DIRECT SPEECH | English writing lesson and exercises

Summary

In this Crown Academy of English lesson, Andrew teaches direct speech writing rules and punctuation. He explains the use of reporting clauses, inverted commas, and capitalization in direct speech. Special rules for questions and exclamations are covered, along with advanced rules for interrupted direct speech. Andrew also introduces alternative reporting verbs and provides exercises to test understanding.

Takeaways

• 📝 Direct speech involves reporting the exact words someone says.
• 🗣️ The reporting clause usually comes before the direct speech, followed by a comma.
• 🔤 Direct speech is enclosed in inverted commas, with the first letter capitalized.
• ❗ When the reporting clause precedes a question or exclamation, use a question mark or exclamation mark before the closing inverted commas.
• ✍️ If the reporting clause follows the direct speech, a comma is placed before the closing inverted commas, not a full stop.
• 🔄 When the reporting clause is in the middle of direct speech, the second part starts with a small letter if it's the same sentence, or a capital letter if it's a new sentence.
• 📚 Other terms for inverted commas include speech marks, quotation marks, and quotes.
• 📖 Common reporting verbs for direct speech include 'replied', 'asked', 'commented', 'agreed', 'shouted', 'admitted'.
• 📝 Exercises at the end of the lesson help reinforce understanding of direct speech rules.
• 👨‍🏫 Andrew from Crown Academy of English presents the lesson, providing clear examples and explanations.

Q & A

What is the main subject of the grammar lesson in the transcript?

The main subject of the grammar lesson is direct speech.

What is direct speech?

Direct speech is when we report the exact words that somebody says.

What is the rule for punctuation when the reporting clause is before the direct speech?

If the reporting clause is before the direct speech, a comma is written before the direct speech, and a full stop is written before the closing inverted commas.

How do you punctuate direct speech when it is a question?

For direct speech that is a question, a question mark is written before the closing inverted commas instead of a full stop.

What changes in punctuation when the reporting clause is after the direct speech?

When the reporting clause is after the direct speech, a comma is written before the closing inverted commas, and a full stop is written at the end of the reporting clause.

What is the special rule for reporting clauses that come after a question or exclamation in direct speech?

When the reporting clause is after a question or exclamation, a question mark or exclamation mark is written before the closing inverted commas instead of a comma.

What is an advanced rule for writing direct speech when it is broken into two parts?

If the direct speech is broken into two parts with the reporting clause in the middle, the second part starts with a small letter if it continues the same sentence, or a capital letter if it starts a new sentence.

What are some alternative names for inverted commas?

Inverted commas are also called speech marks, quotation marks, or simply quotes.

What are some reporting verbs used for writing direct speech after the direct speech?

Some reporting verbs used after direct speech include replied, asked, commented, agreed, shouted, admitted.

How does the lesson use exercises to reinforce learning?

The lesson uses exercises to identify correctly written sentences involving direct speech, focusing on correct punctuation and structure.

What is the significance of the reporting clause's position relative to the direct speech in terms of punctuation?

The position of the reporting clause relative to the direct speech determines whether a comma or a full stop is used before the closing inverted commas, and where the full stop is placed.