1. Punctuating Direct Speech Diary of a Lively Labrador
Why is she so mad with you?
I keep jumping up on people. I just can’t help myself!

2. Punctuating Speech
Speech bubbles can show us what a character is saying.
Leave my friend alone.
The words said are called direct speech.
“Leave my friend alone,”
said Boof-Head.
Bubbles take up too much room so we use speech marks.
Speech marks work in pairs to hug the direct speech.
We report who is speaking using a reporting clause.
Speech marks are also called inverted commas.

3. Punctuating Speech Boof-Head Mouse
Leave my friend alone.
“Leave my friend alone,” said Boof-Head.
“Yeah! Leave me alone,” squeaked Mouse.
Yeah! Leave me alone!
EXAMPLE
Write this conversation as punctuated speech.
Remember to hug the direct speech with speech marks
and add reporting clauses.

4. You can also add actions and descriptions.
Punctuating Speech
“Leave my friend alone,” said Boof-Head, baring his sharp teeth and growling.
“Yeah! Leave me alone,” squeaked Mouse with a sudden air of confidence.
EXAMPLE
You can also add actions and descriptions.

5. Punctuating Speech – capital letters open direct speech
Direct speech begins with a capital letter, even if it is in the middle of a sentence.
Boof-Head explained, “I am always jumping up on people.”
Mouse replied, “That is a quite a problem!”
It is the beginning of the speaker’s sentence so a capital letter is used.

6. Punctuating Speech – commas separate clauses
Direct speech and reporting clauses are usually separated by a comma.
“I will try to stop jumping at the postwoman,” sighed Boof-Head.
Mouse smiled, “That sounds like a good idea.”
The comma is placed at the end of the first clause.
The speech marks follow the comma.

7. The punctuation is placed inside the speech marks.
Punctuating Speech – exclamations and questions
If the speech ends in a ! or ? we do not need a comma after the speech.
“Why does she get so cross with you?” asked Mouse.
“It’s the postwoman!” Boof-Head yelled.
The punctuation is placed inside the speech marks.
The punctuation belongs to the spoken words – they tell you how to say them.

8. Punctuating Speech – a new line shows a change of speaker
I keep jumping up on people.
“I keep jumping up on people,” said Boof-Head.
Well, you need to try not to.
“Well, you need to try not to,” replied Mouse.
“I will try,” sighed Boof-Head as he launched himself towards the postwoman.
I will try.
Mouse groaned, “We need to come up with a better plan.”
We need to come up with a better plan.
We show each change of speaker by starting a new line.
This makes it clear when the speaker changes.

9. Write some new dialogue for
Punctuating Speech – Your Turn
Write some new dialogue for
Boof-Head and Mouse.
“I need a drink,” said Boof-Head panting frantically.
Hug the words spoken with speech marks
Start the speakers’ words with a capital letter
Separate the speech and reporting clause with a comma
Include some action or description
Start a new line to show the speaker has changed
Mouse squeaked with a twinkle in her eye, “Why don’t you drink the pond water!”
“I can do this!” shouted Boof-Head confidently .
“You can!” cheered Mouse jumping up and down.

10. Spot the errors “I am off for a walk, barked Boof-Head.”
Read the dialogue for
Boof-Head and Mouse.
“I am off for a walk, barked Boof-Head.”
Mouse squeaked “Why don’t you drink” the pond water!
What do you notice is wrong about the dialogue?
“I am off for a walk,” barked Boof-Head.
The inverted commas are in the wrong place. Where should they go?
Mouse squeaked “Why don’t you drink the pond water!”

11. Spot the errors “I need a drink” said Boof-Head.
Read the dialogue for
Boof-Head and Mouse.
“I need a drink” said Boof-Head.
Mouse squeaked “Why don’t you drink the pond water!”
What do you notice is wrong about the dialogue?
“I need a drink,” said Boof-Head.
There are no commas. Where should they go?
Mouse squeaked, “Why don’t you drink the pond water!”

12. Spot the errors “I can do this!,” shouted Boof-Head.
Read the dialogue for
Boof-Head and Mouse.
“I can do this!,” shouted Boof-Head.
“You can!,” cheered Mouse.
What do you notice is wrong about the dialogue?
“I can do this!” shouted Boof-Head.
There is an extra comma where it is not needed. How should it look?
“You can!” cheered Mouse.

13. Spot the errors “What did you do?” “I knocked the paper boy over,”
Read the dialogue for
Boof-Head and Mouse.
“What did you do?”
“I knocked the paper boy over,”
What do you notice is wrong about the dialogue?
“What did you do?” gasped Mouse.
There are no reporting clauses. We don’t know who is talking!
“I knocked the paper boy over,” muttered Boof-head with his head hung low.

14. Spot the errors Mouse called over, “what happened with the milkman?”
Read the dialogue for
Boof-Head and Mouse.
Mouse called over, “what happened with the milkman?”
“his milk bottle smashed” replied Boof-Head.
What do you notice is wrong about the dialogue?
Mouse called over, “What happened with the milkman?”
The start of the speech doesn’t have a capital letter.
“His milk bottle smashed” replied Boof-Head.