RIC-20236 Primary Grammar and Word Study Year 3 – Punctuation

Focus
Quotation marks for direct speech
Definitions
• Quotation marks are inverted commas used to enclose
speech or thoughts.
• The carrier is the part of the sentence indicating who is
speaking.
Explanation
• Quotation marks are used to show the exact words
spoken by a person.
Example:
‘I’ve lost my wallet’, Dad exclaimed. (‘Dad exclaimed’ is
the carrier.)
• A quotation always starts with a new sentence, so it
begins with a capital letter.
• If a sentence within a quote is interrupted by a carrier
(e.g. … said Jaslyn as she crossed the room, ‘so that is
where I left it’), a capital letter is not needed to continue
because it is still the same sentence.
• A new paragraph is needed for each speaker.
• Indirect speech tells what was said but not always in the
exact words, so it does not need quotation marks.
In direct speech, the presence and position of a carrier
affects the punctuation of the quotation.
Throughout this series of books, the punctuation
guidelines followed are those recommended by the Style
manual for authors, editors and printers, sixth edition,
2002.
• When a quotation stands without a carrier all words and
punctuation marks are enclosed by the quotation marks.
Example:
‘We all wish you well in your new school.’
• When a carrier precedes the quotation:
– the carrier (underlined) is followed by a comma
– the quotation begins with a capital letter
– the final full stop of the quotation lies outside the
closing quotation mark.
Example:
Tania sighed, ‘This is the last day of term’.
• When a carrier interrupts a sentence within a quotation:
– the comma following the first part of the sentence lies
outside its closing quotation mark
– the speaker’s name (carrier) is followed by a comma
– the quoted sentence continues with a small letter
– the final full stop of the quotation lies outside the
closing quotation mark.
Example:
‘I’m so glad’, said Isaac, ‘that we are on holiday’.
Punctuation
Quotation marks
• When a carrier interrupts a quotation between two
separate sentences:
– a comma follows the first sentence and lies outside
the closing quotation mark
– the carrier (underlined) is followed by a full stop
– the rest of the quotation is treated as quotation without
a carrier.
Example:
‘I’m going away for three weeks’, said Jayden. ‘We’re
visiting relatives in the country.’
• When a carrier follows the quotation:
– the comma following the quotation lies outside its
closing quotation mark
– the carrier (underlined) is followed by a full stop.
Example:
‘We can keep in touch via email’, offered Libby.
Worksheet information
• Ask students to underline the words actually spoken by
Sasha and Sam in the text at the top of the sheet. Discuss
how they are enclosed by quotation marks.
• Annotate each example in Question 1 to show where the
separation of lines occurs. Underline the words actually
spoken by each character. These words must be enclosed
by quotation marks.
• In Question 2, explain that commas separate the speech
from the carrier (person that is speaking) and the full stop
is at the end of the whole sentence.
Ideas for further practice
• Choose simple examples of direct speech with all
quotation marks removed. Students punctuate the
examples, ensuring that all words spoken are enclosed in
quotation marks.
• Record simple, short dialogues between small groups of
students. Students write punctuated transcripts of the
recordings. They then compare their work.
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Answers
1. (a) Sasha and Sam sat down for a picnic.
‘You’ve had three pizza pieces’, moaned Sam.
‘I’ve left you a piece’, answered Sasha.
(b) Adam and Zoe sat down beside them.
‘We can only stay for ten minutes’, said Adam.
‘We have to go shopping with Mum’, explained Zoe.
2. (a) ‘Sam and I’, began Sasha, ‘always get books for
Dad on his birthday’.
(b) ‘I think’, said Adam, ‘that Dad would really like
some fishing gear’.
Primary grammar and word study 70
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