Punctuation Inside Speech: Year 6

Year 6 SPaG worksheet on punctuation inside speech: 16 SATs-style questions with answers. Free printable PDF.

3-page A4 PDF from the Tiger Shark Education question bank (Punctuation): two pages of questions (insert the punctuation) and an answer page. Example questions: Insert the punctuation mark that closes the speech. Think about which side of the inverted comma it goes. “Are you coming to the museum” asked Priya. / Insert the punctuation mark that closes the speech. Think about which side of the inverted comma it goes. Mum called, “I can hear the kettle boiling”

Punctuation inside speech: in direct speech, the punctuation that belongs to the spoken words goes inside the inverted commas. A comma is used instead of a full stop if the sentence continues: “We’re late,” she said. Question marks and exclamation marks also go inside: “Are you ready?” asked Tom. A capital letter starts the spoken words.

Common mistakes and tips: The most common errors are placing punctuation outside the closing inverted commas and using a full stop where a comma is needed before the reporting clause. Children also add a capital to the reporting clause after a question mark (“Are you ready?” Asked Tom). Modelling several examples and highlighting the punctuation inside the speech helps.

Questions on this topic appear often in the SATs. The skill also counts in teacher assessment of writing at the end of Year 6, so children benefit from both practice in test style and from using it in their own writing.

Ways to use this worksheet: as a lesson starter or plenary, as a quick assessment before teaching a topic, for intervention groups, or as SATs revision homework. The answer page lets children self-mark. After marking, ask pupils to write two of their own sentences using the skill, so they apply it rather than just recognise it.

Using the correct terminology: the SATs use the terms in the National Curriculum glossary, and children need to recognise them quickly. Display the key term for this topic with a clear definition and an example, and use it consistently in lessons and feedback. When children explain their answers, encourage them to use the term in a full sentence. Short, regular retrieval practice, such as a two-minute quiz on terms from previous weeks, keeps knowledge fresh across the year. Because grammar topics build on one another, gaps from earlier years cause difficulties later, so this sheet is also useful for checking that Year 6 pupils have secure foundations from Years 3 to 5.