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English Quiz - Direct Speech (Questions)

Practise 11 Plus direct speech. Use inverted commas, commas, and capital letters to punctuate dialogue clearly and accurately.

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Fascinating Fact:

Split speech keeps the flow: "I think," said Tom, "we should go." The second part stays lower case unless it starts a new sentence.

In 11 Plus English, direct speech shows a speaker’s exact words. You’ll practise placing punctuation inside inverted commas, positioning the reporting clause, and starting new lines for new speakers.

Key Terms

Direct speech: The exact words someone says, shown inside inverted commas.
Reporting clause: Words that tell who spoke and how, e.g., Tom said.
Inverted commas: Quotation marks that enclose the spoken words.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

How do I punctuate direct speech in 11 Plus English?

Put spoken words inside inverted commas, start with a capital letter, and keep commas or full stops inside the closing quotation mark.

Where does the comma go with a reporting clause?

If the clause follows speech, end the speech with a comma inside the quotes: “Let’s go,” said Sam. If it comes first: Sam said, “Let’s go.”

Do I start a new line for each new speaker?

Yes. Begin a new line every time the speaker changes. This makes conversations easy to follow in stories and plays.

Try These Related Quizzes

1.

Which one of the five rules given in the introduction has been broken?
Peter said "I have been to Wales twice this year."

[ ]	Rule 4
[ ]	Rule 2
[ ]	Rule 5
[ ]	Rule 3

2.

Which one of the five rules given in the introduction has been broken?
"What's the capital of Greece"? he asked.

[ ]	Rule 1
[ ]	Rule 2
[ ]	Rule 3
[ ]	Rule 4

3.

Which one of the five rules given in the introduction has been broken?
"Have you ever been to China?" he asked. "No, I haven't," I replied.

[ ]	Rule 5
[ ]	Rule 2
[ ]	Rule 3
[ ]	Rule 1

4.

Which one of the five rules given in the introduction has been broken?
I can't come tomorrow, said Jack.

[ ]	Rule 4
[ ]	Rule 5
[ ]	Rule 1
[ ]	Rule 2

5.

Which one of the five rules given in the introduction has been broken?
"If I had known that" she said "I would have helped him."

[ ]	Rule 3
[ ]	Rule 2
[ ]	Rule 4
[ ]	Rule 5

6.

Which one of the five rules given in the introduction has been broken?
"Yes!" he cried "I've solved it at last."

[ ]	Rule 5
[ ]	Rule 3
[ ]	Rule 2
[ ]	Rule 1

7.

Which one of the five rules given in the introduction has been broken?
Have you ever seen Paris Hilton? he asked.

[ ]	Rule 2
[ ]	Rule 4
[ ]	Rule 1
[ ]	Rule 5

8.

Which one of the five rules given in the introduction has been broken?
Dave said "I love motorcycle racing."

[ ]	Rule 5
[ ]	Rule 2
[ ]	Rule 3
[ ]	Rule 4

9.

Which one of the five rules given in the introduction has been broken?
"You’re always complaining" he said "You really are ungrateful, Harry."

[ ]	Rule 3
[ ]	Rule 5
[ ]	Rule 2
[ ]	Rule 4

10.

Which one of the five rules given in the introduction has been broken?
"Bull's eye"! he cried.

[ ]	Rule 1
[ ]	Rule 3
[ ]	Rule 5
[ ]	Rule 2

English Quiz - Direct Speech (Answers)

1.

Which one of the five rules given in the introduction has been broken?
Peter said "I have been to Wales twice this year."

[x]	Rule 4
[ ]	Rule 2
[ ]	Rule 5
[ ]	Rule 3

It should be: Peter said, "I have been to Wales twice this year."

2.

Which one of the five rules given in the introduction has been broken?
"What's the capital of Greece"? he asked.

[ ]	Rule 1
[ ]	Rule 2
[x]	Rule 3
[ ]	Rule 4

It should be: "What's the capital of Greece?" he asked.

3.

Which one of the five rules given in the introduction has been broken?
"Have you ever been to China?" he asked. "No, I haven't," I replied.

[ ]	Rule 5
[x]	Rule 2
[ ]	Rule 3
[ ]	Rule 1

It should be:

"Have you ever been to China?" he asked.

"No, I haven't," I replied.

4.

Which one of the five rules given in the introduction has been broken?
I can't come tomorrow, said Jack.

[ ]	Rule 4
[ ]	Rule 5
[x]	Rule 1
[ ]	Rule 2

It should be: "I can't come tomorrow," said Jack.

5.

Which one of the five rules given in the introduction has been broken?
"If I had known that" she said "I would have helped him."

[ ]	Rule 3
[ ]	Rule 2
[ ]	Rule 4
[x]	Rule 5

It should be: "If I had known that," she said, "I would have helped him."

6.

Which one of the five rules given in the introduction has been broken?
"Yes!" he cried "I've solved it at last."

[x]	Rule 5
[ ]	Rule 3
[ ]	Rule 2
[ ]	Rule 1

It should be: "Yes!" he cried. "I've solved it at last."

7.

Which one of the five rules given in the introduction has been broken?
Have you ever seen Paris Hilton? he asked.

[ ]	Rule 2
[ ]	Rule 4
[x]	Rule 1
[ ]	Rule 5

It should be: "Have you ever seen Paris Hilton?" he asked.

8.

Which one of the five rules given in the introduction has been broken?
Dave said "I love motorcycle racing."

[ ]	Rule 5
[ ]	Rule 2
[ ]	Rule 3
[x]	Rule 4

It should be: Dave said, "I love motorcycle racing."

9.

Which one of the five rules given in the introduction has been broken?
"You’re always complaining" he said "You really are ungrateful, Harry."

[ ]	Rule 3
[x]	Rule 5
[ ]	Rule 2
[ ]	Rule 4

It should be: "You’re always complaining," he said. "You really are ungrateful, Harry."

10.

Which one of the five rules given in the introduction has been broken?
"Bull's eye"! he cried.

[ ]	Rule 1
[x]	Rule 3
[ ]	Rule 5
[ ]	Rule 2

It should be: "Bull's eye!" he cried.