📚 Learn About Direct Speech

Direct speech shows the exact words that someone says. Put the spoken words inside double quotation marks. In this worksheet, the speech tag or reporting clause always comes after the spoken words.

Examples: “Yes!” she said. “Can we play?” he asked. “I am ready,” Tama replied.

Remember:

• Begin the spoken words with a capital letter.

• Put the full stop, question mark, exclamation mark or comma inside the closing speech mark.

• Put the speech tag after the closing speech mark.

• Use a comma before the closing speech mark when the sentence continues with a speech tag.

Example: “I found the shell,” she explained.

Speech tags can include said, asked, shouted, whispered, replied and explained.

✏️ Practise Direct Speech

yes i can help she said

where is my book he asked

look out shouted Aroha

“____________________________________________________________,” he replied.

“____________________________________________________________,” she whispered.

“____________________________________________________________?” Dad asked.

“i forgot my lunch” she said

✅ Answer Key

1. “Yes, I can help,” she said.

2. “Where is my book?” he asked.

3. “Look out!” shouted Aroha.

4. “I can see the moon,” she whispered.

5. “Did you feed the dog?” he asked.

6. “That was amazing!” she shouted.

7–9. Answers will vary. Check that the spoken words have double quotation marks, begin with a capital letter, use correct punctuation and have the speech tag after the spoken words.

10. “I forgot my lunch,” she said.