RIC-6242 Primary Grammar and Word Study - Book C

Punctuation
Quotation marks
Focus
Quotation marks for direct speech
Definition
• Quotation marks are inverted commas used to
enclose speech or thoughts.
Explanation
• Quotation marks (also called ‘inverted commas’ or
‘speech marks’) are used in writing to show the
exact words that someone has said.
Example:
‘I’m going to the beach’, said Teresa.
• Quotation marks are not used for reported or indirect
speech, where what was said is reported by a third
person.
Example:
Teresa said that she was going to the beach.
• Quoted text must start on a new line unless the
same speaker is speaking.
Example:
‘How’s your new car?’ enquired Tareq.
‘It’s fantastic’, replied Martina.
• The first word a person speaks begins with a capital
letter, even if it begins in the middle of a sentence.
Example:
James shouted, ‘Quick, hide behind the tree!’
• A comma usually separates what is being said from
the person who is saying it.
Example:
Then Baby Bear said, ‘Someone’s been eating my
porridge!’
• There are differences among British, American and
Australian use of quotation marks.
Worksheet information
• Give each student a copy of the worksheet and read
the introductory text with them. Discuss how in
pictures speech is written as a speech bubble, but
for writing it is put in quotation marks. Model writing
some speech (perhaps a short conversation between
two students) on the board. Discuss the shape of
the quotation marks, which are often like a six and
a nine (this is good way for students to remember
which way to write the quotation marks; six always
comes before nine).
• Students complete the worksheet by firstly putting
quotation marks into the text, then, based on the
picture of the alien, writing a conversation using
quotation marks.
Ideas for further practice
• In pairs, students can write three questions they’d
like to ask a third classmate. One student acts as
an interviewer and ask the questions, while the
second student writes down exactly what was said
in response.
• Students could write a script from a short story they
enjoy to create a reader’s theatre. This is where
they read aloud expressively, using their voices,
facial expressions and hand gestures to interpret
characters in scripts or stories, rather than ‘acting’.
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Answers
1. They couldn’t leave the puppy. It was so cute!
‘Can we take it home?’ June asked her mum. ‘I
promise I’ll look after it!’
‘He does look like he needs a home’, said June’s
mum, giving it a scratch under the chin.
2. Teacher check.
Primary grammar and word study 70
www.ricpublications.com.au R.I.C. Publications ®
ISBN 978-1-74126-766-2