Worksheet

2.3c Punctuation of speech

This worksheet will help you to use the rules of punctuating speech:
1 Put speech marks around the actual words spoken, including any punctuation –
this might be a comma, an exclamation mark, a question mark or a full stop.
2 Use a new line for each new speaker. When the speech is not a question or
exclamation, put a comma before the closing speech mark.
3 If the speaker comes first, add a comma afterwards and then the speech inside
speech marks. Begin speech with a capital letter and end with a full stop.
4 You can place the speaker mid-sentence if you wish. If the sentence of speech
continues on, do not give the first word of the speech a capital letter.
5 If someone speaks more than one sentence but the speaker is mentioned in
between, use a full stop and then a capital letter to start the next part of the
speech.

Student Book Q2 Read the text below and rewrite it using these five rules for punctuating speech.
The text in bold is correctly punctuated. You could add clearer descriptions of who
is speaking too.

I ran up the corridor towards the exam room. Out of breath, I turned
the handle and burst in. ‘You’re late!’ hissed my teacher. But I was
just... You’re late she said again. Sit down he whispered. Sorry. I was given
the exam paper. The clock said 10:07. I had been seven minutes late.

One hour and fifty two minutes later pens down was thundered across the
room. I left as soon as I could. I didn’t want twenty questions about where I
had been from everyone. But it was unavoidable. What happened to you
she said. Nothing I said back. But you were so late. I didn’t think they would
let you take the examination. Neither did I said someone.

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Key technical skills
Chapter 2

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Now continue the dialogue:

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