured have it. “If you’d like it,” Alice murmured, “have it.”

8. We also need to start a newline every time a differentcharacter speaks. “Hello, Mr Batt!” called James. “Hello there!” replied Mr Batt. “How are you feeling today?” James asked, stopping at Mr Batt’s gate. “I’m fine, thanks James,” smiled Mr Batt.

9. Direct Speech Date • Put speech marks around the wordsbeingspoken. • Use a capital letter when a new person begins to speak. • Punctuate the speech beforeclosing speech marks. • Start a newline for each newspeaker.

10. Copy out and punctuate these sentences! • are you hungry my mother asked • I’ll never save as much as that my brother said sadly • stop fooling around shouted Sarah • what’s the time asked my grandfather suddenly • I asked her bluntly don’t you believe me • they all shouted excitedly come over here • my father just said you have to ask your mother • my little brother whispered what are you buying me for Christmas What’s the difference between numbers 1-4 and 5-8? Answer: 1-4 = speech first, introductory verb second 5-8 = introductory verb first, speech second

11. Check your answers… • “Are you hungry?” my mother asked. • “I’ll never save as much as that!” my brother said sadly. • “Stop fooling around!” shouted Sarah. • “What’s the time?” asked my grandfather suddenly. • I asked her bluntly, “Don’t you believe me?” • They all shouted excitedly, “Come over here!” • My father just said, “You have to ask your mother. • My little brother whispered, “What are you buying me for Christmas?”

12. Here’s a mixture of the two… • Susan shouted watch out • What’s on TV I asked • What’s the time asked Mark • Where are you going to asked the taxi driver • Tim screamed Aaaahhhhh • Emma said sorry, are you OK • Can we see the new Harry Potter film asked Matthew • No shouted Kathy

13. Check your answers… • Susan shouted,“Watch out!” • “What’s on TV?” I asked. • “What’s the time?” asked Mark. • “Where are you going to?” asked the taxi driver. • Tim screamed, “Aaaahhhhh!” • Emma said, “Sorry, are you OK?” • “Can we see the new Harry Potter film?” asked Matthew. • “No!” shouted Kathy.

14. Direct speech interrupted by the introductory verb • How much longer they moaned before we get to Liverpool • Get down from that roof immediately shouted my father and put the ladder away • Next weekend said Erin we’re going camping • I am sorry I said but I am not going to lend you any more money • Do you know my sister asked what Mrs Stevens expects us to do in the holidays

15. Check your answers… • “How much longer,” they moaned, “before we get to Liverpool?” • “Get down from that roof immediately,” shouted my father, “and put the ladder away!” • “Next weekend,” said Erin, “we’re going camping.” • “I am sorry,” I said, “but I am not going to lend you any more money.” • “Do you know,” my sister asked, “what Mrs Stevens expects us to do in the holidays?”

16. Here’s a mix of everything you’ve practised • Any chance of getting me some potatoes Mum shouted up the stairs • Why are you going to the library she asked through gritted teeth • Why I argued It’s not fair • Mum pulled a long face I asked you to buy milk she said

17. A reminder of the rules… • Put speech marks around the words being spoken. • Use a capital letter when a new person begins to speak. • Punctuate the speech before closing speech marks. • Start a new line for each new speaker.

18. Oh. I’ve always wanted my own kitten. Remember, it won’t stay a kitten for long! Try to turn this speech into dialogue.

19. Now, you need to think about the speech too.

20. Now, think about the speech in this situation.

21. Try punctuating this dialogue: Bodget and Brown looked hard at the chimney. It was leaning a very long way over. It will have to be pulled down said Bodget, as he and the constable looked up at the chimney. It cannot be left in that state said the constable. You had better get started. I have told Mrs Worth about it. We will go and get some ladders and scaffolding from the lorry said Bodget and off he went.

22. Now, check your dialogue punctuation: Bodget and Brown looked hard at the chimney. It was leaning a very long way over."It will have to be pulled down," said Bodget, as he and the constable looked up at the chimney. "It cannot be left in that state," said the constable. "You had better get started. I have told Mrs Worth about it.""We will go and get some ladders and scaffolding from the lorry," said Bodget and off he went.