CAMBRIDGE LOWER SECONDARY ENGLISH 8: LANGUAGE WORKSHEET 2.

Name Date

Language worksheet 2.1

In this worksheet, you will focus on the rules of direct speech.
Look at these examples of direct speech. Note where the speech marks and punctuation go.
 ‘My name is Mr Jones and I am your new teacher,’ said the old man.
 The old man said, ‘My name is Mr Jones and I am your new teacher.’
 ‘My name is Mr Jones,’ said the old man. ‘I am your new teacher.’
 ‘My name is Mr Jones,’ the old man said, ‘and I am your new teacher.’

1 Rewrite the following sentences using the correct punctuation for direct speech.

a It’s sunny right now but there might be a storm later she said

b He said You will be late if you don’t leave soon

c I come from Toronto he said It’s a city in Canada

d It was a shock she said although it wasn’t a surprise

Here are some more examples of direct speech. They use different punctuation marks to end
sentences. They also use different reporting verbs:
 ‘That’s not fair!’ yelled the little boy.
 The young woman asked, ‘Did you see where I left my phone?’
 ‘Have we met before?’ inquired the doctor. ‘Your face looks familiar.’
 ‘You can’t save me,’ whispered the pilot, ‘but you can land this plane!’

2 Insert the speech marks and other missing punctuation in the text below.

Are we really going in there asked Laura It looks a bit creepy
You’re not scared, are you teased Ben
No way she protested angrily You think I’m such a wimp Well, I’m braver 
than you

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Cambridge Lower Secondary English 8 – Creamer, Clare & Rees-Bidder © Cambridge University Press 2021
 CAMBRIDGE LOWER SECONDARY ENGLISH 8: LANGUAGE WORKSHEET 2.1

Prove it then, little sister challenged Ben or go home crying to mum
Laura glared at him and growled Get out of my way

3 Write one rule you have learnt about using speech marks (for example: You must start a new
line each time someone else speaks.)

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Cambridge Lower Secondary English 8 – Creamer, Clare & Rees-Bidder © Cambridge University Press 2021