Year 4 · English · Language
Punctuating direct speech
Using quotation marks, commas, capital letters and new lines to show exactly what characters say.
Awaiting educator review. This material was drafted by our content team with AI assistance and is waiting for review by a qualified educator. Please check it suits your child before using it. Created 10 October 2026.
Learning goals
Learners will
- Use quotation marks around the exact words a character says.
- Place commas, question marks and exclamation marks correctly inside the quotation marks.
- Start a new line when a new person speaks.
Success looks like
- I can put quotation marks around spoken words.
- I can put the punctuation inside the closing quotation mark.
- I can start a new line for each new speaker.
The big idea
Direct speech shows the exact words a character says. We put quotation marks around those words. Australian books often use single quotation marks ( ' ' ), and some use double ( " " ). Either is fine, as long as you are consistent.
The rules for punctuating direct speech:
- Put quotation marks around the exact spoken words only.
- Start the spoken words with a capital letter.
- Put the punctuation that ends the spoken words inside the closing quotation mark.
- If the sentence continues after the speech ('said Mum'), use a comma instead of a full stop: 'Come inside,' said Mum. A question mark or exclamation mark stays as it is: 'Where are you?' asked Mum.
- If the speaker comes first, put a comma before the opening quotation mark: Mum said, 'Come inside.'
- Start a new line every time a different character speaks. This helps readers keep track of who is talking.
Worked examples
Speech first
Punctuate: come and look at this called Ruby
- Find the spoken words: come and look at this.
- Add quotation marks and a capital: 'Come and look at this'.
- The sentence continues with 'called Ruby', so add a comma inside the closing mark.
- End with a full stop.
Answer: 'Come and look at this,' called Ruby.
Speaker first
Punctuate: Dad asked have you fed the chooks
- Spoken words: have you fed the chooks.
- Speaker comes first, so put a comma after 'asked'.
- Open the quotation marks and capitalise 'Have'.
- It is a question, so finish with a question mark inside the closing mark.
Answer: Dad asked, 'Have you fed the chooks?'
Practice check
Have a go, then check your answers. Each answer comes with an explanation.
Answer guide for parents
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
'Let's go,' said Sam. — The comma belongs inside the closing quotation mark.
Which words should go inside quotation marks? Mia shouted watch out for the ball
watch out for the ball — Only the exact spoken words go inside quotation marks.
Which sentence is indirect speech?
Tom said that he was tired. — It reports what Tom said without quoting his exact words.
When a new character starts speaking, what should you do?
Start a new line. — A new line for each new speaker helps readers follow the conversation.
Which sentence is punctuated correctly?
Gran said, 'Sit down.' — A comma follows 'said', and the spoken words start with a capital letter.
Which punctuation mark is missing? 'Where is my hat_' asked Leo. Type the mark.
? — Leo is asking a question, so a question mark goes inside the closing quotation mark.
Which word should have a capital letter? Ava said, 'we are going to be late.' Type the word.
we — The first word of spoken words starts with a capital: 'We are going to be late.'
Type the speech verb in: 'I found it!' cried Noah.
cried — 'Cried' tells us how Noah said the words.
Watch out for
- Putting the comma or full stop outside the quotation marks. In this style, the closing punctuation of the speech goes inside.
- Putting the speaker's name inside the quotation marks. Only the exact spoken words go inside.
- Writing a whole conversation in one paragraph. Start a new line for each new speaker.
Tips for parents
- Read a page of dialogue aloud using different voices for each character, then look at how it is punctuated.
- Use speech bubbles from comics: rewrite a comic strip as a story with direct speech.
- Check one rule at a time when reviewing your child's writing.
Go further
- Turn a short comic strip into a written dialogue between two characters.
- Make a list of interesting speech verbs to use instead of 'said' (whispered, muttered, exclaimed).
- Write a conversation between two animals at a waterhole, starting a new line for each speaker.