Using Speech

Here are a few exercises for you to try.

• All of these sentences need speech marks, but they are missing. Put them in the right place.

  Leo said, I don’t feel very well.
  I need the toilet, said Tom.
  Do we have to take our bags? she asked.
  The ceiling is leaking! he shouted.
  Amy whispered, Don’t go into the cellar.

• The following sentences not only have the speech marks missing, but also the word said. Replace the missing said with another more appropriate word. Choose from this group of words: whispered, shouted, screamed, ordered, yelled, complained, asked, commented.

1. Where’s my camel? ---- Lawrence.
2. Sit down, and don’t move, ---- Mr. Poole.
3. This soup tastes like walnuts, ---- Jasmine.
4. Help! I’m stuck! ---- Harry.
5. It’s all gone horrible and soggy, ----Justin.
6. I can’t hear you! ---- Bill.
7. Ow! That hurts! ---- Naomi.
8. Shhhh! Be very, very quiet, ---- Ben.

• Write some of your own sentences using speech. Try using some of these words instead of said. warned, retorted, stammered, objected, inquired, sobbed, urged, decided, muttered, bellowed, continued, pleaded, explained, cried

Remember: You need an opening and a closing set of speech marks around what is actually said by the speaker; a capital letter at the beginning of what is said; if the whole sentence ends when the speech ends, put the comma before the opening speech marks; if the sentence continues after the speech, put a comma before the closing speech marks (unless there should be a ? or !); and finally, a new speaker needs a new line.

Contributed by Kathryn Perkins - - www.teachingideas.co.uk